Talented trio represent UCB at WorldSkills health and social care competition

Three promising UCB health and social care students with “natural ability” are off to demonstrate their talents at the regional heat of WorldSkills UK.

Jasmin Muzein, Alisha Rehman and Aisha Samah Hussein will be pitting the skills they are learning at UCB against 92 other 16-19 year old students from across the UK in the competition to identify the care sector’s rising stars.

From Monday 24 June to Wednesday 26, the Level 3 Health and Social Care students will be put through a variety of practical exercises designed to support individuals to maintain their independence, dignity and control.

Using professional actors and actresses, they will have to demonstrate skills such as diabetes care, look after an individual who has had a stroke and run a health and wellbeing clinic.

They also need to show they have excellent communication skills to guarantee the best patient care and a working knowledge of health and safety.

Three winners will be chosen each day of the heat at South Devon College’s Centre for Health Care Professionals in Torquay to go to the UK national finals at the NEC in November, where students will compete from across the sectors.

Those with the highest marks from more than 70 disciplines will then be selected for Squad UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2021.

UCB health and social care lecturer Sarah McCarthy said they entered Aisha, Jasmin and Alisha because of their natural ability and caring nature.

“I have been a judge at WorldSkills and know that this is what they are looking for,” she said. “The three also have a willingness to learn and keep progressing, and are fantastic problem-solvers – all-round great students who will go far.

“Whether they win or not, competing at WorldSkills will look brilliant on the personal statements of their university applications.”

In line with UCB’s commitment to provide real-life work experience as an integral part of its courses, the trio have been able to hone their skills through a diverse selection of placements.

Alisha, an 18-year-old volunteer with St John’s Ambulance who aspires to be a paramedic when she finishes her studies, worked in a cardiology unit, learning everything from safeguarding to infection control.

Jasmin, 18, who wants to train to be either a nurse or paramedic when she finishes her course, worked at Ardenlea Grove care home in Solihull, learning vital skills including personal care.

Youngest of the three Aisha, aged 16, worked at Little Angels private nursery in Hodge Hill, reading to the 0-3 year olds, teaching them the alphabet and helping them begin to form vital life skills and improve their confidence.

Jasmin said they were really looking forward to competing, following in the footsteps of Lauren Stansbie, who won third place at the regional heats of the WorldSkills last year as UCB’s first ever entrant in the competition.

“It’s a chance to put what we are learning into practice under proper pressure,” she said. “We’re really excited.”

UCB health and social care lecturer Gemma Plume will also be joining Sarah and the students over the three days.

“I went last year to support Lauren and know the assessors will, literally, be watching everything, which is quite intimidating, but thrilling too,” she said.

“Jasmin, Alisha and Aisha will be out there on their own, from 8.30am to around 7pm at night, but we will be there to support them and give them advice whenever we can,” she said. “We wish them the very best of luck.”

Find out more about studying health and social care at UCB and courses with the School of Education, Health and Community.