Peter Hall joined Bethphage in August 2008 as a Senior Support Worker. This appointment came after he had spent two years in another social care organisation and a number of years working in the commercial sector. It was during this earlier period when Peter was fitting cavity wall insulation into private houses that he started to consider social care as a career. He met a number of elderly people, many of whom lived lonely and isolated lives and he often stayed longer than necessary just to keep them company.

He then chose a job supporting adults with challenging behaviour and learning disabilities. He was promoted to Senior Support Worker, prior to joining Bethphage.

Peter is ambitious and wants to develop his skills and experience. After successfully completing his NVQ 3 in Health & Social Care Peter wanted to progress to level 4, but was not operating at that level and there was no immediate prospect of promotion.

He was very enthusiastic about being part of the Advanced Apprenticeship pilot programme because he saw it as an opportunity to develop skills which will improve the quality of care for the people he supports as well as improving his chances for promotion in the future.

‘I am very pleased that the organisation want to invest in my development. This programme has made me think about what I do, how I can make improvements and how it affects my clients. This is really important. I am happy that I am extending my skills and that this will help me in the future when applying for higher or different positions within the company.’

Peter Hall

Peter is now almost halfway through the course and has developed research and presentation skills as well as improving his communication skills. Bethphage is wholly committed to the Personalisation Agenda and is taking the lead nationally as well as locally in partnership with Shropshire Council.

The second half of the course focuses on promoting choice, independence, valuing diversity and difference. This will enable Peter and the other candidates to reflect on our existing practice and, supported by their manager, help to identify improvements.

'Even though we are only half way through the programme it is evident that this has developed Peter’s, presentational, research and analytical skills, which is already contributing to the changes in services delivery, especially with the current impact of the Personalisation agenda.’

Clare Kelly, Human Resource Manager, Bethphage

Bethphage plans to use this pilot group of 5 candidates as advocates and mentors with future apprentices.

1 June 2010