Meet our health and social care Sector Development Officers
Together, Dave Dale and Sheila Hudson make up the full-time health and social care Sector Development Officer post at the Sheffield College.
Dave combines his role with that of Healthcare Partnership Manager, and Sheila's responsibilities run alongside those of her other Higher Futures function as IAG and Transition Officer.
Both joined the Sheffield College in 2004, Sheila as an Aimhigher Transition Adviser and Dave as the Manager of the Health and Social Care CoVE (Centre of Vocational Excellence), so their experience, knowledge and contacts made them ideal candidates for the sector development post.
"The role fits very well with our priorities of employer engagement," said Sheila, "And, as Dave was already the CoVE Manager and Healthcare Partnership Manager for the college, it dovetails very well."
Dave agreed, "The really interesting part of my multi-faceted job is that there is often a Higher Futures opportunity that comes out of other aspects of my role."
The two have worked hard to secure Higher Futures' first employer-based progression agreement, a task that has seen them facilitate dialogue and collaboration between Higher Futures' university partners and a major local employer, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
"The by-products of working in partnership are great," enthused Sheila, "It's great to be able to see beyond your own institution and share ideas and initiatives with others in partner organisations."
Dave and Sheila have certainly embraced the spirit of collaboration. They have used their knowledge and enthusiasm to galvanise employers, stakeholders and partner institutions alike, tackling "thorny" issues such as Level 2 literacy and numeracy in higher education admissions, mapping clear progression pathways in the health and social care sector and providing vital links between learners, employers and providers.
The pair is keen to create structures, networks and progression agreements that will outlive the project. Leaving a lasting legacy is important, and attention is now turning to sustainability.
"Higher Futures is now part of the fabric of the networks that exist across the sector," observed Dave, "Sustainability would be the real achievement."
Dave Dale and Sheila Hudson are based at the Castle Centre of the Sheffield College. Dave can be contacted at david.dale@sheffcol.ac.uk or on 0114 260 3622. Sheila can be contacted at sheila.hudson@sheffcol.ac.uk or on 0114 260 2448.