Meet the Apprentice: Simon Ringland

Simon Ringland, 37, is a manager within Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. He talks to us about why he chose to study on the senior leaders’ apprenticeship course, and how it has helped his confidence and career

 
Why did you decide to take up the senior leaders' apprenticeship course?
Originally I trained as a mental health nurse and as part of being promoted to business manager for adult inpatient & urgent care within LPFT I wanted to broaden my skill set. I also wanted to challenge myself as I had not studied academically for some time.
 
How has it helped your career so far? Have you been able to put learnings into practice in the job?
The course has helped in a multitude of ways, I feel more confident in my role. I’m more curious and ask a lot more questions about areas of the trust I had little knowledge about previously this has helped me to understand the bigger picture. I have also learnt practical skills around change management and global strategy which have been invaluable in my role.
 
What feedback have you had from your company on your apprenticeship – have they been able to see the benefit that you’ve brought back to the role?  
I have received a large amount of positive feedback about my confidence levels within the trust. It has also been fed back that I contribute more since attending the course and that my knowledge base has increased significantly this is due to off the job training where iv been able to attend meeting at a strategic level and learn more about how systems work together to deliver high quality care.
 
What’s been the best moment of the course so far?  
Passing my first assignment and continuous learning about my organisation and the wider health care system within Lincolnshire.

Places are available now for the next cohort of the Senior Leaders' Apprenticeship at DMU, which begins in October. To find out more please click here