Our partnership with Airedale General Hospital has played a key role in our health and social care courses, allowing apprentices, vocational students and supported interns to enter the important industry feeling job-ready.

Over the years, we’ve successfully hosted assessment centres for these apprenticeships and have worked together to design apprenticeship vacancies for individuals who are new to healthcare.

Even better, we regularly collaborate on workforce planning across the district to ensure the NHS can meet future staffing needs and have even connected with the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust to share best practices. 

Here are a few success stories that we’re proud of from the last eight years of this partnership.

Launching our first apprenticeship placement

In 2017, a group of healthcare apprentices began the first ever Keighley College placement with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. The students spent 12 months working across clinical areas and delivering care to patients alongside experienced staff.

The opportunity arose from a partnership agreement between the Trust and Keighley College, which recognised the importance of practical experience alongside classroom learning in developing the next generation of healthcare staff. 

Ian Hargreaves, Assistant Director at the Trust and a former Keighley College governor, said: “We are delighted to have recruited our first group of apprentice healthcare workers and are overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and desire to care for our patients.”

Teaching real skills with supported internships

In September 2018, we launched a supported internship programme with just four students, placing them in Airedale hospital departments such as administration, laundry services, sterile services, estates and mobility services.

Two of these interns successfully secured permanent roles in administration and sterile services – and continue to work there today.

Siddeqa, who has worked in the Administration department since 2019, says: “When I first started I was nervous, but excited to learn new skills. I experienced what it’s like to work in a real work environment. I love my job at Airedale General Hospital and without the support of Keighley College and staff at the hospital, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Supported internships are work-based study programmes, combined with an education, health and care plan, for students aged 16-24 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These unpaid work placements help these students – who wouldn’t ordinarily encounter such opportunities – to learn real skills for future employment.

The college also holds an annual Supported Internship Information Event, where senior management at Airedale hospital have the opportunity to engage with new interns, parents and members of our Careers team.

Our ongoing partnership with the hospital has ensured a growing range of supported internship placements each year, tailored to students’ interests and aspirations. 

Answering the call during Covid-19

A few years later, Holly Greenhalgh’s apprenticeship at Keighley College required her to meet the rising demands the pandemic placed on the healthcare system, earning her an ‘Employee of the Month’ award for the excellent personal care and emotional support she provided Airedale General Hospital’s Covid-19 ward.

Holly credited her apprenticeship with offering her a ‘real opportunity to make a difference within the community’ and relayed how working in a real work environment even bolstered her academic work.

“When I started my apprenticeship, I struggled with dyslexia and the college team was incredibly supportive in identifying useful resources to aid my academic work. 

“Since enrolling, my confidence has sky-rocketed and I have even completed an additional Level 3 research task on dementia. I hope the findings from my research will enable me to supply the best care possible on the ward.”

Treating the future: nurturing talent in healthcare

While studying for her Level 1 qualification in 2022-23, Health & Social Care student, Keira Brookes, worked as a healthcare support worker on Airedale General Hospital’s Elderly Medical Ward, caring for around 21 patients.

Her work placement provided support to the wider team when providing individual patient care and assistance during mealtimes. These experiences provided Keira with first-hand insight into the daily management and running of a busy ward. 

Keria says her experiences opened her eyes to the varied support healthcare workers must provide patients and their relatives, which includes end of life and palliative care support. 

“During these sad times, I learnt how to be there for the patients and their families by doing the last offices after a patient has passed away”, she says. “Getting to know the relatives is just as important in a healthcare support role and something as simple as providing an update on how the patient has been doing can make a crucial difference.”

Ward Manager, Lara Clarkson, noted Keira’s excellent communication skills, especially when liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary team to promote and ensure patients receive a holistic approach to care. 

Keira was grateful to the staff she worked with, who were on hand to offer advice and answer her questions, and says this helped her gain so much confidence.

Since her placement, Kiera has carried out work experience with Bradford Royal Infirmary, completed a Level 3 diploma and started a nursing degree at university.

Practical skills that give back to the community

In recent years, the work experience our students do with Airedale General Hospital has also taken on a more indirect approach to supporting healthcare outcomes. Earlier this year, electrical students, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Yousaf, began industry placements with the Robertsons Group, where they teamed up with construction engineering company, NG Bailey, to learn how to build and set up hospital wards. 

As a token of our appreciation for both the hospital and the NHS, last year Keighley College students created ‘pocket heart’ gifts for staff, patients and their families in Airedale hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). 

Laura Hepworth, Community Fundraiser at the ICU said: “We are so happy for the kind donation from Keighley College. The talented students have made some beautiful hearts in lovely bright fabric that the patients will love. Thank you so much.”

With so many impactful stories and experiences in recent years, we can’t wait to see more students developing their practical skills and experience to support the area’s healthcare services over the coming years.

Keighley College students have been snapping up the chance to enjoy a fully funded work experience adventure in the United States.

We have teamed up with Camp America to secure dozens of camp placements, for students aged 18 or over, in the States this summer.

More than 40 students have now signed up but more places are still available for anyone who applies by 17 April.

The experience is designed to hone students’ employability skills while giving them a chance to enjoy a different country and meet new friends.

All travel, accommodation and living costs will be covered on the trip via £5,000 of student funding from the Turing Scheme.

To find out more click here. A snapshot of what life on a Camp America placement is like, meanwhile, can be found here.

Keighley College students are being offered the chance to experience a once-in-a-lifetime, fully funded work experience adventure in the United States.

We have teamed up with Camp America to secure the opportunity for up to 90 adult students.

All travel, accommodation and living costs will be covered on the trip, which is designed to hone students’ employability skills while giving them a taste of a different culture and the chance to make new friends.

While working for Camp America – supported, whenever needed, by guidance from a mentor – students will have the chance to become a role model for the children they are looking after.

Participants need to be 18 years old or over and will have the option of extending their stay, by up to 30 days, to further explore the US after they have completed their nine week placement.

To find out more about the offer click here. A snapshot of what life on a Camp America placement is like, meanwhile, can be found here.

Five students from Keighley College have been providing tailored support to members of the community during the pandemic, as part of their health and social care work placement.

Taking on the role of complex care support workers, the students have been working part-time at community-centered organisation, Personalized Care Services, to support individuals with complex health and social care needs.

With the aim to help individuals live independently in their own homes, the students have been working throughout the pandemic to assist members of the community with medication, dietary needs, dementia care, companionship and respite for families with care responsibilities. 

Mazar Hussain, Managing Director of Personalized Care Services, said: “Each student has performed exceptionally well in their role, especially during these challenging times. The pandemic has had a significant impact on our services; we’ve all worked incredibly hard to keep people safe in their homes and ensure they have their personal care needs met. 

“Three students who completed the Health and Social Care Level 3 Diploma have continued to work part-time with us; it’s incredible to see how well their skills and knowledge have developed and the level of care they are providing is impeccable.”

Founded in 2019, Personalized Care Services was set up to support people in the community with their care needs in a flexible manner, allowing individuals to choose the support which best suits their needs. Offering 24-hour support to those who have experienced difficulties settling into a community-based environment in the past, the service enables people to live active lives. 

Rohima Ali, course leader at Keighley College, commented: “As a community-focused college, we’re dedicated to supporting local people as much as possible. It’s inspiring to see how quickly our students have developed admirable qualities and abilities through invaluable character-building real-life experience.”

The 38-strong team provides a wide range of support including domestic support, mental wellbeing, supported employment, learning disabilities, independent living and adult learning.

Keighley College student, Ghalia Fiaz, who works at Personalized Care Services, added: “This hands-on opportunity has been so valuable to my learning and development. It has not only highlighted the importance of this sector during the pandemic, but also allowed me to help empower individuals by providing them with the confidence to become part of their community.”

Personalized Care Services will be working closely with Keighley College to develop its curriculum, with a focus on employer and community needs. 

A small group of students have been learning the art of becoming entrepreneurs with the help of local business Small Office Supplies. Taking advantage of a vacant retail until on campus in the College Atrium – these young business people have opened their own store ‘Triangle’ starting with Mother’s Day promotions of cards and gifts. The store is open to the public and not limited to the students on site.

With some help and training from Helen Avison of Small Office Supplies, they have been learning the art of how to become a retailer. Helen commented, “the enthusiasm these young people have shown has been terrific and it has been a pleasure to work with them. It is really encouraging to see that we have such talent in our local education facilities and we are looking forward to encouraging them further. This is a not for profit initiative and all about helping students understand the workings of business – albeit in a ‘Small’ way!”

Chris Stott – Keighley College Head of Business Engagement added, “It is such an amazing opportunity for our students to get some real insight and experience of business as part of their work experience. This has been a really successful project for them to work on.”

The students had workshop training at Small Office Supplies to learn about pricing, promotions, merchandising and general retail management. They then went on to create their own brand logo, signs and posters. The ‘Triangle’ store will be offering stationery supplies for the students on an on-going basis, plus developing promotions for the Easter period and Father’s Day.