After leaving school, Tanya, who is a former pupil of North Coast Integrated College, successfully completed a BTEC Diploma in Applied Science (Animal Management) at Northern Regional College. She accepted a place at university in England to do a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare but admits she was too much of a home bird to settle properly.
When she returned home, Tanya found herself caught in a ‘catch 22’ situation. Without experience, she was unable to get a job. Without a job, she couldn’t get the experience needed to get a job.
Having decided that she wanted to pursue a career in a caring profession, Tanya says the Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care was ideal for her.
“The course was really interesting and the tutors were brilliant. They really went above and beyond what they had to do. I'd really like to thank them all, especially Martin Fallon, for all their help. I’m very grateful and appreciative of all the support I got at the College.”
Tanya, who completed the course on a part-time basis over two years, says it not only helped her decide what career path she wanted to follow but also helped secure her current employment.
“As part of the course, we had to do work placements in different care settings. I completed a placement at Mountfern Adult Centre and one at Fairways, a supported living facility for people with a learning disability.
“I got employed as a support worker in Fairways and after several months, I then took up employment at Bohill Care Home where I am now. The placements were great as it gave us the opportunity to put theory into practice and get the necessary practical experience to secure employment.”
Looking to the future, Tanya intends to take a well-deserved short break from studying before going to university.
“Going to College as a mature student meant I had to balance family life with studying and my care assistant job at Bohill House Care Home. It was challenging and demanding but well worth the effort and I’d could have no hesitation recommending the course.”
Congratulating Tanya on her success, Social Care lecturer Martin Fallon said Tanya was a pleasure to teach.
“She was always so keen to learn and then apply that learning to practice. Tanya thoroughly deserves her overall Distinction and my colleagues and I wish her all the best for her future. Our loss is social work's gain."
The Level 4 Diploma Health and Social Care gives students the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills to secure employment in the health and social care sector at supervisory or management levels. Alternatively, it could be their stepping stone to progress to university.
Over two years, students study seven units which can include Law, Policy and Ethical Practice in Health and Social Care; Demonstrating Professional Principles and Values in Health and Social Care Practice; Supporting the Individual Journey through integrated Health and Social Care; Fundamentals of Evidence-based Practice; Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Ill-Health; Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Health. An integral part of the course is work based learning and students will spend a minimum of 225 hours on work placement in a range of care settings. The course is offered at the College’s campuses in Ballymena, Coleraine, Magherafelt and Newtownabbey.
‘Challenging and Demanding but Well Worth the Effort’, NRC Graduate
Friday
14th December 2018
Going back to school as a mature student was ‘challenging and demanding but well worth the effort’, according to Coleraine woman, Tanya Warwick, who has just graduated with Distinction from Northern Regional College. Tanya was awarded a Level 4 Certificate in Health and Social Care at the College’s annual graduation ceremony. She now plans to go to Ulster University to study Occupational Therapy.