Karthika's Story

The Challenge

Karthika had moved from India to Leicester six years earlier and had built up steady experience as a healthcare support worker in a community care setting. She was a valued member of her team and had completed her Care Certificate in her first year, but she had never held a full diploma-level qualification in the UK. Her manager had mentioned more than once that a Level 3 qualification would open the door to a Band 3 NHS Healthcare Assistant post with a higher salary band – but Karthika was uncertain about the process, unsure how UK qualifications worked, and worried about studying in her second language.

Why learndirect

Karthika called learndirect after searching online for diplomas in health and social care and found the process of making the enquiry itself reassuring. “The person I spoke to explained everything clearly – the level, the units, the time commitment, how the assessment worked. I didn't feel confused or rushed.” The written-assignment format suited her well: she found that having time to compose her responses carefully and draw on her own care practice meant the language barrier was far less significant than she had feared. Her tutor encouraged her to write about real situations from her work, which gave her confidence that her experience was directly relevant to the qualification content.

The Outcome

Karthika completed the TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care and applied successfully for a Band 3 Healthcare Support Worker post at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust – an increase in her annual salary to £24,071. She has also been encouraged by her new manager to consider the TQUK Level 5 as the next stage in her career. “This qualification gave me confidence I didn't know I had,” she said. “I know what I'm doing is the right standard, and now I have the paper to show it.”