MHST Business Support Coordinator Review

I work for Solent NHS Trust as a business support team lead. I am responsible for the development, implementation and updating of our administrative processes and procedures. Auditing, minute taking, arranging meetings, booking venues, ordering, roster administration, supporting our leadership team. I also line manage the business support administrators in our team.

I have learnt many new skills, including: recognising different learning styles and the impact of training not being matched to an individuals preferred learning style. I also learnt a lot about the different forms of communication, the positive and negative aspects of each one, along with how to choose the most appropriate method for different tasks and levels of urgency.

I am really enjoying the programme, it has many units to choose from which enables you to tailor it to your own role and learning needs. There is a good degree of detail and depth of learning within each unit which makes it really interesting and enjoyable. The workshops provide an enjoyable and supportive learning environment.

I have found the programme to be very well organised and structured. At the start of the programme I was given a full timetable for our workshops to enable me to plan and feel that I was organised myself. The programme is structured clearly and is spread out throughout the time of the course.

I feel very supported by my employer Solent NHS Trust and feel that they really value the apprenticeships programmes. From the beginning when I first enquired and received advice from the apprenticeship team, whilst I applied and right through to my line manager supporting me throughout the course so far.

The training provider mainly provides support from my assessor at workshops, one to ones and is also available my email and for extra meetings to provide help and support when needed. There is also an apprenticeship coach who provides regular updates, is very approachable and welcomes emails and meetings if needed for extra support.

I really feel that this qualification will help me to perform better in my role and I believe it has done so already as I often refer myself back to things that I have learnt. I particularly like the choice that we had in our non-mandatory units which really enables you to tailor to your own learning needs and what you what to achieve.

Before the Covid restrictions there were many more activities available at my work, this including sporting events, healthy living, craft clubs and fitness classes. There are some things that have been able to continue, such as fitness classes over Zoom and walking at lunch breaks for less that 6 people now that this is again possible outside.

Yes

The NHS is a very supportive employer, that gives employees opportunities to develop and expand their learning such as with the apprenticeship programme. There are many opportunities within the NHS which give a huge variety of working areas, environments and teams. They look at developing employees within the NHS that wish to do so, even when this involves a change of direction.

I would advise people to really look at the depth and variety of jobs that are available and try to choose a role that they can see themselves enjoying and being able to develop in. To be honest about what they want from their work life, as when you are working in a role that you enjoy, and feel supported to develop, you will give your best working service which will benefit yourself and the NHS.