Last year, the government launched the T Level as an alternative and equivalent qualification to three A Levels. Rather than taking the more traditional and academic route, T level students combine an industrial placement with classroom learning to acquire hands-on practical experience and gain knowledge, priming them for the start of their careers.

Within this T Level remit, a ground-breaking new qualification specialising in either adult nursing, mental health nursing or midwifery has been rolled out by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Exeter College.

During the two-year course, students will engage fully with hospital life and complete a minimum of 315 hours of work placement in medical wards, surgical wards, theatres and maternity wards. Students will work with the whole team on duty and follow the patient journey to witness quality care in action.

To support the hospital during Covid-19, students over the age of 18 have been offered the opportunity to join the staff bank enabling them to gain additional experience. Last year, 22 students were employed and a further 30 are in the process of applying.
Suzanne Tracey, chief executive at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are very excited for this new, innovative qualification and to help shape the careers of young people in Devon. It’s no secret that the NHS has a national shortage of midwives, nurses and many other allied health professional roles, so in working with Exeter College we are delighted to offer engaging work placements to students and allow them to roll their sleeves up and experience the atmosphere, culture and camaraderie of our fantastic workforce within the NHS.”

Sam Hillman, assistant principal for Curriculum at Exeter College, said: “We are proud to be working collaboratively with the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust to deliver the new and innovative Health T Level. Through exceptional education and inspirational, engaging, hands-on industry placements, we are together, growing talent and realising the ambitions and dreams of our young people and helping them to shape their futures.”

Heidi Amor, head of faculty for Healthcare, Childcare and Public Services at Exeter College, said: “The support and partnership of the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust in providing industry placements and advising the college on the resources and space for simulation, has been instrumental in developing a programme that prepares our learners for their future workforce and supports the NHS People Plan."

Ebony White, a student aged 16 years, said: “I’ve really enjoyed my placement week, and it’s made me want to be a nurse even more than I already did, which I didn’t think was possible!”

If you are interested in finding out more about a T Level qualification visit: https://exe-coll.ac.uk/school-leavers/t-levels or, if you are still at school and thinking about a career in health, there is the NHS Cadets Programme for 14-16-year-olds.

If you’re a student and want to get “real hands-on experience” and require a placement, contact the RD&E Talent & Learning team who can support you with your application process to work there: email: rde-tr.talentandlearning@nhs.net.