Summer cadet programme gives young people first-hand experience of careers in care

Young people in Lincolnshire are getting the opportunity to experience careers in social care through a six-week summer cadet programme combining training with practical work experience.

Walnut Care has brought back its annual summer cadet programme for a third year, working with the NHS Talent Academy to introduce younger people to opportunities within the care sector.

Seven students aged between 15 and 18 from across Lincolnshire are taking part in this year’s programme.

During the six weeks, the students receive training in areas including moving and handling, nutrition and basic life support. They also have opportunities to accompany and shadow trained carers during care visits and take part in Nelly’s Care Escape Room as part of their training.

Walnut Care is a family-run domiciliary care provider that has operated for more than 22 years and currently supports more than 300 people across Lincolnshire.

The programme is designed to give young people an insight into working in care while also helping them develop transferable skills that could be useful across healthcare and other sectors.

One of this year’s cadets, 17-year-old Isla, is studying health and social care alongside psychology and sociology and hopes to continue her studies in adult nursing at university. She said the experience was giving her an inside perspective on how people are cared for and helping her develop important people skills.

Walnut Care said opportunities such as the programme are particularly important at a time when significant numbers of younger people are outside education, employment or training.

The initiative forms part of the provider’s efforts to introduce a new generation to social care and give students practical experience of what a career supporting people can involve.

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