Assistant Practitioner (Level 5)
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Description
Assistant Practitioners work as part of the wider health and social care team and have direct contact with patients, service users or clients providing high quality and compassionate care. Assistant Practitioners work at a level above that of Healthcare Support Workers and have a more in-depth understanding about factors that influence health and ill-health (e.g. anatomy and physiology). Assistant Practitioner is a job title applied to a very wide variety of roles that have been developed locally by employers to meet individual service need.
Duration
24 months
Most Suitable For
Healthcare Support Workers. Other roles and experience will be considered on an individual basis
Award
Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship award and Foundation Degree in Assistant Practitioner.
Additional Funding
For all Employers:
- If apprentice is under the age of 25, Employer may not have to pay Class 1 Employer National Insurance. Full details and criteria are found here.
- For apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2024 - 31 July 2025, employer may be eligible for £1,000 if apprentice is aged 16 - 18 years old, OR aged 19 - 24 years old and has either an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan provided by their local authority and / or has been in the care of their local authority. Full details and criteria are found within the ESFA Funding Rules.
- Some Councils are providing incentive payments to local small employers who recruit and employ young apprentices. To find out more, including eligibility and how to apply for an incentive, please visit Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub (details within the GRANT presentation)
- Lancashire County Council incentive is £3,000 for 100 Lancashire employers
- Chorley Council incentive is £1,500 for Chorley employers
- Fylde Borough Council incentive is £5,000 for Fylde employers recruiting a new apprentice who is a Fylde resident.
Start Date
Usually September and January/February
Teaching Delivery
Mainly face-to-face (Bolton) with some online delivery. Virtual/ asynchronous learning for those outside of Greater Manchester. Potential in the future for blended delivery and national sites, this will be checked on an indivdual basis.
Key Learning Requirements
Apprenticeships require learners to achieve specific new knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs), which are detailed in the Apprenticeship Standard. These are acheived by;
1) Programme Teaching: on campus teaching 1 day a week. There may be some online delivery on occassion.
2) Independent study: such as assignment research and write up.
3) Learning in the workplace; shadowing colleagues, completing programme assigned work based projects, day-to-day development within your current role duties/work activities, reflections with mentor, relevant training sessions.
4) External Placements: Bolton requires learners to complete a minimum of 6 placement days during the 2 year programme (e.g. community services or shadowing PCN based AHPs).
Modules
This programme enables employer and learner to choose some of the modules. This includes profession specific modules in Nursing, IAPT, Adult, Child, and various AHP routes. This is done part way through year 1 with support from the university. A list of modules is available on the course webpage or course materials.
Placements
Placements are required.
Assessments
Apprentices will be assessed throughout the programme by assignments, observations, evaluations, work-based learning modules and End Point Assessment.
Key Candidate Entry Requirements
• Employed 30 hours or more per week for the duration of the apprenticeship. The apprenticeship duration may be extended to support staff who work less than this (will be looked at on individual basis)
• Preferably, evidence of English and Maths at GCSE C/4 or above /Functional Skills Level 2 / Equivalent. (If the candidate does not have evidence of Maths and English at the relevant level, there are two options;
1. via NHSE funded online revision and exams. Contact Training Hub Apprenticeship Team for more details.
2. Or, Training Provider will support the learner through the relevant learning and exams, alongside their apprenticeship. An initial diagnostic assessment will be completed by the Training Provider at application stage to determine suitability for this option)
• Level 3 study (or sufficient practical experience will be considered on an individual basis)
• Care Certificate (can be achieved on the programme if do not already have)
• Plus recent Enhanced DBS (Employer’s responsibility)
Full requirements and details are found on the course webpage/information.
Key Employer Entry Requirements
• Ensure Learner has the support and opportunities to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship.
• A Registered Practitioner to mentor the apprentice. This will include; supporting the learner to achieve competencies and completing sign off duties and catch-ups with the learner to ensure they are on track. The mentor will attend tripartite review meetings on behalf of the employer (these take place usually every 12 weeks between the university, employer and the learner).
Listed as an Approved Provider under an NHS Procurement
Higher Procurement AHP Adapted Standards: This provider is approved as having a programme offer that aligns to the Allied Health Profession's Support Worker Competency, Education, and Career Development Framework for for Dietetics, OT, Physio, Rehab/Combined Therapy and S< pathways.
Application Timescale
It takes on average 2 – 3 months to complete all application stages for this programme.
If recruiting to this position, additional time will be required for recruitment and advertising stages.
Additional Training Hub Support
Primary Care Employees:
• Have access to all resources provided by the L&SCPC Training Hub such as Digital training, Health and Wellbeing support and events. There are also various profession pages that include specfic training and resources suitable for this role.
Social Care Employees:
• Have access to all resources provided by the L&SCSC Training Hub such as training, Health and Wellbeing support and events.
Pathway
On successful completion of this apprenticeship, examples of further apprenticeship options include; Allied Health Professional route (various options e.g. Enhanced Clinical Practitioner/Physiotherapist/Dietitian/Occupational Therapist) or Nursing Top Up.
HASO Apprenticeship pathway tool is available
here Career progression does not have to be linear. Entry criteria may differ per provider and varied routes may be available depending on the individuals prior learning and experience.
Information Last Updated
16/09/2024
Programme Resources
If you would like to know anything further about the programme itself, please contact: Helen Higginson, Apprenticeship Development Lead, Lecturer in Health & Social Care / Practice Trainer, School of Health & Society, Faculty of Health & Wellbeing, The University Of Bolton, on 01204 903521 or 07771 390069 or [email protected]
How to Apply
If you would like to discuss or apply for an apprenticeship either for yourself, a member of staff or a vacancy for a new recruit, please complete the appropriate Training Hub Expression of Interest Form from the following options. This allows the apprenticeship team to complete basic pre-checks and to ensure the advice and guidance provided to you is tailored to your service. When relevant, application instructions (including tuition fee and funding instructions) will be sent.
Primary Care Online Expression of Interest Form. If you would like to discuss anything first, please email [email protected] or call Olivia on 07735161775
Social Care Online Expression of Interest Form. If you would like to discuss anything first, please email [email protected] or call Dawn on 07796 060023
