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 Debbie Silvester CCLD L3 NVQ & STLS NVQ 2010

Click here to listen to the audio case study, where Debbie talks about her experience of learning with Rapido  






 Katherine Browning PTLLS learner 2009

Click here to listen to her audio case study about her experience 
of doing the PTLLS course.





10 August 2009 - IN-HOUSE POVA TRAINING for Cross Roads Care.

Thank you for the training, the trainer was very good and everyone found her interesting and informative.  


Hi my name is Lucy I have been working in care for about 13 months so I am still very new to it.  

I started to work in the care industry as soon as I turned 18 without any kind of experience or knowledge of what the job would entail.  I worked in a very small residential home with 21 service users, however, I did feel this very stressful at times as the hours were long and the work was non stop.  I now work for an agency in the Forest where I do home to home care in a very relaxed way to provide an excellent service for my clients.   I am certainly more happy now as they receive a great deal of my attention and time where every task can be completed to suit every individuals needs.

As I was new to care an NVQ apprenticeship was exactly what I needed, I new it would benefit me in the sense that it would benefit my career and my understanding of the industry.  I wanted to have the knowledge of good safe practice and what I would need to gain my qualifications and training.

By completing my NVQ I was fully aware of the workings of the industry I was no longer worried about getting something wrong as I put into place the safeguards for me and the individual.  The most beneficial training that I gained was to be able to choose the best suitable care for an individual. 

The NVQ 2 which I was studying for was a modern apprenticeship, along with this I had covered all of my mandatory training i.e. First Aid, POVA, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, Moving & Handling.  I also had taken on a couple more courses with my managers arrangements which were also of extra benefit, such as incontinence, malnutrition and dehydration, human ageing etc.  These all helped me along with my NVQ.

I was very happy after completing my NVQ and my training.  I had lost all of my nerves and grew more confident in working in the industry, my assessor was a great support in arranging all of these and guiding me into the right path.  My mandatory training I completed with Rapido which my assessor had booked for me.

By completing my apprenticeship I am more knowledgeable, more confident, more appreciative of the work I do.  My assessor was brilliant for guiding me and answering any queries that I had not just about my NVQ but my job as a whole I would advise anybody who was new to care to complete any training with Rapido.

Lucy Hamblett April 2009  


My name is Karen and I am 49 years of age.  I have worked in the care industry for 16 years doing night shift work in nursing and residential homes.  

I started this line of work when my children were young as it fitted in with my family life without too much disruption, and when my children grew up I carried on because I loved it so much. 

As all industries progress and move forward with new rules and legislation, training had become an on going occurrence and at first I will admit, it used to scare me to have to start learning again, especially at my age alongside younger people who were straight from college.  I thought they would look at me and say ‘what’s the point at my age’ but in fact I got nothing but encouragement and praise fro having a go, and as I had perhaps more life experience they used me for my knowledge as well, which was great.

When it was suggested I do an apprenticeship I thought I may have jumped into the frying pan head first.  I was quite scared and had little confidence in attempting something like this.  Even the mention of having to do key skills maths, sent shivers down my back, especially when I go nowhere without my calculator and I’m still dealing in feet and inches.  However, I was also excited at the prospect of gaining this Certificate and what a sense of achievement it would be for me. 

I was introduced to Becky from Rapido who gave me plenty of reassurance and encouragement at the start of my course and throughout and I have ended up enjoying every minute of it.  I even get a buzz from telling my friends I am doing and apprenticeship course and because they are impressed it spurns me on to do more.  The support and help I have had from Becky and Rapido has been great.  We meet every two weeks and she is always on the end of the phone or a text message away. 

This training has made me more confident at work event though I do the same every day I have gained so much more knowledge to help me achieve my goal of being the best I can be at giving individuals a good quality of life. 

If anyone came to me know and said they were considering an apprenticeship I wouldn’t hesitate to say ‘;go for it’ whether they were 19 or 49. 

K. Jackson April 2009  

Question and answer time:

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself i.e. where you work, your age, your job role, how long you have been doing your job etc..
I am a care assistant at Wyatt House in Paganhill Stroud.  I have worked there for nearly two years. 

2a. What were your expectations of an apprenticeship before you started the course?
      To find out more about and improve my skills in the care sector.

2b. How has your experience so far compared to these expectations?
       It has helped me develop and improve in my job as a care assistant.

3. Can you tell us about your experience of the training you have received and what it has been like?
     There have been highs and lows.  I have understood and enjoyed some
     areas of the NVQ more than others.

4. How do you feel about the achievements you have made?
     I feel a great sense of achievement and satisfaction in completing my
     NVQ.

5. What kind of support have you received from Rapido whilst doing your apprenticeship?
    Lots of support, I have always felt I could ask for help when needed.

6. How has doing an apprenticeship affected your work?
    It has had a positive affect.  I put into practice every day the new skills I
    have learnt.

7. Do you have any other comments to make about your experience of doing an apprenticeship?
    Sometimes it felt like a long progress but it’s worth it in the end.

Mel Adams April 2009

From: Kay Overton
Sent: 01 April 2009 15:16
To: Christine Mauler
Subject: RE: EMERGENCY AID TRAINING

Dear Christine

I had to write to let you know how impressed we were with the excellent delivery of the Emergency First Aid Course last night.
Elaine was absolutely brilliant, she quickly “sussed” the learners and geared everything towards them and their First Aid requirements.
The learners were predominantly between the ages of 16 and 19, (a notoriously difficult age group to engage), had all been at College or School all day – and, what’s more, were attending the Course in their own time and not being paid wages!!
Despite this, they stayed alert and interested for the whole three hours – and even delivered a spontaneous round of applause at the end!!
It was unanimously agreed that we had all learnt what we really needed to know; how to keep someone alive until medical help arrives.
(This was so much more useful and relevant than previous First Aid Courses where we learnt to tie triangular bandages!).

Please pass on our thanks to Elaine

Best wishes

Kay Overton