Gainsborough: Town girl Estelle is among the first cadets on new nursing course

Estelle Cocking, right, from Gainsborough, learns how to take blood pressure with fellow healthcare cadet Demi Walker

Estelle Cocking, 16, from Gainsborough, will be based at Scunthorpe hospital, and will spend three days at college and two on the wards each week.

Estelle and her fellow students are the first cohorts on a new course at John Leggott College (JLC), which is creating a whole new career path into nursing.

“I was going to do my A-levels but I saw this course and thought it would be more useful with the experience it offers and it will be a quicker way into the profession,” said Estelle.

“I think the best way to get into nursing is to get the hands on experience, which this course offers.”

The aim of the joint venture between Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust and the college is to create local jobs for local people.

The healthcare cadets, who are all between 16 and 18 years old, will learn the skills needed to become healthcare assistants over two years.

The time on the wards will crucially giving them the key clinical skills they’ll need for their careers.

They will graduate with a level three extended diploma in health and social care, the equivalent of three A-levels.

“We’re forging these links with the local college to strengthen our workforce now and secure it for the future,” added Simon Dunn, head of organisational development and workforce planning at NLaG.

“We’re investing in local people by helping them get the clinical skills they need and guaranteeing them a job at the end of their course.”

This is a great opportunity for the Trust to support a local initiative which will boost the number of people wanting careers in healthcare in the future and we are extremely pleased and proud to be involved,” continued Debrah Bates, head of continuing professional development and research at the Trust.

“The healthcare cadets programme is unique for the Humber region,” said Emily Hughes, assistant principal at JLC.

“This creative, innovative and hands-on programme will aid young people from across the area to get the academic and clinical experience required to support progression to nursing and highly competitive roles and courses within the sector.”