This week, the team caught up with the lovely Charlotte, a local student who has been on placement with Healthwatch Cumberland for the past few months.
Charlotte is currently studying level 3 in Health and Social Care at Carlisle College and has been on a placement with Healthwatch Cumberland since January.
“It’s been lovely. I came in not knowing what I was expecting, but I knew I didn’t want a clinical setting.”
Charlotte has been getting involved with admin, project planning and engagement events.
“The team is so approachable. I don’t think I would have got that in a care home because everything’s so restricted.”
Charlotte has been supporting the team in planning our Youth Mental Health project.
“I think it’s a good project because it’s an aspect that people don’t look at. People don’t look into why young people feel this way.”
Our Youth Mental Health project is looking at how young people can be supported to feel empowered, more resilient and happier.
Since starting her placement, Charlotte has grown in confidence. She is getting more comfortable with sharing her views on our work and has joined Chloe in speaking to members of the public at a recent volunteering fair.
“This placement has a unique element to it. You see the other side, the social care side, but you do deal with the medical side.”
Charlotte has been able to see what the team gets involved with, from enquiries from members of the public, to engagement and project planning.
“I’ve learnt a lot of things. I’ve learned about transcription and how you deal with private information. I like the fact that this isn’t a care environment, it’s the other side that people don’t see.”
A placement provides the opportunity to gain real world experience, and see what options are out there for someone with an interest in health and social care.
“It’s a good way to gain the skills that I wouldn’t get in my course. I didn’t know what to expect. But it’s nice to learn on the job. I like the variety. I think it’s more the kind of work environment I might go into.”
“It’s the highlight of my week as I know I will be doing something different.”