Adult Care Worker (Level 2)

Who is this Apprenticeship for?

This apprenticeship is for any eligible candidates, who wish to earn a wage while developing their skills and knowledge needed to be able to pursue a career in the adult care sector.

This apprenticeship is for people who wish to be part of the frontline staff, helping adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives. To work in care is to make a positive difference to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional or intellectual challenges.

Adult Care Workers need to have the right values and behaviours developing competences and skills to provide high quality compassionate care and support. They are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives which is at the heart of person-centred care.

These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all Adult Care Workers carrying out their roles:

Care – is caring consistently and enough about individuals to make a positive difference to their lives
Compassion – is delivering care and support with kindness, consideration, dignity and respect
Courage – is doing the right thing for people and speaking up if the individual they support is at risk
Communication – good communication is central to successful caring relationships and effective team working
Competence – is applying knowledge and skills to provide high quality care and support
Commitment – to improving the experience of people who need care and support ensuring it is person centred

Are there any entry requirements?

Must be a UK citizen, or have the right of abode in the UK, or is a citizen of a country that is within the EEA and have been ordinarily resident in the UK, the EU or the EEA continuously for the previous three years before the start of learning.

Candidates will have achieved a minimum of GCSE Grade 3-2 (D-E) or equivalent in English and Maths. We also offer Functional Skills English and maths at Level 1 and Level 2 for those needing to gain these qualifications prior to enrolment.

Apprentices must be employed, for a minimum of 30 hours, in a role that suits the skills requirements of this apprenticeship.

New applicants will be contacted by a vocational delivery tutor to determine suitability/eligibility prior, give information and advice on the next steps.

Shortlisted applicants will be sent to the employer, to then follow their recruitment procedure. Unsuitable applicants will be sign-posted to other areas of our service to develop transferable/employability skills, with a view to ensuring they are suitable for other apprenticeship positions in the future.

What is the curriculum intent of this Apprenticeship?

The structure and delivery of the course curriculum will enable you to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours to reflect the needs of local and regional employers, gain qualifications and be successful in this area.

The curriculum is planned and sequenced to enable learners with previous knowledge and experience to develop the new skills needed to progress to the next stage of their career, training, education or employment.

The curriculum is flexible and responsive to learner demands and can be tailored to suit individual needs arising from any current and dynamic issues affecting their role, which can be addressed during workshop sessions.

As an apprentice you will need to be able to demonstrate knowledge and practical skills at the end of your apprenticeship training programme and understand how this reflects the needs of the local, regional and national economy.

What will the Apprenticeship cover?

The Adult Care Worker Level 2 Apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and understanding of:

A. The job role, their main tasks, and responsibilities, including:

The tasks and responsibilities of the job role
Professional boundaries and limits of their training and expertise
Relevant statutory standards and codes of practice for their role
What the ‘duty of care’ is in practice
How to contribute towards the development and creation of a care plan
How to identify, respond to and escalate changes to physical, social, and emotional needs of individuals
How to access, follow and be compliant with regulations and organisational policies and procedures

B. The importance of having the right values and behaviours, including:

How to support and enable individuals to achieve their personal aims and goals
What dignity means in how to work with individuals and others
The importance of respecting diversity and treating everyone equally

C. The importance of communication, including:

The barriers to communication
The impact of non-verbal communication
The importance of active listening
How the way they communicate can affect others
About different forms of communication
How to find out the best way to communicate with the individual they are supporting
How to make sure confidential information is kept safe

D. How to support individuals to remain safe from harm (Safeguarding):

What abuse is and what to do when they have concerns someone is being abused
The national and local strategies for safeguarding and protection from abuse
What to do when receiving comments and complaints
How to recognise unsafe practices in the workplace
The importance and process of whistleblowing
How to address any dilemmas they may face between a person’s rights and their safety

E. How to promote health and wellbeing for the individuals they support and work colleagues:

The health and safety responsibilities of self, employer and workers
How to keep safe in the work environment
What to do when there is an accident or sudden illness
What to do with hazardous substances
How to promote fire safety
How to reduce the spread of infection
What a risk assessment is and how it can be used to promote person-centred care safely

F. How to work professionally, including:

What a professional relationship is with the person being supported and colleagues
How to work together with other people and organisations in the interest of the person being supported
How to be actively involved in their personal development plan
The importance of excellent core skills in writing, numbers and information technology
What to do to develop, sustain and exhibit a positive attitude and personal resilience
Where and how to access specialist knowledge when needed to support performance of the job role

Develop the skills and behaviours in:

A: The main tasks and responsibilities according to their job role, including:

Support individuals they are working with according to their personal care/support plan
Ask for help from an appropriate person when not confident or skilled in any aspect of their role
Provide individuals with information to enable them to have a choice about the way they are supported
Encourage individuals to participate in the way their care and support is delivered
Ensure the individual knows what they are agreeing to regarding the way in which they are supported
Contribute to the on-going development of care/support plans for the individual they support
Support individuals with cognitive, physical or sensory impairments

B. Treating people with respect and dignity and honouring their human rights:

Ensure dignity is at the centre of all work with the individuals they support, their families, carers and advocates
Demonstrate all work is person centred, accommodating the individual’s needs, wishes and preferences
Demonstrate empathy (understanding and compassion) for individuals they support
Demonstrate courage in supporting people in ways that may challenge their personal/cultural beliefs

C. Communicating clearly and responsibly:

Speak clearly and exhibit positive non-verbal communication to individuals, families, carers and advocates
Use the preferred methods of communication of the individual they support according to their language, culture, sensory needs and their wishes
Identify and take steps to reduce environmental barriers to communication
Demonstrate they can check for understanding
Write clearly and concisely in records and reports
Keep information safe and confidential according to agreed ways of working

D. Supporting individuals to remain safe from harm (Safeguarding):

Recognise potential signs of different forms of abuse
Respond to concerns of abuse according to agreed ways of working
Recognise, report and challenge unsafe practices

E. Championing health and wellbeing for the individuals they support and for work colleagues:

Promote the health and wellbeing of the individual they support
Move people and objects safely
Demonstrate how to reduce the spread of infection, including use of best practice in hand hygiene
Demonstrate the promotion of healthy eating and wellbeing by ensuring individuals have access to fluids, food and nutrition
Demonstrate how to keep people, buildings and themselves safe and secure
Carry out fire safety procedures when required
Use risk assessments to support individuals safely
Recognise symptoms of cognitive impairment, e.g. Dementia, learning disabilities and mental health
Monitor and report changes in health and wellbeing for individuals they support

F. Working professionally and seeking to develop their own professional development:

Reflect on your own work practices
Demonstrate the development of their own skills and knowledge, including core skills in writing, numbers and information technology
Demonstrate their contribution to their development plan
Demonstrate ability to work in partnership with others to support the individual
Identify sources of support when conflicts arise with other people or organisations
Demonstrate they can work within safe, clear professional boundaries
Show they can access and apply additional skills required to perform the specific job role competently

On completion of the on-programme element of the apprenticeship you will enter gateway to the End Point Assessment, which is the final assessment. This will be conducted by an independent end point assessor who will grade the assessment.

End Point Assessment Methods

To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must have:

Proof of English & maths GCSE minimum grade 2+ (E+) or equivalent level 1 qualification
Achieve the Care Certificate (This is part of the on-programme element of the course)
Achieve the Level 2 Diploma in Care (This is part of the on-programme element of the course)
Undertake a self-assessment in the final month of the apprenticeship
Testimonies from service users

The End Point Assessment consists of:

Situational Judgement Test: An online multiple-choice test, consisting of 60 questions
Professional Discussion: A 45-minute structured discussion, underpinned by a portfolio of evidence, with the Independent Assessor. This is to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and excellence and cover the knowledge, skills and behaviours

This standard will be graded as Distinction, Pass or Fail.

What could I do when I have finished this Apprenticeship?

This apprenticeship provides an ideal entry into the occupation and supports progression within the sector as a health care assistant or practitioner. You may gain employment with your employer and / or decide to complete Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship (Level 3). You will also be given information and guidance to continue onto other courses.

Where and when will I learn?

During the apprenticeship you will be expected to attend work a minimum of 30 hours per week where you will learn the skills and knowledge required to continue through your qualification. This may include shift working, bank holiday working and weekend working. You will be supported in the workplace through regular visits with your tutor and you will also be expected to come into the training centre (Coleridge Centre, DL1 5AJ) for support sessions. These sessions will allow you to complete coursework, receive instant feedback and ensure you are ready for the End Point Assessment.

How much will the Apprenticeship cost?

There are no fees for this apprenticeship.

What do I do next?

You can:

View our latest vacancies

Or you can:

Apply for this apprenticeship area to be entered into a 'pool of candidates'. When a relevant vacancy becomes available we will contact you.
If you are already employed in this area and wish to join the apprenticeship training, or have identified an employer wishing to start you as an apprentice in this area, please contact us