Executive Assistant Review

I support the head of the department and the lead nurse for the service with both the strategic and operational running and planning of the service. I attend and take minutes/actions from between 2 - 5 meetings a week, project manage wellbeing and QI projects within the teams and provide communication channels between the teams and the senior managers.

I have developed my interpersonal skills and my skill is analysing strategic decisions for both short term and long term impact. I have enhanced my IT skills, especially in Excel and have been supported to complete an A-Level to further support and develop in this area. I have also developed my skills in career resilience.

I have enjoyed the programme's design and felt the structure imbedded a sense of self-development and reflection throughout the programme as I was looking for opportunities to gain more skills and knowledge in key areas. The programme felt generic to business administration which I found beneficial as I learnt skills and knowledge which may prove useful as my career progresses.

The structure of the course overall is clear with set objectives and focuses each month, however I did feel caught between the two systems being used by the training provider as they did not always match up. Some of the resources were duplicated and some were of lesser quality then others, but the guidance and support from the coach and other tutors I worked with was of a very high quality.

I had support from my line manager in both having dedicated time to complete work and also in development opportunities to shadow other colleagues for experience. I also had a mentor within the team who was also given time to support and coach me by our employer. I was also encouraged to share my experiences with other colleagues by my organisation's apprenticeship lead.

My coach/tutor was always available via email and during our monthly meetings i felt that they were able to answer any and all questions i had about the course and assigned work. The support was easily accessible and the guidance i received was clear and consistent. I enjoyed working with my coach.

My qualification provides the concrete theory behind many of my day-to-day tasks, which supports me in my knowledge and confidence in work. I understand my role better both in my department and organisation and feel that my career opportunities have increased in completing this qualification both internally and within the industry.

Due to COVID-19 there has been a limit of extra curricular activities which i can get involved with, provided by work. However there has been some virtual events which have been set up by the HR teams. When not working I often get involved in non-work related courses, such as art, to establish a beneficial work/life balance.

Yes

It is a stable employer. The organisation structure is clear throughout the country and there are many in-house opportunities to grow and develop. Given the economic changes recently past and looking forward, my organisation provides secure employment and protective rights. As an organisation, wellbeing is a topic of discussion and many initiatives are launched to support the workforce.

The workforce is built on progression so entering the NHS via an apprenticeship is a great way to learn, earn and understand how the NHS works. I would also recommend contacting the department's ahead of application to speak to the recruiting manager to discuss more about the role and the environment as some department's operate very differently so where one area may not suit, another may.