North Shropshire College in Oswestry is proud to highlight the achievements of Ellie, a Level 3 Health and Social Care student, who recently completed a successful health and social care work placement with Connect For Life.
Connect For Life is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation that supports older people in the local community. The organisation provides high-quality day care, meaningful activities, and specialist support for individuals, including those living with dementia.
About Connect For Life
Connect For Life was founded in October 2016 by Alison and Carolyn, both former NHS professionals. Their shared vision was to create a welcoming and inclusive day centre for older people.
Over time, this vision became a reality. Today, Connect For Life offers companionship, wellbeing support, and structured activities that help older people stay socially connected and engaged.
Health and Social Care Work Placement Experience
During her work placement, Ellie supported a wide range of daily activities within a real health and social care setting. This gave her valuable hands-on experience and helped her apply classroom learning in practice.
Her responsibilities included:
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Preparing food
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Supporting group and individual activities
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Cleaning and maintaining a safe environment
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Providing social interaction and emotional support
Most importantly, Ellie worked closely with individuals living with dementia. She helped create a calm, safe, and inclusive environment where participants felt supported and valued.
Ellie’s Reflection on Her Placement
Ellie spoke positively about her experience at Connect For Life. She said:
“During my time at Connect For Life, I engaged in activities with participants and got to know them on a personal level. This widened my understanding of how to support those with specific needs, whilst also building relationships and trust with them. I would highly recommend this placement and couldn’t recommend a better team to have worked with.”
Positive Feedback From Staff
Staff at both North Shropshire College and Connect For Life praised Ellie’s commitment, professionalism, and compassionate approach. This was Ellie’s second health and social care work placement, and she received excellent feedback from staff and service users.
A Lecturer in Health and Social Care at North Shropshire College said:
“A large part of health and social care is about developing people skills. We really value the opportunities provided by organisations like Connect For Life.
Ellie has received lovely feedback from both staff and clients. Her placement experience has boosted her confidence and brought classroom theory to life.”
Preparing for a Career in Health and Social Care
Ellie’s placement has strengthened her passion for working in health and social care. After completing her studies at North Shropshire College, she hopes to progress to university or begin a health and social care apprenticeship.
This successful placement reflects North Shropshire College’s ongoing commitment to providing real-world learning opportunities. These placements help students develop practical skills, confidence, and a clear understanding of careers in health, social care, and community support.
Find Out More About Health and Social Care Courses
To find out more about Health and Social Care courses at North Shropshire College, please visit:
North Shropshire College – HLNSC