Sean Mahony

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

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Future health and care heroes make the grade

During A Level and GCSE results weeks, we are celebrating student success stories across our Group and showcasing learners who have achieved great things. With the NHS celebrating its 70th birthday, The Manchester College is producing the next generation of health and care heroes such as Nicole and Sean.

The next generation of qualified health and care professionals from The Manchester College are celebrating their top grades in the year the NHS turned 70.

A total of 29 students gained a triple Distinction *, the highest grade possible and the equivalent of three A * grades, in their Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care course and are set to join the country’s most treasured institution.

The NHS was created at Trafford General Hospital in July 1948 and has transformed the health and wellbeing of the nation. Now students such as Nicole Dennis and Sean Mahony are heading to university to start their vocational careers.

Nicole will begin an Adult Nursing degree at the University of Salford next month and plans to work in emergency nursing or neonatal care after graduating. The 18 year old completed her two year course while pregnant and becoming a mother to her son, who is now 15 months old, and is looking forward to the challenge of training and working as an NHS nurse.

She said: “What attracted me to The Manchester College was the flexibility and support offered to its students. It was also good to hear my tutor’s experience of the nursing world, both good and bad. She also gave me advice before my 10 week placement on different wards at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, about how to be and what I might experience there.

“One of the highlights of the course was having the support of my tutor who encouraged me through the hard times. I am most proud of continuing my studies while pregnant, becoming a mother in 2017, and finishing my two year course.

My time at The Manchester College has shown me that I can work hard, understand different concepts and meet assignment deadlines. It has enabled me to believe that I can achieve my goals and ambitions, whatever they may be.

Sean Mahony has clear ambitions to become a social worker and his triple Distinction * grade means he can start his three year BA Hons in Social Work at Manchester Metropolitan University in September.

Sean said: “I’ve wanted to be a social worker for a few years as my uncle Steve is a social worker and I’ve seen how kind he is and how rewarding the job is. I’d originally started a BTEC in IT at another college but I knew that it wasn’t for me.

“The course at The Manchester College was perfect as it involved a lot of work surrounding the social care sector. When I came to enrol, I found that the College was among the best in and around Manchester for health and social care in comparison to the other institutions, so coming here was a very easy choice for me.

“The tutors have a very person centred approach to teaching, and would often flag up specific social work modules and learning for me. Their industry experience was also really helpful and it was good to know about their personal experiences. I’m really excited about going to university and helping someone become a better person in life. I couldn’t think of a better career.”

Sally Cooper, Departmental Team Leader, Health and Social Care, said: “Due to our aging population and advances in the medical profession, our learners have the opportunity learn vital subjects and to gain industry experience in a wide range of care provisions.

“Our courses are tailored to the demands of social care sector, our teachers have a wide variety of expertise in all aspects of health and social care which creates a realistic approach to lessons, making it meaningful to learners. At our campuses we have clinical rooms that provide teaching and learning to be put into context.”

For more information about Health, Care and Wellbeing visit The Manchester College website

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