An Ebbw Vale woman who was supported by Wales’ largest training provider in developing the skills she needed to establish a new role for herself with the NHS is urging others in Blaenau Gwent to reflect on their own skills as the UK economy continues on its upward trend.

Rachel Morgan was supported in validating her brand new position as a Health Liaison Nurse with Aneurin Bevan Health Board through the completion of her Level 5 Leadership Management Qualification (ILM), which is now available at Level 4 to assist those in Blaenau Gwent not in education or work for more than 16 hours a week.

Rachel, 38, grew keen to return to her former specialism of working with adults with learning disabilities and, when a new role was created within her chosen field, decided to strengthen her competency and confidence by enrolling on the ILM Level 5 course with ACT Training last summer .

Now she is urging anyone whose own career development may have stalled in recent years to take advantage of the free scheme too, after the skills she gained as part of the qualification helped Rachel justify her recruitment to the role.

Rachel, a Health Liaison Nurse for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “As the health liaison role and service area is completely new, the reporting and evaluation skills I learned as part of the ILM qualification have proved invaluable in feeding back to my superiors.

“I saw the opportunity to study for this free qualification on a friend’s Facebook page and the timing could not have been better – it taught me skills that as a nurse you just don’t have the opportunity to employ on a daily basis otherwise.”

Rachel said: “I feel completing the ILM has also given me the edge when looking toward other opportunities too, I feel, and provided me with the opportunity to progress within my current position too.”

Funded by the European Social Fund and led by the University of South Wales, participants aged 16 to 65 can get access the QWEST programme directly through ACT Training which can help with CV writing, work experience, job searches and overall career planning and advice.