Gemma Birch: HCA and trainee nursing associate, HMP Oakwood
While many youngsters dream of training as a hairdresser, for Gemma Birch the reality did not deliver.
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While many youngsters dream of training as a hairdresser, for Gemma Birch the reality did not deliver.
While many youngsters dream of training as a hairdresser, for Gemma Birch the reality did not deliver on the fulfilment she wanted from a career. Then a chance came to study for a career that would help her change the lives of those around her.
“I enjoyed hairdressing and the interaction with lots of other people, but it wasn’t enough. I knew I wanted to give more and so I started taking on care roles in addition. I really enjoyed supporting people with learning disabilities and other challenges.”
Gemma speaking honestly about her career
Gemma decided to commit to a career in care full-time and joined the team at HMP Oakwood. She said: “They are a wonderful team who support each other and are always there for you. It is one of the great things about working here. The other thing is the number of courses that are made available, and the training that is open to us.
“When Practice Plus Group offered me the chance to take on a nursing associate apprenticeship through the Open University, I jumped at it. My colleagues support me and the GPs and senior nurses act as mentors as I shadow them, and they sign off my work as proof for the course of my developing skills.”
Gemma, 27, is enjoying her course so much she is planning to study an extra year in order to become a registered nurse.
She said: “It has been a wonderful chance to revitalise my career and to ensure that, for my working life, I will be able to make a difference to the wellbeing of others.”
Job title | Location | Contract type | Schedule type | Closing date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Assessment Nurse / Paramedic | Practice Plus Group Urgent Treatment Centre Southampton | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Senior Endoscopy Nurse | Practice Plus Group Hospital Emersons Green | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
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Endoscopy Nurse | Practice Plus Group Hospital Emersons Green | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Surgical First Assistant | Practice Plus Group Hospital Plymouth | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Nurse / Paramedic Practitioner | Practice Plus Group Urgent Treatment Centre Southampton | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Sonographer | Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre St Marys Portsmouth | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Senior Mental Health Practitioner | HMP Foston Hall | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Senior Nurse / Paramedic Practitioner | Practice Plus Group Urgent Treatment Centre St Marys Portsmouth | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Pharmacy Technician | West Midlands HMP YOI Swinfen Hall | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Pharmacy Technician | HMP Lewes | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Primary Care Nurse | Gatwick IRC | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 30 Sep 2024 |
Pharmacy Assistant | West Yorkshire HMP Leeds | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 27 Sep 2024 |
Endoscopy Healthcare Assistant | Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre St Marys Portsmouth | Hospitals, Surgical Centres, MSK and Diagnostics | Permanent | 27 Sep 2024 |
Senior Primary Care Nurse | Heathrow IRC | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 27 Sep 2024 |
BANK – Senior Mental Health Nurse | Heathrow IRC | Prison Healthcare | Casual/Bank | 27 Sep 2024 |
BANK – Senior Primary Care Nurse | Heathrow IRC | Prison Healthcare | Casual/Bank | 27 Sep 2024 |
Occupational and Physiotherapist Assistant | HMP YOI Moorland | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 27 Sep 2024 |
Unscheduled Care Coordination Hub Clinician | Suffolk and North East Essex CAS | Out of Hours (OOH) | Casual/Bank | 27 Sep 2024 |
Registered Nurse Associate | HMP YOI Doncaster | Prison Healthcare | Permanent | 27 Sep 2024 |
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