Daniel scores a learning treble

Daniel Palmer has followed his mother Sue into nursing.  And it’s a move that’s paid off, as he’s clinched three learning awards this year.

Daniel, 24, from Marton, Middlesbrough, is in the first year of a Diploma in Adult Nursing at the University.  Before enrolling on this course, he worked as a Health Care Assistant at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital. 

Daniel is following in his mother Sue’s caring footsteps - she was previously a Staff Nurse and now works as a Health Visitor. He said: ‘I’ve always enjoyed health care work; you get to meet different people every day.  And people appreciate you; it’s good to be able to help them.  The caring ethos is in the family, my sister Rachel is training as a Social Worker in Hull.’

Nurse training

Daniel lacked the qualifications to enter university, so while working as a Health Care Assistant joined the advanced apprenticeship scheme run by South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust.  Through this he completed further training, including an NVQ level 3 in health and social care, a technical certificate and key skills in application of number and communication.  All of these combined the qualifications necessary to enter nurse training. 

Daniel was accepted onto the University’s Nursing Diploma on condition that he achieved his full apprenticeship framework, which he did three months early. 

Earlier this year Daniel was one of five to be awarded the title of North East Adult Learner of the Year in a ceremony at St. James’ Park in Newcastle, through NIACE, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.  This was given in recognition of his achievements in the Trust’s apprenticeship scheme. 

In a separate ceremony, he received a Celebration of Learning (COLAS) award for apprentice of the year at the Sage in Newcastle.  This award is delivered through the Learning and Skills Council.  Finally, he received the local NIACE Regional Individual Learner Award in a ceremony here. 

University was definitely the right move

Daniel added: ‘I was shocked to win the awards.  It was a bit weird, I received the North East adult learner award alongside people who’d really overcome something, when all I’d done was completed work I enjoyed doing.

'I’ve definitely made the right move by going to University.  I’m loving the course; I have a lot more responsibility as a student and get to liaise with other professionals and agencies.’   

Claudia Godfrey, vocational training manager South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘Despite making a commitment to undertake his nursing Diploma at the University, Danny remains a committed and valued employee of the Trust.  Danny has retained his employment at the James Cook University Hospital and continues to work at least one shift per month in the Division of Medicine, which will help him to maintain his occupational skills and will also enable him to generate a small amount of income for himself to support him through his studies.’

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