At Eastway Care Ltd, apprentices have been a positive way to build a workforce and the opportunity to develop new people into the care sector.
The apprentices’ main responsibility is to support the clients to be enabled and participate in activities in the service and in the community. EWC wants to show their apprentices that a career in adult social services is rewarding and that long-term careers can be developed within the industry.
Julie Hill, Work Force Development Manager at EWC commented, “the educational element of the apprenticeship supports and underpins the sectors guidance and shows the apprentices that we work within a broader structure. Being able to support and develop staff to working within and promote EWC’s ethos is really important to us.”
All of EWC’s apprentices so far have completed their apprenticeships and were offered full-time positions, all of which were taken up. Becoming a full-time contracted staff member allows for continuity with a staff team, the knowledge base is already in place and the ongoing development and learning of the individual benefits both staff team and the clients.
Julie Hill said, “we have a great working relationship with Barking & Dagenham College, which has been the key to the success of our Apprenticeship scheme. The team has been really supportive in helping us to resolve issues as they arise.”
