Health and Social Care (England)
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care
Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care
Description
In social care the apprentice qualification provides a suitable way to meet the development and qualification needs of a variety of roles and job titles, including care workers, community, support and outreach workers, personal assistance, domiciliary care workers, supervisors and senior care workers. The apprenticeship framework is inclusive of emerging roles in adult social care. As well as being suitable for existing staff, this qualification gives apprentices extensive opportunities to gain employment in the social care sector as well as in some health care roles.
Through completion of this apprenticeship learners will gain broad-based training in the chosen occupational area with a good knowledge base of the sector as a whole, work experience that leads to competency in the work place and transferable skills.
Entry conditions
There are no formal entry conditions for this framework.
Potential apprentices should however be willing to undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service formerly known as CRB – Criminal Records Bureau) check. Employers in social care and in the health sector carry out DBS checks, as this is a requirement for those working in the sectors, and certain offences may disqualify potential apprentices from employment in these sectors and thus automatically preclude them from completing the framework. Potential apprentices should therefore discuss any relevant matters with their employer prior to enrolment.
Whilst there are no formal criteria, people who successfully complete apprenticeships and continue to work in the sector most often exhibit empathy, care and interest in others and want to work in the health or social care sector. Whilst it is practical to upskill staff, successful apprentices tend to come with the values and attitudes compatible with the roles they will be working in.
Potential apprentices should have a suitable level of physical fitness and ability to perform some aspects of the job roles. These may, for example, involve assisting in moving and handling of people.
Examples of desirable skills and attributes in potential apprentices could include:
- motivation to succeed within the sector/s
- good interpersonal skills, effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- respect for people who use the services as individuals
- a suitable level of physical fitness may be necessary in order to perform some aspects of the job roles, for example, assisting and moving people who use the services.
- willingness to undertake training and learning programmes and apply that learning in the workplace
- the ability to demonstrate that they have the potential to complete the Diploma in Health and Social Care and other qualifications that are part of the Apprenticeship framework
- willingness and ability to work both long shifts and irregular shift patterns as across the health and social care sectors provision of care has to be available twenty four hours a day willingness to undertake personal care which includes assistance with dressing, feeding, washing and toileting, as well as advice, encouragement and emotional and psychological support
- an ability to work in small informal teams, demonstrating their listening skills and contributing towards decision making and practice as well as working in more formal teams following procedures
- a positive non-judgemental and open-minded attitude and value-system
- a standard of literacy and numeracy in keeping with the demands of the job
- willingness to undergo a DBS check which is mandatory for all those working directly with patients or service users in the health and social care sectors
- a driving licence may be considered necessary by some employers
Progression
Learners may progress from this pathway onto further qualifications specific to their work context. A wide range of qualifications are available for use within the social care sector. These may include further apprenticeship frameworks (e.g. Advanced level Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care), QCF qualifications or other work-related education and training to support Continuing Professional Development.
Apprentices can also move to other parts of the sector, for example an apprentice specialising in learning disabilities can take a dementia qualification if their job role changes or if they wish to follow career ambitions in another part of the sector.
Advanced level Apprentices can progress to QCF diplomas at level 4 and above (e.g. Higher National Diploma in H&SC or Higher Education), including, where appropriate, opportunities for progression to foundation degrees (e.g. Foundation Degree in H&SC) and higher education certificates.
