Jerome Harber is a team leader with Millennium Support, a care business specialising in supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs through their lives within the community. We spoke to him about his level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker apprenticeship.
Jarvis Training Management (JTM): You completed your level 2 apprenticeship with us and then moved onto the level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker. Did the information provided to you at the start of the programme give you a good idea of what to expect?
Jerome Harber (JH):Yes, the information given during my onboarding was great. I was given all the contacts that I may need for support throughout my apprenticeship.
JTM: What made you carry on to the level 3 programme after completing level 2 Adult Care Worker?
JH: I came back to our Sunnywell location, having been at another of our sites, as a team leader. I thought as a team leader I should get my level 3 to show my commitment to Millennium Care, the people that we support, and my own career.
JTM:What do you feel are the pros for completing your level 3 apprenticeship?
JH: As a team leader I now have more responsibility, both towards the adults we support but also the staff that work for me. My apprenticeship helped me understand the more advanced elements of the role, including how to feel able to have difficult conversations, internally and externally. It really helped to build my confidence.
JTM: Do you feel there are any things that people should consider when embarking on their level 3 apprenticeship?
JH:The time is the main one, balancing off-the-job learning with the needs of the role you’re doing. That can make it stressful occasionally but it’s definitely worth it at the end.
JTM: Were you supported during that time?
JH: Yes, everyone has been brilliant. There were some barriers, especially with the face-to-face element with childcare but Woodspeen Training and Millennium Support have both been amazing. The tutor sessions and reviews really helped me keep the progress on my apprenticeship going.
JTM:How have you found the observations of your skills and behaviours that we’ve done?
JH: You normally give us notice before you come out so it’s easy enough to pull together the information that you want to see. Or plan in the activity that you’re coming to look for, things like personal care and washing. Getting it all prepared is usually no problem.
JTM:You’ve not long completed your end-point assessment, how did you find the preparation for it?
JH: When you first start hearing about it, it sounds quite scary, but once I started practising the professional discussions and situations judgement tests it really helped me understand what was involved. Recording those elements so I could go back and review them really helped too. The people that assess you too, are very understanding. They want you to pass and will guide you through it.
JTM: Talk me through the EPA, how did you find it?
JH: With the EPA, they talked about all the things that I’d covered with you during my apprenticeship, including the team leader element. The person that did my EPA really guided me on the day, saying if I needed to give more information or that I’d sufficiently answered the question. It took about a week to come back with the result.
JTM: And you got a distinction! In both elements, that’s brilliant. You were so pleased when you were called with the result.
JH: Thank you, it felt really good. I didn’t think I’d get a distinction but having put all the work in during my apprenticeship and getting through the EPA. It obviously paid off, I’d proven in the EPA that I’d understood and put into action everything I’ve learnt to deserve the grade.
JTM: What is your plan now you’ve finished your level 3 apprenticeship?
JH: I’m looking at going into a level 5 apprenticeship in the future. I want to move into a managerial role. Maybe starting off as a deputy manager as jumping straight into a manager role sounds a bit scary, so starting as a deputy means I can get a bit of support at the same time.
JTM: Overall how was your experience of completing an apprenticeship with us?
JH: It was a great experience, the trainers that come out to visit are brilliant and I can’t thank them enough. They’ve been there through the hard and scary times as supporters.
Do you work in Adult Care and want to progress your career? An apprenticeship could be the right path for you. Learn more about our apprenticeships in Adult Care.
If you’re an Adult Care employer considering taking on an apprentice, we have information on how JTM can support you begin your apprenticeship journey, contact the team now.
