Apprenticeships in Primary Care

What is an apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship is on the job training leading to a national qualification, available to both new and existing staff, with an accompanying assessment and skills development programme. It is a way for staff to earn while they learn, gaining valuable skills and knowledge in a specific job role. The apprentice gains this through a wide mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practise new skills in a real work environment.

For more information about apprenticeships, please contact Kelly Slavin, Apprenticeship & Student Placement Manager: syheartlandsccg.surreytraininghub@nhs.net.

What apprenticeships are available and relevant to primary care?

Apprenticeship levels:

 

Name

Level

Equivalent educational level

Intermediate

2

5 GCSE passes

Advanced

3

2 A level passes

Higher

4 and 5

Foundation degree

Degree

6 and 7

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

 

There are a wide range of apprenticeships appropriate for all level of roles within primary care, both clinical and non-clinical. These include:

Level

Clinical Roles

Leadership

Non-Clinical Roles

2
  • Healthcare Support Worker

 
  • Customer Service Practitioner
  • Accounts/ Finance Assistant

3
  • Senior Healthcare Support Worker
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • In development: Community Health and Wellbeing Worker
  • Team Leader/Supervisor
  • Edward Jenner Leadership Programme
  • Assistant Accountant
  • Business Administrator
  • Clinical Coder
  • Compliance / Risk Officer
  • HR Support
  • Payroll Administrator

 

4

 
  • Improvement Practitioner (blend of Lean and Six Sigma)
  • Associate Project Manager
  • Data Analyst
  • Internal Audit Practitioner
  • Policy Officer
  • Professional Accounting / Taxation Technician
  • Public Relations Assistant

5
  • Nursing Associate
  • Assistant Practitioner
  • Mary Seacole Leadership Programme
  • Improvement Specialist
  • Operations/Department Manager
  • HR Consultant / Partner
  • Learning and Development Consultant/Business Partner

6
  • Registered Nurse Degree
  • Public health Practitioner
  • Improvement leader
  • Chartered Manager
  • Senior/Head of Facilities Management
  • Career Development Professional

7
  • Physician Associates
  • Advanced Clinical Practitioner
  • Elizabeth Garrett-Anderson Leadership Programme
  • Senior Leader
  • Accountancy / Taxation Professional
  • Internal Audit Professional

 

Further details of all healthcare apprenticeships, including information on the standards, assessment and links to finding training providers can be found on the Skills for Health website - https://haso.skillsforhealth.org.uk/standards/

Location

Many providers deliver the Apprenticeships in the workplace. The trainer/assessor will support the learner in their practice.

Clinical apprenticeships level 4 and above usually requires attendance at an HEI

Apprenticeship Funding

The Surrey Training Hub supports a number of staff from GP Practices to commence training courses, using the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme from larger levy paying employers.

What is the apprenticeship levy?
Employers with a pay bill over £3 million each year must pay the apprenticeship levy, which is 0.5% of their pay bill. If you are a levy paying practice, then the course fees would be paid through your apprenticeship levy system. Most GP practices are non-levy paying employers which means there are two possible routes to receiving funding:

  • Transfer of Levy- Levy paying employers can transfer some of their annual levy to other employers. These transfers cover 100% of the training costs of the apprenticeship (you still need to cover salary).
  • Co-investment - The government will fund 95% of the course fees and the remaining 5% will be paid by the GP practice.

Surrey Training Hub have links with many large trusts and partner organisations across Surrey Heartlands who are offering to transfer the full cost of apprenticeship programmes to smaller health and social care organisations including Primary Care.

Health Education England funding

Health Education England (HEE) are offering additional funding for the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship and the Registered Nursing Degree Apprenticeship. Please contact the STH for more details

What happens when you do an apprenticeship?

The Surrey Training Hub will support you to apply to an external organisation for transfer of their apprenticeship levy. We will ensure you are informed of all the different options e.g. which Higher Education Institutions offer the course you are interested in, and how they differ. We will also support you with your application to the Higher Education Institution.

When you commence your apprenticeship, your split of time will be dependent on the course you are undertaking, and will often involve time in your base performing your current role, , as well as time learning new skills. Apprenticeships that lead to a Registered Qualification such as the Nursing Associate and the Registered Nurse Degree will require time in different clinical areas.

Off-the job training

All apprenticeships have a requirement for 20% “off the job training” for ‘new learning’ to take place. Off-the-job training must be away from the apprentice’s normal working duties and must teach new knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to their specific apprenticeship