Dan started with the Trust at the Friarage Hospital as an ancillary worker in cleaning services and was then given the opportunity to work in portering services to develop his social skills within the hospital environment dealing with patients, staff and visitors. He developed well in this role, demonstrating a caring, kind and considerate manner with patients, hospital staff and colleagues. Dan expressed an interest in working within the estates team, and when a Maintenance Assistant post became available it was agreed that this opportunity should be given to him. Once again, he thrived in the role, undertaking his work efficiently and effectively.
When the workforce plan was being reviewed, Dan was asked about developing his skills and his career further. He had gained some plumbing skills working within the estates team. The team didn't have a plumber and instead relied on contractors for more complex works. Seeing more potential for Dan, he was offered a plumbing apprenticeship, which necessitated the Trust supported him to get his Maths and English skills to the level required to complete the training, which he has done.
Dan was placed into a plumbing apprenticeship with a training provider and had a named person within that organisation who monitored his performance and identified any areas that needed further development and assistance. The estates management team at the Friarage also ensured that he had the support that he required from a technical and educational perspective. The management team provided integrated learning in-house, apprentices already in training and a staff member who had recently completed their apprenticeship also supported, setting aside allocated time for additional studies and mentoring.
Results were measured by Dan’s occupational competence and completing the required NVQ units, whilst also testing his ability and competency in the workplace, college and assessments via a portfolio of evidence with additional units taken for Maths, English and Information Technology. In December 2020, having completed a 16-module course, Dan gained his City & Guilds Diploma in Plumbing and Heating, and in September 2021 he was appointed as a plumber. He has since developed his skills further, assisting the mechanical team, and is soon to complete further training as a competent person in pressure systems and medical gases to ensure that the Trust has suitably trained and qualified staff available to maintain service delivery and safe patient care.
Developing in-house skills within the estates team at the Friarage Hospital is part of workforce and succession planning. The identified age profile of the estates team had been in the upper 50s, and solutions were needed to ensure a suitable skills matrix and age profile to maintain service delivery for the future, as well as taking into account the national issues around recruiting into E&F posts.
The development of Dan’s skills has given the team the opportunity to respond to reactive and planned maintenance tasks in a more timely manner - previously there would have been a delay in external contractors attending, which may have impacted on service delivery and possible negative patient experience.
Paul Birch, Head of Estates & Facilities at the Friarage Hospital commended Dan’s achievement in the award nomination. “We are all challenged with developing our workforce planning and know how difficult this is becoming, but if Dan’s story stimulates food for thought, we should not overlook some of the opportunities that sit within our facilities remit. We are proud of what Dan has achieved to-date and his continued drive to achieve.”
Dan was shortlisted for one of HEFMA’s 2022 awards.
