STUDENT paramedics are benefitting from work experience placements in nine of Sanctuary Care’s homes across Worcestershire.

A cohort of 18 BSc first year students from the University of Worcester are getting ‘real life’ work experience, with a five-week placement in Sanctuary Care’s homes, including Regent Residential Care Home and Juniper House Residential Care Home in St John’s, Worcester.

The placements, which involve the students remaining at the same home for the full five weeks, help them to develop their communication skills and to give them experience of life in a care home.

Their experience ranges from helping with mealtimes, taking part in activities and shadowing senior care assistants.

In January, a second cohort of around the same number of students will carry out a five-week placement in Sanctuary Care’s homes.

Neil Quinn, Sanctuary Care’s director – human resources, said: “We are really proud to be supporting the University of Worcester by welcoming these aspiring paramedics into our homes.

“The feedback from our teams has been very positive and our residents have really enjoyed spending time with them.

"Intergenerational projects are so important to give people a mutual respect for different generations.

Two of the students at Regent Residential Care Home in School Road, 18-year-olds Siobhan Kirk and Matthew Lloyd, are really enjoying their placements, which finish at the end of November.

The university’s practice lead/senior lecturer paramedic science, Sharon Hardwick, commented: “The university’s new BSc programme provides the students with all the skills and attributes they need to become a paramedic of the future, this placement will focus not only on skills but the more social aspects of the role.

"We are really excited to be working with Sanctuary Care to achieve this.

“Communicating with people during what could be a stressful time can be challenging, the placement opportunities with Sanctuary Care enable the students to develop their communication skills alongside their professionalism in a safe, supportive environment."

Beechwood Residential Care Home in Upton-upon-Severn, Hastings Residential Care Home in Malvern, Heathlands Residential Care Home in Pershor and Westmead Residential Care Home, Droitwich are also taking part in the scheme.