An educational partnership has been formally established between Alcedo Care and Cheshire College South and West, aiming to enhance the practical learning experiences of Health and Social Care students.
Cheshire College South and West, with a student body of 11,000 and 1,000 apprentices across its campuses in Crewe, Ellesmere Port, and Chester, is known for equipping students with the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications for their future careers. In a significant move, the College reached out to Alcedo Care, which has branches close to the campuses, to provide students with a deeper understanding of the various roles offered in the care sector. This initiative has culminated in a successful partnership.
Under this collaboration, the College has renovated its facilities to include ‘real life’ settings such as a living room, bedroom, and hospital ward, to mirror the environments in which Alcedo Care operates. Adam Garvey, Group Events Manager at Alcedo Care, remarked, “With more and more people choosing to stay at home, rather than go into a care home, home care is growing rapidly so it is only right that students within the health sector are offered the opportunity to learn about home care. Our partnership with Cheshire College South and West is exciting and inspiring. We are thrilled to be able to demonstrate what our carers do daily, allowing the students the chance to understand the different styles and levels of care required. The ‘real life’ facilities are superb; they are the perfect place to interactively learn about home care.”
The facilities at Cheshire College South and West will now be utilised by Alcedo Care to deliver bespoke practical sessions. These sessions aim to replicate the diverse types of home care that Alcedo carers provide, offering students hands-on experience. April Proffitt, Health and Social Assistant Director at Cheshire College, stated, “Our students have access to industry-standard facilities to prepare them for a career in caring for others, so forming a partnership with Alcedo Care, who can provide informative practical sessions at our campuses, was an easy decision. To have a local, award-winning home care specialist provider teach our students, ultimately enhancing their learning experience and allowing them to gather as much knowledge as possible on home care, is a huge benefit to the college and our Health and Social students.”
Adam Garvey further commented, “Having worked with universities and colleges for several years now, delivering talks on careers in care, I am really looking forward to the start of the new academic year at Cheshire College South and West. We have already invested significant time into our sessions and will link what we teach with the students’ curriculum, so that they can see first-hand the practical aspect and understand how the theory elements they have learnt will impact their career in care.”
The partnership, which aligns with the college’s academic year, is a strategic step forward for both Alcedo Care and Cheshire College South and West. It aims to provide students with an immersive educational experience that bridges the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application.
The collaboration between Alcedo Care and Cheshire College South and West is set to significantly enhance the educational experience of Health and Social Care students by offering them practical insights into home care. This partnership is anticipated to prepare students more effectively for their future careers in the care sector.