Apprentice profile: 'I love the fact I can learn while I am working'
A Modern Apprenticeship has allowed Black Isle mum Carrie Mudge to prove to herself that she is not “too old or too busy” to gain a qualification while working and bringing up a family.
Carrie (42) from Rosemarkie is a Modern Apprentice studying a SVQ Level 2 in Social Services and Healthcare at 91视频网 Inverness while working as a care and domestic assistant at the Eilean Dubh Care Home in Fortrose.
It has been a rewarding experience for Carrie; she has increased her skills and confidence, making her job more enjoyable while improving the quality of care she delivers.
“I am proud of the fact that my children have been able to see their mum studying and doing homework, just like I am expecting them to do. I have been able to show my kids that it is never too late to do something new and that you can always learn more, “ said Carrie.
“Right now, I am happy with where I am, being able to interact with the people I care for in a direct, hands-on role. Every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive difference in somebody’s life, which gives me job satisfaction every day. I would like to be able to promote Modern Apprenticeships and the benefits of qualification at work, as I hate to think of good carers being put off by not knowing about what is possible for them.”
Carrie needed a qualification to progress in working in social care and heard about the apprentice opportunities through a friend who had gained a qualification at 91视频网 Inverness.
“I was delighted to find out I was able to become a Modern Apprentice as I had always thought of it as being a scheme for younger adults, and believed I was too old to be eligible. It was fantastic to find out that my age was not a barrier,” said Carrie.
“It meant I was able to achieve my qualification whilst I was working, meaning that I maintained my income, which is essential for my family. It fitted in well with my work and family commitments as a working parent, and the course being fully funded meant that I could achieve the qualification necessary to continue my career in social care; which I would otherwise have struggled to be able to pay for.
“I love the fact that I can learn whilst I am working and how one complements the other. My experiences and interactions at work reinforce the learning; whilst reflecting upon what I am learning gives me increased confidence in my abilities at work. The more that I learn and expand my knowledge base whilst undertaking my apprenticeship, the better the quality of care I can deliver to our residents. At the end of the day, the more trained and skilled staff are, the better the outcomes for the people we care for, and that is what the apprenticeship enables.
“I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship and have already done so to other colleagues who are looking to achieve a social care qualification. The apprenticeship route provides a flexibility to suit the lifestyle of people who are working and have other commitments to juggle at the same time, and the level of support you receive as an apprentice is excellent. I would advise anybody starting an apprenticeship to not be afraid to ask for support when needed, and to view everything that happens in your workday as a learning opportunity.
“The support I have received from my assessor has been nothing short of fantastic. My assessor has been interactive and communicative at every stage of my award, always encouraging me and providing detailed and constructive feedback. I have felt very well supported by my employer throughout.
“I have gained a much better knowledge of the legislation, codes of practice and standards underpinning social care, and so have a better depth of understanding of why I am doing things. This understanding has greatly boosted my confidence in my abilities and has reduced the stress I used to feel in my role. I enjoy my job even more than I did before, because I have that confidence now.”
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