Walsall Manor Hospital and Walsall College team up for new T Level Health qualification

Aspiring healthcare professionals have begun a new sixth form qualification at Walsall College that includes a unique work experience placement at Walsall Manor Hospital.  30 T Level Health students are completing a 315-hour placement in 15 of the hospital’s clinical areas.

The 16 and 17-year-olds have begun preparing for their placement by completing manual handling training with hospital staff.

Jo Moore, Director of Vocational Sixth Faculty said: “This new T Level and industry placement opportunity is an exciting addition to our health and social care course portfolio.  Its combination of health and science knowledge and hands-on experience is designed to pave the way for students to pursue specialist healthcare roles.  These include nurse associate, adult nursing, midwifery, mental health and care of children.

She continued: “The Manor Hospital has a long history of working with our students and we know they will continue to provide excellent guidance and support.  Our students’ time at the hospital will be invaluable in terms of the skills they will develop working across the hospital’s cardiology, surgery and acute medicine wards. They are looking forward to working closely with the hospital’s highly experienced staff, upholding their patient care values while shaping their careers.”

Lorna Kelly, Associate Director of Research and Professional Development at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust said: “We are delighted to be working with Walsall College to offer placements for their T Level Adult Healthcare students.

“Walsall College and the Trust already have a strong working relationship though our Walsall Together Partnership and we are really proud to be able to offer Walsall college students an opportunity experience working within a hospital setting.  Hopefully the students will be inspired to complete their nurse training and to join us in the future as colleagues.”

A college team of lecturers, professional practice and industry placement officers will work with the hospital’s nursing, training and development teams to manage the students’ placements and monitor their progress.

Launched in 2020, T Levels are equivalent to three A Levels and have been designed in collaboration with industry employers to prepare students for work and university.

In addition to the industry placement, the T Level students will also complete an employer-set project where they will apply their knowledge to a real-life problem in the industry.

Find out more about T Level courses at Walsall College here.