Your name: Jade Sapseid
Jade’s time at University Campus Oldham has led her to successfully managing three teams at Tameside, Oldham and Glossop (TOG) Mind – all before graduating in October 2024 with a first-class degree.
Here she shares more about her ‘life-changing’ experience studying BSc (Hons) Health & Social Care.
“I always wanted to work in a career that stretched my abilities and potential,” says Jade. “A career in health and social care would allow me to utilise my existing people skills, as well as helping people to live a meaningful life.”
Jade returned to education after raising her children throughout her twenties. UCO not only offered locality, but the chance to study somewhere that aligned with Jade’s values:
“As an advocate for investing in, supporting and seeking support from the local community, studying at UCO was a privilege.”
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Jade says the course felt ‘tailored’ to her: “I gained fantastic insight into safeguarding, leadership and management, and community development.
“I also learned a great deal about reflection, emotional intelligence, personal and professional values and unconditional positive regard – key characteristics required in this sector.”
Practice-based modules pushed Jade to experience her studies in a ‘real-world’ scenario, and a stand-out moment came in the form of an ‘untraditional’ project: “I created an academic poster on a subject I was passionate about, which allowed me to be creative. The poster was made an exemplar at UCLan [the awarding institution for this degree] and I later used it in a successful job interview.”
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“I particularly enjoyed the phased approach to independent study,” Jade says. “Close guidance in the first year, to near independence by the third year, meant that I was constantly pushed to achieve my best.
“While it may have felt difficult at times, this helped to produce a standard of work I was proud of. Tutors were there if you needed them, but mine empowered me to work independently!”
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Jade has experienced great career development throughout her degree: “I went from working in an unrelated field – retail – in my first year, to securing a management position at a mental health organisation in my third year.
“As cliché as it may sound, this course has changed my life. The knowledge and skills I have learned, as well as the support I accessed in my time at UCO, has left me feeling confident, competent and highly successful in my role.”
