Sunrise of Sonning, on Old Bath Road, has launched a scheme to give nursing students an opportunity to train and learn in a hands-on environment, in addition to their university studies. Their first placement student began on 21st January and is undertaking a five week placement.
This marks the first placement student that Sunrise Senior Living UK has taken on, and the company hopes to start introducing the scheme across its other care homes in the UK over the coming months.
Annegy Mataso, who is in her 3rd year at the University of West London (UWL), is the lucky student now working at Sunrise of Sonning care home. Following an assessment of the Community and a lot of paperwork to get the process signed off, Sunrise of Sonning was considered a suitable place for student placements and started looking for their first candidate.
The Community will now offer these placements to students, and has the capacity for two placements at a time. Sunrise of Sonning has also already organised for two students to follow on from Annegy.
Carmela Magbitang, General Manager of Sunrise of Sonning, said:
“I am really pleased to have been able to get the placement programme off the ground. This project has been a personal passion of mine and I am really looking forward to working more closely with Annegy and all future students.
“These individuals will be exposed to a whole new side of nursing and will have the opportunity to gain real practical experience, to enhance what they are learning at the University. It’s only been a week and the team have already taught Annegy so much – we want all students to be able to become the best nurses they can be and there is no greater feeling than helping them accomplish this. I have a great interest in mentoring and I know a lot of the team at Sunrise of Sonning do too. We hope the students have a wonderful experience here.”
Annegy Mataso, Placement Student at Sunrise of Sonning, said:
“I am so grateful to be the first student who has been accepted to do their placement at Sunrise of Sonning. At first I didn’t know what to expect when I found out I had been placed in a Care Home for my placement.
“Carmela, the GM has been very welcoming. She took me around the Care Home and showed me the Community, I met some residents and other staff, who have been really supportive.
“I had the chance to work with my Mentor, Daisy, she has taken me under her wing and showed me there is a lot to learn and so much experience to gain. I am surprised at how much I have learnt in a short space of time and I really look forward to everything I will learn during the rest of my placement.”
For more information about this placement scheme, or to speak to one of the team please contact Sunrise of Sonning on 0118 207 2723.
