Eleanor Langridge

I started my working life as a nurse and midwife and 16 years ago following a change of career entered the area of adult learning. However, I had always seen teaching as an important part of my work and in particular vocational learning so it was a natural progression. I have worked in heath, social care and the voluntary sector as well as a a number of other related areas all of which have contributed to a greater understanding of the sector.  I have also worked as an External Verifier for City & Guilds.

I have undertaken workforce research for the Learning and Skills Council which informed their strategic plans.

Between 2003 -2004 I worked as an Interim Consultant to the Youth Justice Board working on the Human Resources & Learning Strategy with Youth Offending Teams and Secure Estate (Young Offenders Institutions, secure Local Authority Children's Homes and Training Centres) in the South East Region.

In 2004 I produced an Education and Training Strategy for North East London to support the Implementation of the Single Assessment Process (SAP) for Older People's Services. I also developed a training programme and resources to support the implementation. 

I contributed to and edited, the Nelson Thornes NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care Candidate Handbook and wrote the accompanying Tutor Resource (both published in August 2006) I was the main contributor to the Nelson Thornes BTEC National Diploma in Health & Social Care textbook (published in September 2007).

I have developed a number of distance learning resources related to improving practice in areas such as assessment and case recording.

I believe that learning should inspire and ignite a desire for more from life. It's not just about passing exams and gaining qualifications; learning should be a lifelong journey of self-discovery. Vocational learning should result in small but significant changes to practice as people transfer their learning into action to make  improvements that result in an enriched experience for the people they support as well as greater job satisfaction.

I consider working with people in a supporting role as a privilege and I believe that how we care for those who are less able to do this for themselves demonstrates our humanity and I cannot think of a more important purpose for living life.