Apprentice of the Year in Health and Care Award Winner

Colette Doran (Cumbria)
Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT)

Colette is no stranger to facing challenges head on. She not only juggles her job as a support worker with her apprenticeship at the NHS community rehabilitation service in Carlisle whilst being a busy single mum; but she also maintains a demanding commitment to a rigorous training schedule. We should mention Colette is a carer who also throws a very mean javelin. As an international athlete she holds a British record and she will be representing Great Britain in the Deaflympics. So you won’t be surprised to hear that although Colette has been deaf from birth – despite her impairment and a car accident that nearly killed her – she has never let it get in her way.

She is a passionate apprentice who enthuses about the power of learning to instil confidence in the care workforce whilst she is ambitiously planning her next steps in to become a nurse associate . As a clear team player she says everyone should be encouraged to, ’commit to learning and development because it enhances knowledge, understanding and skills to do the job efficiently.’

Stephanie her nominator adds, ‘Colette promotes learning and development in the workplace and she acts as a role model and encourages others to enhance their development.’ Stephanie notes that she believes Colette is constantly motivated to do more by her competitive side because of her sport interests; but Colette is also a reflective learner who regularly draws on her own experiences to enhance patient communication and evidences this well in her formal studies.

Nominated by Stephanie Watson

Joint North West Apprentice of the Year in Health and Care Runners Up

Liam Potter – Families and Babies (FAB), Bolton

Rosemarie Lee – Ward 11 and 12 – Central Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust