Health & Social Care Team Wins Prestigious Beacon Award

SOUTH Devon College is celebrating after being announced as an AoC Beacon Award winner. The Awards, which this year celebrate 15 years of rewarding outstanding teaching and learning in further education colleges, were announced at a ceremony hosted by comedian, writer, musician and philanthropist, Tony Hawks, at the AoC’s annual conference in Birmingham.

The college won the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Benefit Solutions Award for Health and Community Care for its training of higher level support workers in the NHS.

Students at South Devon College have the opportunity to obtain a foundation degree linked to the University of Plymouth in Healthcare Practice, which is aimed at developing the role of Assistant Practitioner within the NHS.

There is a strong partnership between South Devon College, South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Torbay Care Trust, with students often progressing to roles in the NHS such as Assistant Practitioner in Occupational Therapy and Assistant Practitioner in Cardiology.

The UK-wide Beacon Awards provide national recognition for excellence and innovation as well as acknowledging the talents of staff at all levels who work in the further education college sector, with South Devon College one of 23 winners this year.

Heather Maxwell principal of South Devon College, said: “I am delighted that the Health & Social Care team at South Devon College have won this prestigious Beacon Award.

The Beacon assessors were extremely impressed by the quality of the teaching & learning and community links undertaken by this outstanding team.”

South Devon College will host a local celebration event in the New Year and receive a certificate at a national presentation ceremony due to be held at Westminster in February 2009.