Health & Social Care students from Stratford-upon-Avon College have completed successful work placements with a local care home.
Leanne Todd, 20, from Stratford-upon-Avon and Chloe McVeigh, 17, from Meon Vale are currently in their second year of the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care. Both have undertaken placements at The Limes in Stratford-upon-Avon, a local care home operated by not-for-profit care provider WCS Care – and have received excellent feedback.
The Limes is one of 13 homes operated by WCS Care across Warwickshire. On their placement, the students worked with Wendy Culver, Hotel Services Manager and Donna Edkins, the Lifestyle Coach who plans activities for their residents. WCS Care believes every day should be a day well lived, and Leanne and Chloe were able to help this be achieved by communicating with and supporting residents.
The Limes provides a home to older people and people living with dementia, and Leanne and Chloe both learned a lot through this experience. Chloe commented: “It is challenging but you just have to have patience.” Leanne added: “It has given us skills as we have learnt how to communicate with people better, especially those living with dementia, and also to not just assume someone’s abilities.”
Chloe has always been interested in Health & Social Care, especially the care side: “I like the practical side of things and working with people. And eventually I would like to go into caring for the elderly as a career.” Leanne is studying Health & Social Care in preparation for university to study Paramedic Science: “I wasn’t sure whether to do A-Levels or a vocational course but overall, I decided to go with the more practical BTEC route. Experiences like this, I can take with me.”
Wendy has been extremely impressed with the students’ work: “They have taken on a lot of work. They really are a couple of the best young ladies I have ever had working on a placement! They were just so willing to learn. They went above and beyond too. For example, they came to the residents’ Christmas party to help, on a day they weren’t even scheduled to come in!”
Leanne and Chloe pictured working with residents Frances and Kath. They were supported by Donna and Wendy throughout their placement
Ellie Davis, Health & Social Care lecturer has been impressed with the students’ work and the feedback given: “They have really risen to the challenge and successfully taken their learning into a practical setting. We are so proud as they have gone over and above and are a credit to the course.”
Chloe and Leanne have enjoyed their placement immensely and have loved working with Wendy, Donna and the team. Wendy is sad their placements have come to an end: “I will be sad for it to be over as it has been a pleasure having them both here. However, Leanne has started working for us as a housekeeper at weekends which means we will continue to see her, and we really hope to work with Chloe in the future once she has completed her course!”
We look forward to see what these hard working students will achieve!
