Children, Young People and Families Practitioner (Residential) Level 4

Who is this Apprenticeship for?

This course is for eligible candidates, who work in several settings e.g. a children’s home, a residential special school or a secure children’s home. The children might be living on their own or in a larger group. You will take the lead in developing and delivering the child's placement plan and will work with the child to support their health, education, social and day to day needs, playing a significant role in helping them to thrive and fulfil their potential.

As a practitioner you will be working with children, young people, and families, including carers, to achieve positive and sustainable change in their lives. You will demonstrate a passion to care for and about children, young people, and families. You will be skilled in recognising and assessing the complex needs that children, young people, and families often present. You will agree with the child, young person, or family any specific interventions or referrals. Your approach will be one of respectful curiosity that challenges and supports children, young people, and families to achieve their potential and stay safe. You will work alongside other professionals and organisations to share the responsibility for improving outcomes. Each piece of work with a child or family will be different and you will exercise judgement on a range of evidence-based approaches to inform your practice. You will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your methods and actions. Regular supervision with an experienced practitioner will encourage reflection on your practice. At the end of the apprenticeship the high quality of your practice will be making a real difference to those that you work with.

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 GCSE Grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent in English and Mathematics. We also offer Functional Skills English and maths at Level 2 for those needing to gain these qualifications prior to enrolment.

Apprentices must be employed, normally for a minimum of 30 hours, in an existing Practitioner in Children’s Residential Care role, in order to meet and develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to be successful in this area. The duration of the apprenticeship would be extended if the apprentice works less than 30 hours.

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 Children, Young People and Families Practitioner L4 will develop the knowledge and understanding of:

Communication that enables the voice of the child, young person, or family members to be heard
Multiple factors that contribute to uncertainty in the lives of children, young people, and families
Equality, rights, diversity and cultural differences, and the values of the organisation in which you are working
The range of potential safeguarding risk factors, the different forms of harm to children and vulnerable adults and the local and national thresholds for safeguarding
The safeguarding requirements contained within mandatory local safeguarding training or nationally accredited equivalent
Child, adolescent, and adult development
The spectrum of needs and how they may be met
The principles of effective assessment and the importance of analysis and professional judgement
Models for monitoring changes in a child, young person, or family member’s wellbeing
A range of evidence-based interventions and their strengths and weaknesses
The duties, responsibilities, boundaries, and ethical nature of the role
Theories and guidelines underpinning sound practice
Systems and policy frameworks for work with children, young people, and families
The role of professional judgement and analysis in complex situations
The importance of considering ethics and values, challenging self, and the systems in use
Techniques for establishing shared goals and outcomes when building relationships with others

Develop the skills in:

Communicates in way that enables the voice of the child, young person or family members to be heard
Encourages individuals to engage positively with their community and relevant agencies and actively participate in the way their care and support is delivered
Actively promotes respect, equality, diversity and inclusion
Works together with children, young people and families to keep them safe and manage risk and promoting the development of skills the family need to successfully manage risk themselves
Works with and supports other professionals to respond to safeguarding concerns
Identifies the influences on the individual and the family and supports them to make informed choices
Leads on the development and recording of holistic plans, delivery of interventions and evaluates their effectiveness
Identifies and addresses barriers to accessing resources
Identifies and manages evidence-based approaches and evaluates their effectiveness
Contributes to the development of a resilient, consistent and persistent approach to practice
Models clarity of purpose, clear expectations and a professional approach to decision making
Appropriately challenges and/or offers alternative perspectives with the children, young person or family
Contributes to own professional development
Applies knowledge of legal, economic and social justice systems and implements policy frameworks in support of positive outcomes for children, young people and families
Demonstrates critical evaluation of practice and insight into own emotions, behaviour and feelings, and uses these insights to challenge own practice
Takes an active part in continuous professional development
Sharing and agreeing goals and outcomes when building relationships with partner organisations, other workers, children, young people and families, to ensure appropriate and timely support

Develop the behaviours in:

Care: Respecting and valuing individuals to keep them safe, being affirming and working with them to help them make a positive difference to their lives.
Compassion: Consideration and concern for children, young people and their families, combined with an understanding of the perspective of those you work with.
Communication: Your work is based on building effective relationships, being perceptive and empathic and building good rapport.
Competence: The relationships you build to effect change for children, young people and families will be informed by social care ethics and values and will be developed through reflective practice.
Commitment: Creating sustainable change in others by working alongside children, young people and families and being authentic, consistent, patient, persistent and resilient.

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 4+ (C+) or equivalent level 2 qualification
Complete a showcase portfolio, demonstrating how you have met the skills, knowledge and behaviours
Level 3 Diploma in Residential Care
A current DBC certificate

The End Point Assessment consists of:

Observation of Practice: 80-90 minute observation with a 15-20minute Q&A
Professional Discussion: A 55-60 minute structured discussion 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

Standard will be graded as a pass, distinction or fail.

What could I do when I have finished this Apprenticeship?

Pursue a career within current job role, pursue a career in other related job roles such as Residential Care Practitioner, Care Support Worker, Care Team Leader or Children, Young Peoples and Family Manager or move onto higher education opportunities.

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.

This on-programme taught element will typically take 24 months, but this is based on a vocational initial assessment to determine prior learning in this area and may be reduced. The End Point Assessment will be completed within 3 months of completing the on-programme taught element.

How much will the Apprenticeship cost?

There are no fees for this apprenticeship.

What do I do next?

You can:

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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