Apprenticeships

The type of Apprenticeship you take depends on your age; if you’re 14-16 you will take a Young Apprenticeship, if you’re between 16 and 24 you will follow one of the two levels of Health and Social Care Apprenticeships and if you’re over 25 you can take an Adult Apprenticeship.

Young Apprenticeships

• 14-16 year-olds can combine academic studies with vocational learning
• Combination of classroom learning and workplace training
• Two-year course

A Young Apprenticeship provides an exciting opportunity for motivated and able 14 to 16 year-olds to combine their academic studies with a blend of vocational qualifications and work placements.

This means that if you undertake a Young Apprenticeship you will not just study in a classroom gaining your core GCSEs. Over the two years of your course, you will spend time in a college or with a training provider to gain a vocational qualification as well as gaining experience in the workplace. Speak to your school to see if this option is available alongside your GCSEs.

Once you have completed the Young Apprenticeship programme you will have a greater understanding of the health, social care and early years sectors and the career opportunities they can offer.

Health and Social Care Apprenticeships

• Two levels of apprenticeship: Level Two and Advanced
• Undertake work-based learning
• Receive a wage or an allowance
• Follow complete training programme
• Acquire key skills, an NVQ and technical certificate
• Course takes around 2-years to complete

There are two levels of Health and Social Care Apprenticeships: a Level 2 Apprenticeship and a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. As an apprentice you can expect to be doing work-based learning and be paid a wage or an allowance.

The framework of an Apprenticeship is usually run by colleges or training providers, and if you know of one in your area, you can approach them directly to request further information or an interview. You can find more information and search for Apprenticeships in your local area on www.Apprenticeships.org.uk

Once you have secured an Apprenticeship you will be placed with a social care employer so that you can gain the necessary practical experience and training. Apprenticeships include Key Skills, an NVQ, and a knowledge based element known as a technical certificate, and will take about two years to complete. You will follow a training programme, usually away from your place of work, that will help you study for your Key Skills and technical certificate.

You may already be working in social care and want to complete the framework of an Apprenticeship. If so, ask your employer if they are able to support you; they may be a training provider themselves, or know of one locally. Otherwise the Learning and Skills Council's website www.lsc.gov.uk can provide you with all the information you need to find your nearest training provider, who will then liaise with your employer.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and Department of Health have developed a more flexible approach to allowing 16-18 year olds to provide personal care, as long as they are suitably trained and appropriately supervised. If you are under 18 and want to practise in personal care you should be undertaking, or have completed, an Apprenticeship in health and social care and have satisfied your line manager that you are capable of carrying out the necessary duties.

New guidelines also state that care homes must follow appropriate regulations, and that the person who receives the care has their choices respected, as far as possible, regarding who actually provides that care.

Adult Apprenticeship

• Available to adults over 24
• Learning and Skills Council funding available

There is no longer an upper age limit of 24 for Apprenticeships and 'Adult Apprenticeships' are now available for anyone 25 years or over. The LSC has put funding in place for this, although it is not as widely available as the funding for the under 25s groups. Check with your local LSC for advice on adult apprenticeship funding in your area.  www.lsc.gov.uk or visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.