Building a Career in Care – Meet Bartosz
Bartosz’s story shows how the Nursing Associate apprenticeship can turn a first step into care into a meaningful, long-term career.
From Engineering to Care
When Bartosz left his engineering course at college after just a year, he wasn’t sure what direction his future would take. A step into social care, initially intended to “get some experience and try different things,” turned out to be life-changing.
“I grew to be very fond of it… helping people and feeling like you can help make a change.”
A Role with Purpose
Bartosz now works full-time at Strathfield Gardens, part of Lodge Group Care UK, supporting adults with learning disabilities who require 1:1 or 2:1 care. His role is varied and deeply personal: helping residents with daily routines, administering medication, and creating opportunities for meaningful activities such as swimming. For Bartosz, the most rewarding moments are when residents show trust and connection:
“One of the residents asked for me specifically to do an activity with them. That made me feel really happy.”
The Apprenticeship Pathway
Batosz’s opportunity to train as a Nursing Associate at City St George’s University was made possible through our work with The Rayne Foundation. Typically, staff in non-nursing settings cannot access this apprenticeship, but Care City has created the conditions for success: providing additional nursing educator support, funding to help his employer with backfill, and securing the nursing placements he needs to develop strong clinical skills. We have also worked with the university to tailor his learning, including enhanced practical skills sessions, recognising that he is from a non-traditional, non-nursing setting.
This opportunity offered him not just professional growth but a clear career path:
- Debt-free training compared to traditional university routes.
- Practical learning directly linked to his day-to-day work.
- Strong support from both employer and university, helping him balance work and study.
“My manager was aware I wanted to go into nursing… they approached me with the offer. It just seemed perfect.”
Although he admits to being nervous about returning to academic study, he is excited about placements across the four fields of nursing and confident this pathway will make a significant step towards his ultimate aim of becoming a registered nurse in the longer term.
Looking Ahead
Bartosz’s ambition is clear: to qualify as a nurse and continue developing his skills in a way that allows him to make a bigger difference.
“Nursing is definitely the right path for me… somewhere I can continue developing my skills and helping people.”
Why Bartosz’s Story Matters
Bartosz’s journey illustrates how the Nursing Associate apprenticeship transforms care from “just a job” into a meaningful career pathway. It provides:
- Opportunity for individuals to progress without leaving the sector.
- Retention for employers, who can support motivated staff to grow.
- System benefit by creating a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to ease NHS shortages.
Bartosz exemplifies the untapped talent within social care, people who, with proper support, can become the nurses and practitioners our system relies on.
“We’re delighted to be part of this project, not only to support a valued team member through the Nursing Associate apprenticeship (Bartosz is so excited, it’s untrue!), but also to demonstrate the real contribution care providers can make to delivering community-based nursing activities. Working in collaboration with our health partners, we’re showing what’s possible when social care is fully included in developing the future nursing workforce.”
John Timbs, Managing Director, Lodge Group Care UK Ltd
About the programme – How Enhanced Roles are Transforming Health & Social Care in North East London
At Care City we believe the future of care depends on breaking down barriers between health and social care and empowering the workforce at the heart of both. With funding from the Rayne Foundation and working in partnership with local care providers and universities, we are leading a transformational project to develop and embed Nursing Associate and Allied Health Professional (AHP) Assistant Practitioner roles within social care settings.
These new roles bridge the gap between care providers and NHS Trusts, creating clear career pathways for care staff while easing pressure on the NHS, improving health outcomes, and ensuring people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. At a moment when staff shortages and rising demand are stretching services to their limits, this programme shows how “growing our own” skilled workforce within care can deliver lasting change.
