Sonia Hedegaard is Health Visiting Programme Manager Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and is undertaking a two year Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship at Kent Business School, graduating this year.
“I have developed mental agility and have improved my performance at work”
I work as part of the senior management team for the Kent Health Visiting Service as a Health Visiting Programme manager. The service delivers the Healthy Child Programme in accordance with national and local strategies and guidance. I work with the Head of Operational Services and District Managers to ensure the development of a modernised Health Visiting service in response to the current national and local policy.
The apprenticeship course was advertised at work. I could see the benefits for my personal and professional development and felt I could deepen my knowledge and apply what I learned to my working life
The course is stimulating, challenging and I can map my growth. I have developed mental agility and it has enhanced my performance at work in so many ways. This includes being an independent thinker, increased quality and depth to projects that I lead on and improved ability in my application to task.
The module on Leadership and Change was my favourite, it covered leadership traits, change management and what makes a leader. This is of course, such a big topic but a valuable subject to explore.
I decided to concentrate my assignment on emotional intelligence as being the most important leadership trait for a leader. Researching this topic gave me an awareness of some values for staff with a leader who has emotional intelligence.
The hardest element of the MBA is working full time and studying. I think it is important to be determined, organised, and driven. Time management is vital and concentrating on the task or assignment due and then methodically moving to the next deadline.
I know that my course will enhance career opportunities for the future and offers personal and professional development, networking opportunities and demonstrates to my employer that I have resilience, determination and commitment to deliver.
The University of Kent has delivered higher apprenticeships since 2011, working with industry-leading employers across a variety of industry sectors and public organisations. For more information, visit http://www.kent.ac.uk/apprenticeships
AMBA-accredited, Kent Business School’s MBA is underpinned by our high-quality research and informed by the global outlook of our international community. It builds on your current experience to transform you into a responsible business leader.