17 staff graduate from the University of Northampton

This weekend the Royal and Derngate theatre was full of smiling students and their families, as the University of Northampton hosted its winter graduation ceremonies. Among the graduates were a group of staff from St Andrew’s Healthcare, who have all been supported by the charity while they gained a degree qualification.

The staff members completed the ASPIRE programme – a two year, fast-track programme for Healthcare Assistants which allows them to combine their learning and experience and jump straight into the second year of the University of Northampton’s Mental Health Nursing degree. The cohort have all been able to complete a nursing degree in two years, with a £15,000 per annum salary support initiative from St Andrew’s.

Ged Rogers, Clinical Education Manager for St Andrew’s is exceptionally proud of them all. He explained: “This cohort of Aspire students include some of the first to come into the programme through our level 4 Certificate in Mental Health route. Many began without having any formal educational attainment or studied at any level in decades; they have shown that with the right support and determination to succeed you can achieve success.

Emma Swain, Aspire Programme Facilitator, added “All of the students in this cohort have demonstrated high standards across their training. They have all been a pleasure to manage and follow through their individual journeys and collectively have helped to set the standards for future cohorts. We have no doubt that they will excel in their roles as nurses and future leaders within the charity and we are exceptionally proud of them all. “

Since completing their studies last September, the 17 graduates have all been working back at St Andrew’s Healthcare in the role of staff nurse.

Congratulations to:

• Evans Akyeampong (who also won the Being Brilliant Award for Excellence in Learning Disability Nursing)
• Philip Labrum
• Clare Lynes
• Emma Matthews
• Rahman Olusesi
• Antoinette Sam
• Georgia Tipler

Who all graduated from the BSc (Hons) Learning Disability Nursing course.

Also, congratulations to:

• Olaitan Ajala*
• Radu Babut
• Anna Gray
• Anthony Harris (who also won the Being Brilliant Award for Excellence in Mental Health Nursing)
• James Murray
• Sean Murray
• Ben Porter
• Nina Rowson
• Stacey Spooner
• Carl Webb

Who all graduated from the BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing course.

Ged added: “The ASPIRE programme owes its success to the excellent partnership between St Andrew’s and the University developed across the past few years, and the hard work of the students. The two organisations undertake joint interviewing for places, ensuring we are able to select students that meet a high standard in both person-centred and academic standards. Those selected benefit from continued support from both organisations throughout their training but really are a credit to themselves and the nursing profession.”

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*Olaitan Ajala graduated from the University of Bedfordshire.