Colin currently works as a support practitioner in Cornerstone’s Bessie Dunlop Court in Ayrshire. We had a chance to catch up with him to find out more about his experience of being part of Cornerstone’s Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme and what advice he would give to anyone else thinking about applying to do a modern apprenticeship in the future. 

Why did you decide to do the Modern Apprenticeship?

Anyone who wishes to follow a career within social care has to obtain the relevant qualifications. By doing a Modern Apprenticeship I have been able to complete my SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 7. 

What sort of skills did you learn on the Modern Apprenticeship?

The assessments that I needed to complete required reflective written work of my own, combined with spending time studying and reading many documents on employer policy and legislation. To achieve this, I had to develop the skill of disciplining myself to study in my free time and create a study space that allowed me to focus on what I wanted to write. The information and knowledge gained from my studies on legislation and policy surrounding care will enable me to fulfil my role to a higher level. As a person who has spent the last 30 years working in other fields, undertaking a change in career has presented new challenges, however my studies and research have helped me to fill gaps in my knowledge and better understand what is expected of me in my role. 

 

What are your future development plans now that you've finished your Modern Apprenticeship? 

The next goal that I have set myself is to finesse my Continuous Professional Learning log. Up until now I have kept a basic log detailing the essential information. Now I'd like to bring that up to a more professional level. On a personal level my goal was to complete my SVQ over the winter months and in time for the good weather arriving. Last summer I rediscovered the joys of cycling in a bid to improve my health. Hopefully, there is some good weather on the way and I can get the bike tyres reinflated and start exploring some more of the country. 

How do you feel the Modern Apprenticeship has helped you get there?

Having to organise and set aside time for my studies has given me a greater ability to structure my day. This ability to plan has given me a desire to better organise other areas of my career such as my CPL log.

The sense of achievement when completing each assessment and watching my progress was all the encouragement I needed to keep going!

What was the most rewarding part of your Modern Apprenticeship?

At the age of 50 it had been quite a few years since I undertook a commitment to gain a major qualification. Sitting down, staring at a blank screen was daunting, but the sense of achievement when completing each assessment and watching my progress was the encouragement needed to keep going. Feedback from my assessor Caroline was also essential and rewarding in letting me know that I was on the right track with my submitted work.  

Find more Modern Apprenticeship stories like Colin's here.