Discovering a Career in Care: Elliot’s Apprenticeship Journey

Elliot Beeson is proof that apprenticeships can open doors to exciting career opportunities while building skills and confidence.

Currently pursuing a Level 2 Adult Care apprenticeship through East Sussex College, Elliot has embraced the chance to grow in his role as a residential support worker.

For Elliot, the decision to choose an apprenticeship over other educational routes was simple: it allowed him to balance learning with work seamlessly.

“Taking on an apprenticeship meant that I could continue working at my current workplace without much disruption to my working day,” he explains. “The skills and knowledge I learned through the apprenticeship could be applied in practical ways, and the work I am doing has helped me to have a greater understanding of the content covered during the apprenticeship.”

Elliot had already completed his care certificate when he enrolled in the apprenticeship. The course offered him a chance to dive deeper into the health and social care sector.

“The Level 2 Adult Care apprenticeship allowed me to hone in on the work that I do and the sector I work in in much greater detail,” he says. “I was able to pick some Level 3 modules to push myself and gain a greater understanding of the skills needed to thrive as a support worker.”

Throughout his apprenticeship, Elliot worked across various residential settings, gaining valuable hands-on experience. Along the way, he found himself challenging common misconceptions about the care industry.

“It’s been a fun journey,” he shares. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about care and residential work which have definitely been proven wrong by the work I’ve done and witnessed.”

Elliot credits his apprenticeship for helping him develop essential skills, from understanding care legislation to mastering non-verbal communication tools like Makaton.

“There’s also a surprising amount of IT in care,” Elliot adds. “Being able to work out how to use new software or websites has been essential to the apprenticeship.”

Elliot praises East Sussex College for making the apprenticeship process stress-free. His assessor, Sally, played a key role in supporting his learning and building his confidence.

“Sally was great to work with,” Elliot says. “She always gave prompt responses to my questions and helped me feel confident in the work I was doing, which was vital when work became stressful.”

Elliot’s apprenticeship has prepared him for the next step in his career: becoming a senior residential support worker. He’s already planning to take on a Level 3 Adult Care apprenticeship to help him reach his goal.

For anyone considering an apprenticeship, Elliot has one piece of advice: go for it! “I’d definitely recommend starting one,” said Elliot. “Especially if you’re looking to gain skills and knowledge in a sector you’re already working in. It’s a great opportunity to earn money whilst learning, and whilst it can seem daunting, the workload definitely isn’t as intense as some of the other routes you can go down!”

Elliot’s story is a reminder that with determination and the right support, apprenticeships can be a launchpad to success.