At a time when all eyes have been on the health and care sector it seems fortuitous to be launching a Health & Care Academy but the truth is that this has been planned for some time and has been delayed and consequently redesigned because of COVID-19.
An initiative from Health Education England, our area is part of the pilot scheme, with Colchester coming on line first, followed by Tendring, Ipswich and east Suffolk and then west Suffolk.
Each academy will offer an exciting opportunity to learn about the NHS and social care and the vast array of roles within the sector. Participants will have an opportunity to meet a range of health and care professionals, albeit virtually to start with, ask them questions and gain insight and understanding of the work they do.
Paul Lewis is a paramedic and a Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science at the Anglia Ruskin University and is involved with the Health & Care Academy, he explains:
“I believe initiatives like the Health & Care Academy are important, to support students in making decisions for future careers and accessing professional roles in healthcare.”
For the first pilot in Colchester, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) is hosting the Academy, Anthea Hockly, Associate Director of Workforce Development and Learning explains: “EPUT is pleased to be leading on the delivery of the first programme of the Health & Care Academy in north east Essex. We have a strong commitment to working as a local employer that will recruit and develop staff using a ‘grow your own’ strategy. The Academy programmes will support this objective and enable college and school students to explore careers in health and care as they plan their next steps.”
The first pilot is due to run this August as a summer camp for up to 30 students aged 16-18yrs. Sessions will be held using MS Teams with a total of 7 sessions, each 3 hours in total. The education partner for this pilot is Colchester 
Institute: “This programme will provide young adults with the opportunity to ask questions of professionals at all stages of their careers, bringing life to examples and in depth discussions to case studies and experiences” said Suzanne McKay, Area Head of Access, Health and Social Care and Science at the Institute.
Working with health and care partners, schools, further and higher education, and local authorities, the Health Academy’s will raise awareness about the variety of roles available, actively encourage recruitment, promote equality and inclusion, enhance the use of apprenticeships, and provide support on the different entry routes in.
This is an amazing chance for participants to get inspired and find out how they can become a part of a sector which has been crucial in supporting the UK over the last 5 months.
