A St Austell care home is celebrating Vicky Taylor, their first apprentice to embark on the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship programme, following her dream of becoming a nurse.
Vicky, age 27, successfully completed her Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship in late 2024 and is now working towards a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) at Sanctuary Care’s
Trevarna Residential and Nursing Home.
Vicky aspired to be an army combat medic but discovered her passion for the care sector after joining another Sanctuary Care home in Cornwall as a care assistant. She moved to Trevarna last year to embark on her new apprenticeship journey.
Funded by the not-for-profit care provider, Sanctuary Care, in partnership with Plymouth University, the RNDA enables care staff with the right talent and passion to become fully-fledged nurses. Vicky is one of 30 staff members currently undertaking an apprenticeship within the care group.
National Apprenticeship Week 2025, which celebrates the value, benefit and opportunity of apprenticeships, marks Vicky’s seven-year anniversary in care. In her current role, she supports the team to deliver person-centred nursing, residential, dementia, and respite care.
On completion of her apprenticeship, Vicky will be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, where she will move into a permanent role as registered nurse at Sanctuary Care.
Reflecting on her journey, Vicky Taylor said:
“Working in care was meant to be a stop gap, but I ended up loving it so much that I’m now completing my second apprenticeship. When I joined Trevarna Residential and Nursing Home, I wanted to make a difference. I didn’t realise it would be such an enriching career and now, it feels like I have a second family. The residents mean the world to me, and I can’t imagine working anywhere else!
“To graduate as a nurse will be a dream come true. I would encourage anyone considering an apprenticeship to do it, it’s really rewarding!”
Wendy Burt, FHEA Adult Nursing Lecturer and Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Programme Lead at the University of Plymouth said:
“The University of Plymouth is pleased to be working with Sanctuary Care to provide career progression apprenticeships to their dedicated workforce. The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship offers a balance of university-level study, alongside placement experiences enabling application of theory to practice at every step of the learner’s journey.”
Kerry-Ann Lake, Trevarna Residential and Nursing Home’s manager said:
“We are so proud of Vicky for not only completing her first apprenticeship with Sanctuary Care, but for taking on another as she pursues her nursing dream. Vicky is so passionate about supporting our residents in living fulfilled, meaningful and happy lives and will make a wonderful nurse.
“The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship is a great route into nursing and enables our team members to support the nurses in our home, whilst developing their own clinical learning and leadership skills to advance in their personal careers.”
For more information on apprenticeships at Sanctuary Care visit: www.sanctuary-care.co.uk/jobs/learning-and-development.
