In this Learning Disability Week, we're hearing from two interns who have been at CHFT on a placement this year. As it is almost time to welcome a new group to the Trust, we're asking managers if they can offer a rotation to help support young people with learning disabilities get the skills they need to move into paid employment. The feedback from managers and mentors has been great too.
Our two pictured interns are Ellen Senior and James King. Ellen has worked in the Learning Development Centre at CRH and is now working on the Reception at Broad Street Plaza. Whilst James is working in the Pathology Lab at CRH. Here's what they told us:
Q: What have you enjoyed the most whilst you have been working here?
Ellen: Working with lots of different people in a busy environment.
James: Gaining experience and skills working as a pathology lab Assistant and also been treated as an equal.
Q: Tell us one thing you’ve learned to do since you’ve been on placement
Ellen: Answering phone calls, use the booking in system, deal with the public, lots of different clerical duties.
James: I have learned lots of skills such as preparing blood culture sets, how to dispose of clinical waste using the auto clave, setting up samples for testing, checking fridge/freezer and incubator temperatures
Q: What will you be doing after you leave us?
Ellen: I hope to get full time paid work or an apprenticeship in Administration work.
James: I will hopefully be getting an apprenticeship/paid work in the lab.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Ellen: Look after my little niece.
James: I like to socialise and watch live bands.
You can read more about Project Search in the attachments. If you have a rotation you feel would be suitable for our next interns please email pamela.wood@cht.nhs.uk
Feedback from CHFT managers and mentors about our current interns includes:
Praise for an intern in facilities: “He works really well with all the people he works with. We would like to see him stay with us so he can develop his role.”
Feedback for an intern in housekeeping: " He has grown in confidence and listens to instructions. He will ask for clarification now that he is more confident. He always completes his tasks and uses his own initiative. If there is nobody available to start tasks with him, he will now start his jobs independently.”
And for one of our clerical interns: “He is set targets to meet, for example completing 200 green documents a day. He is currently completing 160 in 4 hours and the target is 40 per hour! He gets on with staff and is helping staff develop their patience.”