John explains how starting in the NHS as an apprentice has changed his life

My Life changed when I joined the NHS as an apprentice Care Support Worker. Looking back, I can say that I didn’t realise what my change of career would bring. I think my job has changed me as a person and also, it started me on a pathway of learning and personal development.

As a clinical support worker, I am in direct contact with the people our team are caring for. I feel happy knowing that I make a difference to people’s lives. In my experience, I have found the role of a CSW is often challenging but always interesting, exciting and satisfying. It can be hard work, it can be an adrenaline rush. It can be heart-warming but It can also be heart-breaking. I’m proud to be part of the NHS.

Once I had started my apprenticeship, I realised that there were many opportunities open to me if I wanted to progress. I found that I enjoyed learning on the job and in the classroom and the more I learned, the more my job made sense to me. It was like a jigsaw that started to fit together. I started as a band 2 CSW in Renal medicine and have progressed to a (band 3) Higher level CSW. I am currently taking an NVQ3 course, which when completed, will give me the qualifications I need to take a step further, towards a career as a registered nurse.

Having not done any serious studying for years, I never dreamed this would be something I was capable of achieving, but the satisfaction of working within the renal team and the positive feedback from our patients is all the motivation I need, to make me strive for greater things.