Results season can be a stressful time for young people, especially if they are left feeling disappointed or confused with what their next steps could be. Stefanie Maudsley who works in our Perinatal Service shares her unconventional story of how taking her A Level exams in her twenties started her journey to becoming a NHS Consultant Mental Health Nurse.
Students across Lancashire and South Cumbria may be faced with difficult decisions this week following their exam results. It can be easy to assume that students have to decide their future career paths now and that there is little opportunity to change your path after leaving full time education. Stef Maudsley from LSCft knows this isn’t the case after leaving full time education at 16 and returning to study A Levels in her early twenties.
Stef explains:
“After completing my GSCEs I fell completely out of love with school and I knew at that stage I didn’t want to continue full time education and go to college. Instead I started working full time at my local council as an apprentice administrator.
I really enjoyed being able to work and attend Runshaw College for one day a week throughout the qualification as it meant I was earning money unlike some of my friends. I gained my Level 3 in Business Administration and was delighted to secure a permanent job, and gain lots of useful lifelong skills.”
Stef continued to work in admin based roles and progressed to working at BAE Systems, before her outlook completely changed when she became pregnant with her daughter.
Stef continues:
“My first real contact with the NHS was in my early twenties when I was pregnant with my daughter. The care I received really inspired me to want to work in the NHS and care for people, so I started to explore my options. Taking A Level exams in your twenties isn’t regarded as the normal route, but you can do it and I’m so glad that I did!
It’s important to stay open minded about where your career might take you. Some people have their career paths mapped out from an early age and others take longer, both of these scenarios are okay and can lead to great things.”
Stef returned to education and studied A Level Biology and Chemistry before starting her Mental Health Nursing Degree at UCLan. Whilst at University and caring for her young child, Stef also worked additional shifts at her local hospital to gain further experience and earn money.
Stef adds:
“After qualifying I began working as a mental health nurse and quickly recognised that I wanted to work with families but especially mothers and their babies. Perinatal mental health is my passion, I may not have taken the traditional route in the usual time, but I did what was best for me and my family.
I love being able to combine my clinical role with leadership responsibilities and that’s what initially attracted me to work at LSCft. I feel so supported and valued in my current role as a Consultant Mental Health Nurse.”
LSCft are always looking to recruit people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience as this helps to understand the different needs of service users and provide the best possible service.
Stef concludes:
“If you’re left feeling disappointed or confused after opening your results this week, my advice would be firstly to not panic and remember these results do not define you or your career prospects. Instead spend time with people who inspire you and ask lots of questions, you are travelling your own path.
If you do feel like you or someone close to you needs mental health support after their results reach out for help.”
We have a variety of self-help guides covering a wide range of topics including anxiety, depression and low mood and sleeping problems which are available on the self guide website page.
You can view our latest vacancies on our vacancies page.
