Health and Social Care students at Harlow College will have a unique opportunity to experience real life working practices with the unveiling of a fully equipped hospital ward, therapy room and a recreation of an elderly person’s flat on the college campus.

Margaret’s flat has been created using the original fixtures and fittings, as well as more personal possessions including her treasured books and photographs, from the home of Margaret Arnold, an elderly lady who lived in the West Essex area and who has now moved permanently into a care home.

The possessions have been donated by Margaret’s son Andrew and his wife Clare, who were keen for the students to benefit, as Margaret had been a registered nurse for the majority of her professional life.

The flat is made up of all the things that were precious to Margaret, and the family were clearly emotional when they saw it for the first time during the unveiling.

“This is such a great legacy for mum. It's heart-warming to see all these things that I remember so well, like the big button phone and the old videos and things that were on the bookshelves. 

“it's also really important that this flat is going to be used for a practical vocational purpose in an educational environment. With mum having been a nurse it just seems so appropriate that this will be used in a health and social care setting.”

The hospital ward is set up as a four bed adult ward with all the equipment you would expect to find, including hospital standard beds, vital signs monitoring equipment, medicine trolley and nurses station. Valuable input from NHS and social care partners has enabled the ward to be created and will be used by our T Level Health students, giving them the clinical skills they need to become work ready.

As well as the flat and hospital ward, students will also benefit from a therapy room, designed to encourage students to consider careers in allied health professions such as physiotherapy and dietetics.

The rooms were officially opened on 10 November by Harlow MP Robert Halfon who was clearly impressed with the set up.

“It was really inspirational to walk into what is essentially a healthcare centre and meet the nurses, doctors, physios and occupational therapists of the future. It was also important to meet members of Princess Alexandra Hospital who will be able to help students in the future by giving them work placement opportunities. It’s wonderful because that is what vocational qualifications are all about.

“I was also really impressed with Margaret’s flat, and the incredible donation by Andrew and Clare, which will allow the students to really understand what it's like to look after someone in a home. It is something really special and makes this not just a place of education, but also a place of community and support.”

May Win is a first year T Level Health student who is really benefitting from the new facilities.

“It’s great that these facilities are so accessible and so realistic. It really sets us up for our work placements as we are already familiar with the environment.

“I actually start my work placement next week at a day centre in Tye Green, and I already feel very prepared due to learning in this amazing working environment.”  

Philippa Bennett is the Assistant Academy Manager for Health Science and has no doubts as to the huge benefits to her students.

“With over a 100 students studying health and social care, these amazing facilities will be used every day, helping to embed the theory they are learning in the classroom. 

“Our T Levels students are expected to demonstrate the behaviours of a nurse on the ward, including the wearing of uniforms, and have to act in a professional way as soon as they enter the ward. Helping to deliver these skills have been our partners in the NHS who regularly come into college to give workshops and practical demonstrations.”

T Levels are a new qualification that combine classroom theory, practical learning and an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days) with an employer to make sure students have real experience of the workplace.

For more information on T Levels at Harlow College, click here

Andrew and Clare, who kindly donated Margaret’s personal belongings for the flat.

Robert Halfon, MP, with T Level Health students and Philippa Bennett, Assistant Academy Manager for Health Science.

Robert Halfon, MP, talking to Level 2 Health and Social Care students.