National Apprenticeship Week 2022 - meet Lesley Oborne

It's National Apprenticeship Week (Monday 7 to Friday 11 February 2022)!

Senior Research and Innovation Governance Officer Lesley Oborne is working towards a Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.

Having started the apprenticeship in September 2021, she is due to complete it in June 2024.

Lesley spoke about why she decided to do an apprenticeship with Medway NHS Foundation Trust:

“I didn’t fully complete my degree when I was younger as I just wanted to get into the world of work. But I’ve found as I’ve got older and want to progress with my career, completing a degree specifically in this area seems to be the perfect fit.

“My degree is in Chartered Management so not only will I have a management qualification, I will also have Chartered Manager status once I have completed it. I hope it will help me to progress, whether that’s within my current department, or elsewhere in the Trust.

“Working full time and studying has been challenging. The hardest thing I have found is getting back into the flow of education, sitting exams and writing assignments but I have surprised myself with what I have achieved so far. 

“We’re expected to dedicate 20 per cent of our working week to our studies. I attend Canterbury Christ Church University one day a week to attend a full day of lectures. Each term focuses on two modules and each module has two assignments or exams.

“I have had full support from my line manager, Edyta McCallum. In fact it was Edyta’s initial idea for me to do the apprenticeship and she gave me her full support. I also have support from my mentor, Daniel Baddeley-White, who I discuss my assignments with before submission, and from the Trust’s Apprenticeship Lead, Lucy Mason. I’m lucky that I also have a fully supportive partner, who thinks nothing of me spending a couple of days writing assignments and just leaves me to it!

"From my initial enquiry about the apprenticeship to setting up meetings with the university and a current student who was already doing the programme, I was fully briefed before committing to the apprenticeship.

“It may seem daunting to return to studying again - especially if it has been a while (like me!) – but there’s nothing to lose and lots to gain. The others in my cohort are all of similar age and have fairly similar backgrounds. We all help each other and all have different strengths.

“My one piece of advice to anyone considering, or about to embark on an apprenticeship is to document all of your on and off the job studies. Even conversations with your mentor. It makes it a lot easier when providing evidence.”

We believe in helping our staff to reach their full potential.

If you'd like to work for Medway NHS Foundation Trust, visit the jobs page on our website to view the latest vacancies - http://jobs.medway.nhs.uk/