Inveralmond Community High School Health Academy

In 1995, Johnson & Johnson launched in the USA the Bridge to Employment (BTE) initiative in an effort to support education by communicating to at-risk students that learning can be meaningful, engaging, and relevant.  The BTE initiative has over the past 12 years been successfully established in multiple locations throughout the USA with an additional site being developed in County Cork, Ireland.

The BTE initiative consists of a long term partnership among businesses,  school and college education, community groups and parents.  These partnerships have set a high standard of academic learning for youth and an equally high standard of instruction for teachers.  They have motivated young people to perform better in school by demonstrating the relevance of academic learning.  The partnerships have introduced young people to a range of careers in health care, and have given them real world experience through internships, job shadowing and community service.

In August 2007 Johnson and Johnson representatives approached the West Lothian Council Director of Education and Cultural services with a proposal to extend the Bridge to Employment initiative to a school within the community of the Ethicon site in Kirkton Campus, Livingston.  As Ethicon has over a period of some years built a close links with Inveralmond Community High School it made sense to offer this supportive programme to that school.  .

The aim of the Bridge to Employment initiative is to support the learning and teaching of the Health Academy, to open students to the opportunities available in the health care industries and to support the students in making informed choices and decisions that ensure a healthy lifestyle and equips them for the world of work. 

The BTE initiative brings added value to the Health Academy course in that it sets the content of the course in a real context resulting in a meaningful impact on students’ future success in the workplace. 

Partnerships are an essential element of the BTE initiative as it engages individuals from the worlds of business, secondary education, further and higher education and community based organisations.

Parental involvement is also key to reinforcing the motivational message carried in the initiative.  During the period of the course delivery parents will kept informed of the student’s progress.  An event is planned for session 2007 – 08 where students and their parents/gaurdians will be invited to meet with the BTE representatives to see at first hand the support mechanisms provided through the BTE initiative for their children.

The requirements of today’s health care industries and of the National Health Service, present increasing challenges to our education system. 

The perceptions of the world of work children and young people form from an early age may not always be well informed or accurate. Misconceptions or lack of knowledge of career opportunities can be challenged through focused educational programmes. 

Johnson and Johnson’s “Bridge to Employment” is one such programme designed to support students through the Health Profession units being taught in Inveralmond Community High School’s Health Academy.

Inveralmond Community High School Health Academy was established in April 2007.  The primary focus was to provide health care career options for the students.

The Health Profession Intermediate 1 course has been developed in partnership with West Lothian Council, the National Health Services and West Lothian College.  The 12 girls undertaking the course over this year and next are in the S3 – S4 stages at school.  Linda Brown, a lecturer in Health Care from West Lothian College, is the College outreach teacher who supports the girls through the course during a two hour period on Wednesday afternoons.

The course consists of nine 40 hour units accredited by the Scottish Qualification Authority at Intermediate level 1:

• Sociology and Psychology for Care
• Health Choices
• Health and Safety for Care
• Understanding Health
• Values and Principles in Care
• Enterprise Activity
• Working with Others
• Problem Solving
• Work Experience

In late February this year the Inveralmond group of students visited the Ethicon Plant in Kirkton Campus, Livingston.  The visit was a great success with the girls enjoying meeting their tour guides over an excellent buffet lunch provided by J&J.  They then divided into groups of 4 and visited various parts of the factory.  The feedback from the group was very positive with the girls indicating that they found the visit informative and enjoyed the warm and friendly atmosphere they encountered.

Next on the programme is work shadowing with the students being matched with employees and shadowing that employee over a couple of hours in an afternoon.