Katrin: Supporting Early Years Through Experience and Resilience

Background

Katrin Bruce is a dedicated childcare professional and working mother with over 15 years of experience in early years support. As a German national married to a British Armed Forces veteran, Katrin has spent much of her life relocating both within the UK and internationally to support her husband’s military career. These frequent moves developed her adaptability, cultural awareness, and resilience, while strengthening her commitment to supporting children and families.

Katrin's journey to NHS Scotland

Following a recent move back to Scotland, Katrin sought to continue her professional career, Initially within an early years setting, and is now looking to move to the NHS. Despite her significant experience, navigating qualification recognition presented initial challenges due to differences between international and UK frameworks.

 Through the Armed Forces Talent Programme (AFTP) and targeted Hiring Manager Awareness Sessions, NHS Fife and NHS Lanarkshire were able to fully recognise Katrin’s European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Level 6 equivalent skills and experience and match it against the SCQF. This recognition played a critical role in ensuring her capabilities were accurately understood and valued within NHS recruitment processes.

Now, Katrin has applied for a Community Nursery Nurse role within NHS Fife and in Lanarkshire, a position closely aligned with her professional background. The role focuses on supporting children aged 0–5 and their families through early intervention, behaviour support, and health promotion.

How the AFTP has helped Katrin, a member of the Armed Forces Community

Katrin’s journey highlights the importance of inclusive recruitment practices and the role of the Armed Forces Talent Programme in supporting spouses and family members, not just service leavers. Through improved awareness and understanding of transferable skills and international qualifications, NHS Scotland organisations were able to unlock highly valuable talent.