A specialist academy which has given hundreds of young people in Hull the opportunity to take their first steps towards a career in health and social care is holding further events in the coming weeks to enrol its next cohort of students.
The Medical, Health and Social Care Academy (MHSCA), part of St Mary’s College Sixth Form in Cranbrook Avenue, was established 10 years ago by the college and the former NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group to support local students onto NHS and Social Care career pathways.
The next open event for potential students, who would start the programme this September, takes place at St Mary’s College Sixth Form next Thursday (16 January) from 4.15pm to 6.45pm, with a further event on the morning of Saturday 1 February.
Cicely Alsbury, the Academy’s Partnership Director, said: “It’s the time of year when many parents are sitting down with their children to discuss post-16 options. We would encourage them to come along to one of our open events to see what we have to offer and the many career possibilities that we can help unlock.
“The number of our former students going on to further education at our local university and then into a rewarding and fulfilling career in health and care in our local workforce speaks volumes about the Academy and our results.”
The two-year Medical, Health and Social Care Academy programme sits alongside students’ sixth form studies and is delivered in partnership with local NHS organisations and higher education providers, Hull University and Hull York Medical School.
Since its inception, more than 750 students have been through the Academy, with more than half going on to start careers in the NHS, social care and third sector care organisations.
Jayne Adamson, Executive Director of People at NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which picked up the mantle when clinical commissioning groups were replaced by ICBs, added: “We know many children and young people might be considering a career in health and care. The Medical, Health and Social Care Academy has already proven to be a terrific stepping stone for teenagers who want to turn those dreams into reality.”