This is the place to start your journey in healthcare and gain a qualification - The Northern Care College Alliance
If you are a school leaver considering your next steps for a career in healthcare, then check out the opportunities to join the NCA Cadet Programme with our partner colleges across Salford, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. As part of your 2 year T-Level qualification in Health or Healthcare Science - you’ll join us for a programme of insight and training days as well as over 315 hours of hands on placement time in a clinical setting alongside Health Care Assistants, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Healthcare Scientists and a whole range of other NHS professions.
You will gain a real sense of what it’s like to work in the NHS and have the chance to decide whether it’s the right career path for you. The journey doesn’t stop there however! Embarking on the Cadet Programme can help you get the qualifications and experience to undertake further study to become a healthcare professional of the future as well as opportunities to gain meaningful employment within the NHS. We are working hard at the NCA to set up new pipelines for our Cadets to move into full time paid employment, part time employment alongside study, apprenticeships and Trainee Nursing Associate Programmes once they have completed their Cadet Programme.
Find out more on the T-Levels Website or T Levels and industry placement support for employers
Hear from our Cadets
Aaisha, a T Level engineering student from Bury College, recently completed a placement in the orthotics department at Salford Royal. She gained valuable insights into clinical engineering by shadowing colleagues during patient consultations and observing the design and production of orthotic devices. Aaisha said: “I appreciated the thorough explanations and support from the team, which enhanced my learning experience and sparked my interest in clinical engineering.”
Orthotics colleagues praised her professionalism, friendliness and inquisitiveness. This placement is part of a Bury College initiative, in partnership with the Gatsby Foundation and Greater Manchester NHS Integrated Care Board, aiming to connect T Levels with careers in allied health professions, and increase industry placements for students.
Gave me a great experience in adult nursing and gave me an insite of what kind of care you need to be giving as a professional. It was a great experience and showed me some of the things to expect in the future. How to communicate clearly with patients.
I gained the confidence in talking to people and patients on the ward.
I could have experienced other things and seen what other skills are needed.
Seeing how to give appropriate care to the different patients for their care needs.
I plan on going to university doing an adult nursing course.
The staff were absolutely lovely. I learnt and saw so much, and it was a truly wonderful experience. I enjoyed how the staff answered my questions and took the opportunities to teach me.
The staff and you get exposed to so much new experiences that you won’t see in other areas of the hospital. It’s very hands on with obs and practical skills.
I learnt how to remove cannulas, I learnt how to document on purpose T’s, wound assessments. I learnt about new conditions, such as brain haemmorages and their causes, I learnt about ketones, I learnt about what causes a Cardiac arrest, I witnessed a cardiac arrest and the process of what happens during one, I learnt about MRI scanners, I learnt about echocardiograms. I learnt about end of life care. I learnt about MI (miocardinal Infaction)
I gained insight to how the hospital system works and being apart of the team. I learnt that this is the pathway I am definitely going into. I also gained new emotional skills about talking about anything that I struggled with when I saw it.
I enjoyed being apart of the team and working with the nurse. I felt like I was needed and that the nurse was benefiting from having me there, which made me feel good.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Getting Involved:If you’re an NCA staff member wanting to find out about how to become a Cadet Ambassador, Champion, Cheerleader, Host or Trainer, visit our Career Ambassadors Page. |
Thinking about supporting T Levels in your NHS trust?
This video was funded by the Gatsby Foundation to inspire and support other health organisations to get involved with T levels.
Watch our video Click here
Becoming a Cadet
Recruitment onto the Cadet Programmes takes place throughout the year directly with colleges for a September start. If you’re a school leaver wanting to find out more about how to become a Cadet then here’s what you need to do next:
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Consider which partner colleges you would like to apply to
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Check out their course options and entry criteria
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Apply directly to the college for your chosen courses
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Wait for a response from the college
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If successful - attend an interview / selection day
Partner Colleges - T level courses we support and entry requirements
T Level: Health (Supporting the Adult Nursing Team)
Entry Requirements:
5 GCSEs at Grade 4 and above including English, Maths, Core and Additional Science.
T Level: Health (Supporting the Adult Nursing Team)
Entry Requirements:
5 GCSES at Grade 4 and above including English, Maths and Science
T Level: Health (Supporting the Adult Nursing Team)
Entry Requirements:
4 GCSES at grades 4 and above, including English, Maths & Science at grades 5 and above.
T Level: Health (Supporting Healthcare)
Entry Qualifications:
5 GCSEs at Grade 4 and above including English, Maths and Science at a minimum of Grade 5.
T Level: Healthcare Science (Assisting The Healthcare Science Team)
Entry Qualifications:
5 GCSEs at Grade 4 and above including English, Maths and Science at a minimum of Grade 5.
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