T-Level students on track for health and social care careers

Maisey Amos and Ella Nobbs, two current Health and Social Care students at Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC), are on track for careers in social work and midwifery after gaining the skills and experience they need to progress during their T-Level Health course.

The pair recently starred in a video case study as part of the College’s new ‘Your Life. Your Rules.’ campaign, to encourage others to consider college as a post GCSE option.

In the case study, aspiring social worker, Maisey spoke about the valuable hands-on experience she has gained through BSDC’s new Health Simulation Suite which features a replica hospital ward with three beds, a nurse’s station and specialist equipment, in partnership with University Hospitals of Derby, Burton NHS Foundation Trust and Staffordshire University. The suite allows students to use simulation manikins to replicate real illnesses.

Speaking about the manikins, Maisey said: “You can take their pulse and blood pressure and because they’re connected to an iPad, the results from these tests make it all seem extremely realistic. I am on placement at Burton Hospital so from our sessions in the health suite at college, I felt more confident going into the hospital and was able to observe the nurses to improve my knowledge and then practice in a safe setting at college.”

T-levels are the equivalent to three A-Levels and offer a combination of classroom learning and experience in the workplace to help students progress into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships. They have been created alongside employers so that the content meets the needs of industry. Supporting students with T-Level industry placements not only enables employers to identify potential future recruits, but it also helps them to tackle skills shortages by having an input into the curriculum.

Fellow T-Level Health student, Ella originally started A-Levels before transferring to the T-Level. She said: “I know I want to be a midwife and studying the T-Level meant I could focus on that more directly and gain more transferrable skills that will help me in the future. With the industry placement, you’re guaranteed to gain hands-on experience, and this course puts me on a good pathway to university so I can get that degree and become a midwife.”

The college’s ‘Your Life. Your Rules.’ campaign is showcasing a series of current full-time students sharing their experience of vocational learning and how their learning journey so far is putting them on track to achieve their goals of university study or employment. It aims to dispel common myths about vocational study and help potential learners and their parents better understand the options available after GCSEs.

To find out more about post-GCSE options at BSDC, visit the college website at: www.bsdc.ac.uk. Employers who would like more information about being an industry placement provider should contact the BSDC Business Development team via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone on 01283 494510.