Additional
| Apprenticeship | Senior Healthcare Support Worker |
|---|---|
| Location | Blended |
| Education Provider | Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Level 3)
Senior Healthcare Support Worker (SHSW) provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients or individuals across various healthcare settings. They work under the guidance of registered healthcare professionals, assisting with clinical, therapeutic and diagnostic tasks while supporting patients’ physical and emotional well-being. SHSWs also work in partnership with individuals, families, carers, and other service providers to ensure effective and person-centred care. They always follow standards, policies or protocols and act within the limits of their competence. The role may include specialisations such as adult nursing, theatre, diagnostic imaging or therapy support.
Employer Feedback
Feedback from Managers on the benefits the Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship has brought to the organisation:
”Our apprentice has been an asset to the practice, having them as an apprentice has helped us considerably meet our business needs as it created additional appointments, in turn we have been able to book a variety of patients for our apprentice, and they have gained a lot of confidence doing the different reviews.”
Ribbleton Medical Centre’s feedback on Lancashire Teaching’ Hospital’s programme ” has delivered several measurable and qualitative benefits to the organisation: Strengthening Workforce Capacity and Business Processes, Supporting Service Improvement, Learner Confidence and Professional Development, Benefits to Patients and Service Users, Organisational Culture and Staff Retention”. Please find out more about Ribbleton Medical Centre’s experience of this apprenticeship within this case study.
Duration
15 months
15 months
Most Suitable For
Those already working in a healthcare role with some experience, who are looking to progress to a senior healthcare position and/or advance their knowledge and skills. This programme is ideal for Healthcare Assistants, Healthcare Support Workers and Care Workers
Those already working in a healthcare role with some experience, who are looking to progress to a senior healthcare position and/or advance their knowledge and skills. This programme is ideal for Healthcare Assistants, Healthcare Support Workers and Care Workers
Award
Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Advanced Apprenticeship award and Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Healthcare Support.
Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Advanced Apprenticeship award and Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Healthcare Support.
Programme Cost
£9,000
Tuition fee financial support options, and how to apply for most of these, are detailed in our Apprenticeships Process Employer Guide. Please note the following important changes to apprenticeship tuition fee funding options, for August 2026-July 2027 intakes:
- For non-levy paying employers (most SMEs): the tuition fee will now be 100% gov funded if the candidate is aged 16-24 (or turning 16 June-August 2026). The education provider will advise employer how to secure this during programme application stage. For level 2-6 programmes if candidate is aged 25 or over, both the levy transfer (100% funds) and co-investment (95% funds) options will continue to be available for employers to apply for.
- For levy-paying employers: for all level 2-6 programmes, for both apprentices already on programme and future intakes, the co-investment option has changed to 25% employer contribution and 75% gov contribution. However, for future applications, the levy transfer option (100% funds) will continue to be available for employers to apply for.
Additional Funding
- Employer incentives for apprenticeships starting between August 2026-July 2027 (see here for full details):
- £1,000 if apprentice is aged 16-18 (or turning 16 June-August 2026); or aged between 19-24 and has either an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan provided by their local authority and/or has been, or are, in the care of their local authority.
- £2,000 for non-levy paying employers only (typically SMEs) if recruit person(s) aged 16-24 (or turning 16 June-August 2026) on to an apprenticeship programme from October 2026, as long as the employment only starts within 90 days before the intake start date.
- £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant - Employer may be able to apply for this if recruits an unemployed person(s) aged 18-24 who has been on universal credit for over 6 months. Full details are available here.
- Employer may not have to pay Class 1 Employer National Insurance if apprentice is under the age of 25. Full details are available here.
Start Date
Usually every 3 months
Usually every 3 months
Teaching Delivery
Both face-to-face (Education Centre at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital or RPH) and independent online (e-portfolio) learning and resources.
Both face-to-face (Education Centre at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital or RPH) and independent online (e-portfolio) learning 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; face-to-face taught sessions every fortnight. Alternative fortnights will require apprentice to work remotely, completing their independent study via an e-portfolio.
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
For this apprenticeship you will choose to focus on one of the specific routes; Adult Nursing Support (other routes available are only relevant to Trust learners). More information on each route is available in the provider resources and/or the apprenticeship standard.
For this apprenticeship you will choose to focus on one of the specific routes; Adult Nursing Support (other routes available are only relevant to Trust learners). More information on each route is available in the provider resources and/or the apprenticeship standard.
Placements
This programme does not require external placements to be completed, although varied experiences are beneficial.
This programme does not require external placements to be completed, although varied experiences are beneficial.
Assessments
Assessed throughout the programme by assignments, observations, evaluations and End Point Assessment.
Assessed throughout the programme by assignments, observations, evaluations and End Point Assessment.
Key Candidate Entry Requirements
- Maths and English: Apprenticeships may still require the candidate to have certain Maths and English qualifications at either application stage or to be completed early on alongside the apprenticeship. This could be due to profession regularity body requirements, the candidate's age, or because the Employer stipulates it is necessary for that position. The Education Provider will advise you on your options per application.
- Preferably, evidence of English and Maths at GCSE C/4 or above /Functional Skills Level 2 / Equivalent. Although this may be required dependant on the candidate’s age and/or employer’s requirements.
- Employed 30 hours or more 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).
- Formal experience of work as a Healthcare Support Worker. During induction you must complete an induction which meets the 15 standards as set out in the Care Certificate.
Full requirements and details are found on the Education Providers course webpage.
Key Employer Entry Requirements
• Ensure Learner has the support and opportunities to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship.
• A member of staff, preferably experienced Senior Healthcare Support Worker, to mentor the apprentice.
Listed as an Approved Provider under an NHS Procurement
Yes
Yes
Application Timescale
It takes on average 2 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&SC PC Training Hub such as Digital training, Health and Wellbeing support and events.
- Plus, The HCSW webpage highlights options and resources suitable for this role, such as phlebotomy training.
- Plus, this webpage lists non-clinical training and resources, which may compliment the apprenticeship (always check suitability with your apprenticeship education provider).
Pathway
On successful completion of this apprenticeship, examples of further apprenticeship options include; Assistant Practitioner, Nursing Associate, Nursing, AHP.
Skills England has an interactive occupational maps tool which shows the variety of progression pathways using apprenticeships.
Career progression does not have to be linear. Entry criteria may differ per provider and even more varied routes may be available depending on the individuals prior learning and experience.
Information Last Updated
03/02/2026
03/02/2026
Further Programme and Provider Information
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a successful Apprenticeship Training Provider. In 2023/24, their overall Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR) was 82.3%, an impressive 26.7% above the national average, placing them in the top 8% of providers in the country. 100% of learners who completed the apprenticeship achieved their qualification, with the majority earning the highest grade of distinction. For the Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship, the Training Provider’s QAR is 89.4%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 50.2%.
How to Apply
If you would like to apply for an apprenticeship programme - either for yourself, a member of staff, or a vacancy position - please complete our apprenticeship form. This form is for Primary Care Employers within Lancashire and South Cumbria only.
By completing the form, the Training Hub Apprenticeships Team will be able to complete basic pre-checks, provide you with personalised guidance, and start the programme application process for you. If you would like to discuss anything first, please email [email protected] or call Olivia, Apprenticeships Manager, on 07735161775. You can find out about the stages of applying for an apprenticeship within our Apprenticeships Process (Employer Guide).
If you would like to know anything further about the programme itself, please contact: LTHTR apprenticeship team on 01257 247205 or [email protected]
