From sewing football boots to shaping futures | MY staff stories

Jayne Greenhough has worked for the Trust for 38 years. In her current role, she supports apprentices and trains new starters in our Healthcare Academy at Dewsbury.

Her first job was a world away from the NHS, sewing football boots for William Lamb. A role that paid well at the time but her heart wasn’t in it. Unsure of her next step, everything changed when her mum, who worked at the old Pinderfields Hospital, took her into work one day. After a quick introduction, her mum’s supervisor simply asked, “when can you start?” and Jayne found herself beginning a whole new path.

She admits to been well looked after at home and had never mopped a floor, but soon discovered that being a domestic, working 7.30am to 1.30pm, was one of the best jobs she’d ever had. Jayne later moved into the Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit (HSDU) and went on to become a health care assistant in elderly medicine. A friend then encouraged her to try cardiology, where she felt incredibly supported. 

The nurses there were “amazing” and always showed her what to do, giving her the chance to learn constantly. Alongside this, she completed an NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care in her own time, a qualification that helped her progress into the role she has today. 

She worked as a health care assistant for 13 years before what began as a secondment in Organisational Development led to a permanent position in PDEU as an Assistant Practice Educator.

Recently, Jayne was nominated for Mentor of the Year at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group Apprenticeship Awards. Though she didn’t win, her nomination captured just how dedicated she is to every apprentice she supports.

Extract from nomination wording (Jayne Smart, Heart of Yorkshire)

“Jayne consistently goes above and beyond for apprentices — from delivering high quality initial training to offering ongoing pastoral support on the wards. She works closely with teams to ensure learners get the help they need, encourages assessors’ professional development, and creates regular opportunities for face to face support. Her commitment ensures every apprentice feels confident, supported and able to succeed.”

Over 300 apprentices have successfully qualified, with 57 currently on programme. She puts this down to the strong relationship the Trust has with the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group team and our commitment to supporting apprenticeships. They give people of all ages the opportunity to learn on the job, develop new skills, open new doors and progress.

Sarah Robson, Lead Clinical Educator, said: “Jayne is dedicated to her work within the team, providing support and guidance to us all. She is kind, approachable and friendly to everyone and will always help wherever she can. This nomination is testament to the work she does every day, and I am proud to work alongside her.

If you are interested in joining our team, you can find out more about the different careers in our "work for us" section.