Meet Poverty, Healthcare Support Worker, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Poverty works as a healthcare support worker at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust which provides child and adult mental health services, alcohol treatment, learning disability, wellbeing, and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk. His role includes:

• helping with the care, treatment, and recovery of patients
• monitoring patients and performing basic health checks
• making patients feel comfortable
• assisting with daily activities
• personal and people development

Helping and supporting individuals in their daily lives gives Poverty a big sense of achievement.

Poverty’s career journey

Poverty started working in the health and social care sector as an adult care worker with In Roads Essex. Whilst at In Roads he completed a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Health & Social Care – Adult with t2 group and a range of short courses, to support his progression.

After completing his Level 3 Apprenticeship in Health & Social Care – Adult Poverty felt he now had the confidence to achieve his Level 5 Diploma for Health and Social Care and Children’s and Young Peoples Settings through an Advanced Learner Loan. Gaining his Level 5 Diploma Poverty now felt confident to carry out some managerial tasks including risk assessments.

Poverty has always had an interest in working in mental health and so applied for the role of healthcare support worker at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust 2 years ago.

In his new role Poverty has been able to apply some of the leadership skills he has learned by managing a shift at busy periods.

Poverty used to struggle with care planning and risk assessments, but his qualifications have given him the knowledge and skills to complete these confidently.

Poverty’s next steps

Poverty plans to continue his learning as he enjoys expanding his knowledge and would like to become a qualified mental health nurse.

What advice would Poverty give to anyone interested in a career in healthcare?

Poverty says ‘Patience is key as I was working as well as studying for my Apprenticeship. It was hard but very rewarding. I would recommend an Apprenticeship in healthcare as this enables you to have the correct skills and knowledge to perform your job role’.

Poverty says be dedicated and go for it!