Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) is now offering aspiring nurses from outside the trust the opportunity to apply for a mental health or learning disability nurse degree apprenticeship.
The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, previously only offered to staff at the trust, is now being extended further to those who have at least three months of work experience and are interested in a career in nursing.
In conjunction with the University of Sunderland, the course offers successful applicants both paid employment and education – through a combination of supernumerary learning and practical work in a nursing environment.
The starting wage for year one is £18,005 and will eventually rise, in increments, to £19,737.
A five-year course, the programme provides an opportunity to ‘earn and learn’ and, says the trust, ‘an opportunity for suitable candidates to gain experience in an in-demand and secure career’.
Students will also receive support and work with a senior mentor throughout.
Gail Bayes, Deputy Director of CNTW Academy, said: “This is a real commitment to the trust’s ambitions to offer innovative career pathways. The course has been a great success internally and we are delighted to be able to expand our offer. We welcome a diverse range of applicants who are enthusiastic and willing to learn and look forward to supporting the future generation of mental health and learning disability nurses.”
Simone Bedford, Team Leader for Professional Healthcare Practice and Midwifery at the University of Sunderland, added: “The University of Sunderland has worked with CNTW for many years, supporting the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship with internal staff and this has been hugely successful.
“The expansion of the programme to non CNTW staff is a great opportunity for the Trust to go further in ‘growing its own’ nurses.”
Matt Fairclough, an apprentice from the current cohort said of his experiences: “Everyone has been so supportive to ensure I meet my university requirements while also giving me opportunities to learn on the ward…it allows me to put what I’ve learned into practice straight away.”
Applications open on 3 May 2021, and close at 5pm on 28 May 2021, with interviews to be held in July.
To find out more about applying for the apprenticeship, which begins in January 2022, visit the NHS Jobs site.
