Job Title
Education Trainer Co-ordinator
Is your role clinical or non-clinical?
Clinical
When you were in school, did you want to join the NHS?
No, I always wanted to be an instructor of some sort. After becoming a Radiology Porter in later life I quickly became involved in teaching new starters.
Tell us about your job
A typical day involves presenting a number of training sessions each day both mandatory and bespoke to staff in the hospital. These are hands on scenario based practical sessions to give new and update training focusing on Basic Life Support and Manual Handling of patients.
How did you come to work in the NHS?
I left school with “A” Levels and went on to university to study Aeronautical Engineering. I was then employed as a design engineer in aerospace and then became an International software sales manager in the oil and gas industry. After redundancy when Covid arrived I took a job as a Radiology Porter in my local hospital. Finally in 2022 I landing my dream job training University students and new hospital staff in Manual Handling and Basic Life Support, this also includes update training for doctors, nurse and all types of hospital staff.
What are some challenges?
Everyone learns in a different way, so the challenge is ensuring that each delegate takes away some new and practical information and skill to help them support and care for our patients.
What do you love about your job?
I meet between 10 and 40 new people every day who are doing great work in all departments within the hospital. I love being able to pass on my experience and share my knowledge to support patient care while also developing and maintaining staff skills.
Which non-clinical staff support you in your role?
We could not run the courses we do without a dedicated team of Learning Support and Development Co-ordinators, who manage the booking of delegates onto courses. They publicise the programme of courses, send out pre-course information and manage course attendance records.
Which clinical staff support you in your role?
As I am from a non clinical background, I have been supported and trained by some inspirational clinical colleagues. These include the Head of Training and Operations plus the Resuscitation and Manual Handling Leads.
Is there career progression in your role and how would you get there?
In this role I can progress to teach additional courses in this and other Education Departments within this Trust and the wider NHS. There is lots of support and training offered in specialist areas and higher teaching qualifications.
What would you say to a young person thinking of joining the NHS?
It is by far the most rewarding job of the many I have had during my long career. Being able to make a real difference to patients and staff, either directly or indirectly is so worthwhile.