Rachael Baxter, a lead operational manager at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, has completed her level 5 operations manager apprenticeship – and she’s not stopping there.
Prioritising personal and professional development
Starting as a medical secretary at Salford Royal Hospital in 2017, Rachael completed various short courses before starting a management apprenticeship with Damar, which she hopes will open more doors in her career.
“I really wanted to develop professionally and although the short courses were great, I wanted to do something that would give me a recognised qualification.
“When the talent team suggested the management apprenticeship, it seemed like the perfect fit. The modules, such as building a high-performing team, people and relationships, managing change and so on, were important to my role, so I knew that strengthening these skills would make me even better at what I do.”
Managing workload to achieve success
Rachael was juggling a full-time role, being a mum and completing an apprenticeship, so had to work out a way to manage it all that suited her. She said: “Set clear boundaries because it’s vital to invest in yourself – no one else is going to the way you can.”
“There’s no end to learning”
Since finishing her apprenticeship, Rachael is continuing with her learning journey, enrolling on a business management degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.
“There is no end to learning and I’m so proud of myself for doing this.
“At school I wasn’t the most academic and I got average results, because it didn’t come naturally to me.
“After I finished school, I used an access course to study psychology at university. In my second year, I dropped out. Deep down I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do, and I did struggle with a lot of the workload. I’m hoping this experience will be very different – I’m feeling so motivated and the skills that I learned with Damar will help me succeed.“
Rachael thinks a lot of her success at Damar to her coach, Julie.
“Julie kept me on track and made the experience totally worth it. She was always able to help and no question was a silly one.”
“It’s all about believing in yourself”
Julie, Rachael’s coach at Damar, said:
“I am surprised Rachael said she was not academic at school as the work she submitted was exceptional quality. This was verified by her wonderful results of 100% in both exams, an overall distinction. I have no doubt she will be as successful in her business management degree as she was in her management apprenticeship. I think it’s all about believing in yourself and that is something Rachael learnt how to do. As leaders we need to tell someone when they are doing well, and people will start to believe it. Rachael’s manager believed in her too, that’s why she was given extra responsibilities and impressed everyone around her with her leadership abilities. Why would I ever change this coaching job when I have the privilege to add value to the ‘Rachael’s’ around me. It’s not like work, it’s a hobby.”