Care Home placements open the door to permanent roles for Derby College students

Residents at three care homes have been spending time with Level 2 Health and Social Care students from Derby College, with the partnership helping many learners take their first steps into long-term care careers.

For the past four years, Sanctuary Care has welcomed DCG students on placement, with a number of them progressing into permanent care roles within the organisation after completing their studies.

Yunus Giwa, Volunteer Engagement Manager for the company, said the collaboration benefits everyone, the students, care home teams, and residents alike.

“The DCG students are a breath of fresh air,” he said. “Our residents love seeing a new face, especially when it’s someone young. Some are grandparents and really enjoy interacting with younger people and spending time with them.

“Students don’t need experience when they come to us, but they do need to be caring and supportive. Carers must have empathy, good listening skills and be team players.”

The company currently has one Level 2 DCG student at each of its three Derby homes.

Yunus added: “We provide Level 2 placements wherever we can when the college gets in touch. We give students a variety of tasks so they gain a full understanding of how different roles come together to help a care home thrive.

“Students spend time with managers, care assistants, nurses, team leaders, activity co-ordinators, housekeeping staff and kitchen staff. They also get the chance to shadow external health professionals who visit our homes, such as district nurses and physiotherapists. More than 80 per cent of their time, though, is spent directly with our residents.”

The partnership gives DCG students the chance to put their classroom learning into practice while developing valuable empathy, communication and teamwork skills in real-world care settings, often leading to a permanent place in the Sanctuary Care family once their studies are complete.

Derby College Group (DCG) offers Health and Social Care courses from introductory to advanced levels, combining classroom learning with hands-on placements. Working closely with local employers, NHS partners and care providers, DCG equips students with the practical skills, confidence and experience needed to progress into meaningful careers in the health and social care sector.