Diantae, a Biomedical Sciences student, has been working with PBL Care as a Health Administrator as part of the University’s Micro-Placement scheme which runs over the summer. Following the placement, Diantae has gone on to secure a role at the company following completion of her course.
Tell us about your placement at PBL Care?
My role at PBL Care was as a Healthcare Administrator, assisting the Head of HR and the wider support staff in the team. A typical day would consist of answering calls regarding various requests and questions, filing important information about care workers and their service users and interviewing new staff members for various roles in the company. Additionally, I worked alongside other staff members to manage care worker rotas, care plans and online organisation. This placement has been valuable for me both professionally and personally.
I have improved my efficiency when handling multiple tasks at once, knowing when to prioritise and when to divert tasks to the relevant colleague. I have also learned how to adapt very quickly, being switched between different areas of the job to fill in for many staff members. I have practiced ethical handling through GDPR procedures and have interviewed clients, allowing me to observe both sides of the role. This has allowed me to improve my productivity, allowing me to focus on tasks and finish them relatively quickly.
Personally, I have developed my social skills a lot, fitting in with the other workers and building relationships. Working in various departments has allowed me to improve many skills and work with many different staff members, resulting in me being offered a job when I am no longer in full time education. I feel this has prepared me for my future career as a psychiatrist, in which I will be dealing with multiple clients and handling their paperwork.
This placement has helped me to improve how I manage different tasks and clients at the same time and how I develop working relationships, all while maintaining safeguarding values. It has allowed me to be very independent, with staff members guiding me and trusting me with the responsibility to carry out those tasks independently, which allowed me to thrive in the workplace.
Tell us about the application process and how you prepared for this?
I found the role through the Careers team at BCU and applied immediately. I filled out an application form and the next day I was called in for an interview. Upon attending, my literacy and numeracy skills were tested, as well the interview consisting of numerous questions regarding my compassion, skills and knowledge. After the interview, I received an offer of employment for my placement and was scheduled in a few weeks.
I met with my Careers Advisor regarding my application to make them aware that I had applied for this role and to check any other information they could offer me regarding the placement process. I did my research on the company and found that it had excellent reviews and had won several awards for domiciliary care. I practiced interview questions to prepare myself prior to being called in. After I had received my offer, I attended placement training at the University to improve my Excel skills and printer knowledge to make sure I was fully prepared for the role.
Biomedical Science at BCU
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What have been your top highlights?
My highlights have been meeting the team and working with each different role, observing how they all coincide and fit together, allowing the company to progress smoothly. I have also enjoyed seeing how the company handles conflict as it has taught me a lot about professionalism. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the company as it is evident that there is a family-based environment and it was extremely welcoming.
I have also enjoyed the independence as it felt very easy to complete my tasks without guidance and boosted my confidence in the workplace. My challenges were initially the social aspect as I can be quite anxious, meaning I was nervous to answer calls. However, with time, I found that they came quite easy and I had learned so much from working here that I knew exactly who to contact or how to answer the request. Initially, I was concerned about the hours as Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, can be quite draining for a student especially as I have other extra-curriculars. Though I found that you find a routine, and I do look forward to coming in everyday because I enjoy the job and the people.
Any advice for students currently thinking about undertaking a placement?
My advice to placement students would be to find a placement that allows you to develop your skills and benefit, rather than a placement in which you believe you would already be good at. I have found that I gained a lot out of this experience because I was learning and completing tasks that I had little to no experience in, making me a more well-rounded individual. I would suggest a summer placement or a micro-placement if you are completing a course that does not include a placement within it, as you gain experience and knowledge without having to commit to a long-term position.
I would also suggest researching the company and location first, as you can learn a lot about the tasks you may be expected to complete and organise your schedule around your placement, making the transition smoother. Overall, I thoroughly recommend completing a micro-placement, especially at PBL Care as the staff are incredible individuals. I enjoyed my experience, and I would come back and work for the company.
