More apprentices destined for the NRC embark on bespoke rehabilitation course
Five more apprentices are on their way to becoming Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioners who will support patients at the brand-new National Rehabilitation Centre opening in Summer 2025.
The NRC, in partnership with Birmingham City University, launched the apprenticeship course in September 2023 - the first of its kind - and which aims to help change the future of rehabilitation training in the country.
The Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship course combines academic lectures delivered by the university with on-the-job training at Linden lodge, our neuro-rehabilitation unit, which is moving to become part of the NRC, as well as at the state of the art NRC facility when it opens next year.
Joe Turner, who has worked as a Healthcare Assistant at NUH’s Linden Lodge neurorehabilitation unit for six years, is delighted to be one of the new apprentices.
The 28-year-old from Derby, said: “This course is the logical step forward for me – it allows me to do what I do now but with more of the therapy-led approach, which is the bit of the job I enjoy the most.
“In the long term I want to do all I can in the Rehab AP role, and then hopefully step up to be a full therapist.
Joe explained that working alongside the therapies team at Linden Lodge has already enabled him to be part of important milestones in patients’ rehabilitation journeys.
He said: “I recently had the chance to work with a patient who was hoisted, but with her husband, therapist and me in the room we were able to assist her to stand and walk for the first time for many weeks.
“It was also her 50th birthday which made the whole day extra special.”
On completing the 18-month apprenticeship, which the NRC commissioned Birmingham City University to create, students will leave with the skills they need to work as an Assistant Practitioner (AP) at the state-of-the-art National Rehabilitation Centre and other healthcare rehabilitation settings.
The role of the Rehab AP was devised to support and enable the NRC to provide an intensive level of rehabilitation, to improve patient outcomes and in-line with international best practice. This intensive model of care will require the APs to work across Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Nursing, bringing therapy into every interaction with the patient and truly embedding the 24-hour rehab model.
On having the opportunity to work in the new NRC, Joe said: “It’s nice that we will get to be there from day one.
“I’m particularly hyped about the new technology and the way we will be able to use it to help our patients in their rehab.”
This new apprenticeship is part of a ‘skills escalator’ developed by the NRC team, which will provide staff with education and training at all levels, enabling them to progress their clinical career with aligned academic accreditation.
More information about apprenticeships at the NRC is available on the NRC website.