“Hello my name is Nikki and I have been recording my journey so far in becoming a 111 health advisor and wanted to answer a couple of questions we often get asked, enjoy!”

Why NHS 111?

After many years working in the hospitality industry, I was looking for a new challenging career. Since the pandemic working in hospitality just wasn’t the same anymore and there was no job security for me. I had always been interested in a career within the NHS and as soon as I saw the job advert, I applied. The application and interview process was straightforward and here I am today explaining a little bit about my journey so far.

I knew that being a 111 health advisor was completely different from what I was used to, yet I was excited to start a new journey. The job will be very challenging at times however it will be rewarding knowing that I have provided patients with the care or advice that they need and deserve. I have always enjoyed working with the public, helping people has always been important to me.

What did you do on your first day of training?

There were a few IT glitches but this enabled the group I was in to do a team-building exercise in which we had to explain a little bit about ourselves and our background to get to know each other. I was asked to do some pre-module learning at home and the training team made sure everybody had access to a computer to do so. It gave me a little insight into what I would be focusing on in the coming weeks.

How long is the training?

The training is for six weeks. For the first three weeks and two days, I was based in a classroom environment and then after this, I went over to the regional headquarters at Estuary Point to learn how to use the phones and start my preceptorship*. I had to complete two assessments in order to carry on training which does seem a little bit nerve-wracking but it wasn’t anything to panic about as you are taught everything you need to know in order to pass them. The training team is amazing and so supportive and is with you every step of the way.

*Preceptorship is supervised calls and in this time you can gain the confidence and knowledge to be able to carry out your calls alone.

What are your first impressions?

I felt completely overwhelmed at first as I didn’t know what to expect and it was something completely different to what I was used to. Once I had got home from my first day at Estuary Point learning how the phones and screens work, I couldn’t wait to go back in to start my preceptorship.

What is your work environment like?

It is lovely – it is light, spacious and modern. Although I was new, nobody made me feel like I was new and everybody was very welcoming and engaging. I knew I had made the right decision in applying to become a 111 health advisor.

We’ll be catching up with Nikki for part two of her diaries pretty soon! Good luck!