After more than 3 years working as an agency worker and within a local reablement service, Lucy is taking the next step in her career with an HNC in Social Services.  

Although she had the opportunity to complete her placement within her current workplace, Lucy wanted to get as wide a range of experience as possible – choosing to expand her skill set and gain a broader understanding with Caledonia Service. 

A typical day for Lucy at Caledonia, which supports adults living with severe mental health conditions, starts with catching up with her mentor John and the team to hear about service users progress in the past week. 

Then, its time to get into the action helping to facilitate the various group activities Caledonia has on offer – which could include the ladies social group outing to a café or hosting a cooking group to teach meal prep tips. 

Lucy applies the theory she has learned in the lecture hall to her placement work. This hands-on experience comes together in a graded unit where students must demonstrate their understanding of social service principles in a practical setting. 

While balancing studying, placement, employment, and social activities can be challenging, Lucy says it is worth it to gain the experience, meet new people, and progress her career. The placement at Caledonia has been flexible to fit around Lucy’s other employment and college commitments.  

“It was a bit daunting to return to studying after working full time for a few years, but it has been worth it. I’ve met new people, learned from others, and taken the next step in my career.”  

After completing her placement and HNC, Lucy is looking forward to attending university to begin an undergraduate in Social Work, continuing her career journey toward becoming a registered social worker. 

The placement has also provided development opportunities for the staff, John, a senior project worker and HNC student mentor at Caledonia explains: “We are quite a small team – so Lucy’s presence has been huge. While completing her placement and related coursework, we’ve also had the chance to reflect and learn about our own practices. 

“It has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved – so I’d encourage both prospective students and other services to consider future placement opportunities as you won’t regret it.  

“You’ll likely learn something new, gain a fresh perspective in your team, and support the next generation entering a career in care.”