Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Level 7)
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Description
Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) are experienced clinicians who demonstrate expertise in their scope of practice. ACPs manage defined episodes of clinical care independently, from beginning to end, providing care and treatment from the time an individual first presents through to the end of the episode, which may include admission, referral or discharge or care at home. They carry out their full range of duties in relation to individuals’ physical and mental healthcare and in acute, primary, urgent and emergency settings (including hospitals, general practice, individuals’ homes, schools and prisons, and in the public, independent, private and charity sectors). They combine expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership within their scope of practice. Advanced Clinical Practitioners work innovatively on a one-to-one basis with individuals as well as part of a wider team.
Employer Feedback
Feedback from Managers on the benefits the ACP apprenticeship has brought to the organisation:
”Improved patient access to highly trained and skilled clinicians who are able to autonomously treat, assess and manage a variety of presentations.”
”Has improved urgent capacity in the short term. Learner has developed across the 4 pillars of advanced practice and are now much more autonomous practitioners. Patients are being seen by highly skilled practitioner who is able to provide right care in right place at right time.”
”Apprentice has grown in confidence and is able to see more complex patients under supervision. This has enabled the practice to increase appointments for the on call improving the service to patients.”
”Succession planning for ACP role which is difficult to recruit to, so is enabling a “grow our own” approach. Developing trainee in 4 pillars advanced practice. Gaining confidence and competence in all of these areas. Improved access for patients to see appropriate clinician early.”
”Apprentice has gained more confidence in developing role, has a better clinical understanding which improved patient care, has a better understanding of the contractual/business needs of the practice.”
Duration
24 months
Most Suitable For
Those wanting to combine expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership within their scope of practice. This course is for registered health care practitioners; such as AHP, Nurse, Pharmacist.
Award
Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship Award and a Master's Degree (MSc) in Advanced Clinical Practice
Additional Funding
For Primary Care Employers:
-
NHSE ACP Training Grant. Funding details and application instructions are usually announced in December relating to course intakes for the following academic year.
Employers will ALSO need to apply for the apprenticeship itself via the training hub. Sep 2025 – March 2026 NHSE ACP Training Grant offer is now open for applications: This training grant is to support employers and relates to intakes between September 2025 – March 2026 (traditional or apprenticeship). The deadline to apply for the training grant is Wednesday 12th February 2025 and the outcome of the process will be sent in April 2025. Employers, please follow
this link for more information and to apply for the training grant.
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
Teaching Delivery
Blended with both face-to-face (Bolton Campus) and online teaching and resources
Key Learning Requirements
Apprenticeships require learners to achieve specific new knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs), which are detailed in the Apprenticeship Standard. These are achieved by;
1) Programme Teaching; usually 1 day a week
2) Independent study; such as assignment/project 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.
Modules
This programme enables employer and learner to choose some of the modules. A list of modules is available on the course webpage or course materials
Placements
Placements are required.
Assessments
Assessments include essays, reports, presentations, set exercises and portfolios. Final year will involve a work based research project. Assessment methods will vary according to each module’s content and desired outcome. Apprenticeships are assessed at the end of programme by End Point Assessment.
Key Candidate Entry Requirements
• Employed minimum 30 hours a week in a suitable role for the duration of the apprenticeship
• Evidence of English and Maths at GCSE C/4/Functional Skills Level 2/Equivalent or above is required at application stage due to the nature and level of the programme. An initial diagnostic assessment will also be completed by Bolton at application stage.
• Normally expected to have an Honours Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, followed by a minimum of 4 years post-qualification work experience, with at least 1 year working knowledge of the speciality field and current registration relevant to your area of practice (for example, as an allied health professional, healthcare scientist, nurse, pharmacist, or public health professional)
• Enhanced DBS (within 3 years’ of course start date)
The university will consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
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
• Unified Learning Environment Audit (ULE). Locality GPEF with support with these checks/process
• Registered Practitioner to mentor the apprentice. This can be either an ACP with 2 or more years post qualification experience in the relevant area of practice or a GP who is a qualified mentor/ trainer. If the learner is doing independent prescribing as part of the course, they will also need a prescribing supervisor.
Listed as an Approved Provider under an NHS Procurement
Yes
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.
Please note Applications for the NHSE ACP Training Grant will usually need to be completed earlier.
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.
• ACP Support: Once on programme, the Training Hub ACP Lead will provide learners with more details and support options, such as links to the ACP forum.
• Placement Support: Once on programme, the Placement Manager and ACP Lead are able to assist with queries.
• Visit our
ACP webpage for more information on the role in Primary Care, plus further training, support and resources.
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 development via apprenticeship options could include; Coaching Professional, various Management/Leadership options.
HASO Apprenticeship pathway tool is available
hereCareer 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
10/09/24
Programme Resources
If you would like to know anything further about the programme itself, please contact: Dian Huyton, ACP Apprenticeships Course Lead , University of Bolton, [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
