Healthcare Support Worker (Level 2)

Who is this Apprenticeship for?

This course 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 health and care sectors.

Healthcare support workers (HCSWs) work as part of a team providing high quality and compassionate care to individuals. You will carry out well-defined routine clinical duties like monitoring an individual’s conditions, checking on their overall progress, comfort, and wellbeing.

Depending on where you work, you may also help them to eat, drink, wash, dress or go to the toilet. You will prepare individuals for healthcare activities carried out by other members of the healthcare team, looking after them before, during and/or after those activities in line with their care plan. You will also carry out non-clinical duties and, depending on where you work, this could include things like keeping records, making beds, tidying up your work area, returning or cleaning the equipment used during a clinical activity.

You will be able to address straightforward problems in your day-to-day work, reporting concerns and changes to the appropriate person in a timely manner. HCSWs work in a range of healthcare settings and your team may include workers from both health and social care. You will report to a registered healthcare practitioner who will directly or indirectly supervise your work.

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 2 (E) or equivalent Level 1 in English and Mathematics. 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, normally for a minimum of 30 hours, in a role that suits the skills requirements of this apprenticeship. If you are not already employed, in this type of job role, you could search our apprenticeship vacancy page at:www.darlington.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/apprenticeships/apprenticeship-vacancies/

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 signed 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 Healthcare Support Worker L2 Apprenticeship will:

Develop the knowledge and understanding of:

The legislation, policies, standards, local ways of working and codes of conduct that apply to own role.
The scope of practice, limitations of own competence and who to ask for support.
The principles of ‘person-centred care and support’, including principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, active participation, consent, and choice.
The principles of a ‘duty of care’ and ‘safeguarding’, including the signs and types of abuse and ways to reduce the risk of abuse.
The signs and symptoms that an individual is in pain, distress or discomfort.
The signs and symptoms that an individual’s health and wellbeing is changing and ways to report changes.
Techniques and principles to perform basic life support.
The physiological states, their normal ranges and the correct tools or equipment used to measure them.
The importance of prescribed medication and the limitations of own role in relation to medication
The principles of hydration, nutrition and food safety.
The activities of daily living and ways to support individuals in developing and maintaining their independence in carrying out these activities.
Local systems to order and manage supplies and stocks.
Methods to safely clean and dispose of materials and equipment, including ways to handle hazardous materials and substances.
Local systems to manage appointments, including IT and telephone systems, how and where to sign-post individuals.
Communication techniques to maximise understanding including for individuals with specific communication needs or wishes.
The meaning of ‘capacity’, the differences between mental illness, dementia and learning disability and the impact of these conditions on an individual’s needs.
The principles of health promotion, availability of services to support individuals with lifestyle choices and how referrals can be made if required.
Ways to record and store information securely and in line with national and local policy and legislation, including the safe use of technology.
The principles and organisational policies for confidentiality, duty of confidence and disclosure.
The principles of infection prevention and control and the importance of good personal hygiene, hand hygiene and correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The health and safety legislation, the principles of safe moving and handling of equipment and other objects and assistance of individuals.
The meaning of ‘risk’ in the workplace, ways to identify and raise concerns and own responsibilities in relation to incidents, errors and near misses.
The principles of continuing personal development and the local arrangements for appraisal and supervision.
The principles of the ‘Care Certificate’.
The principles of reflective practice.
The principles of ‘quality improvement’.
Ways to source evidence to support improvement in the workplace.

Develop the skills in:

Work in line with legislation, policies, standards, local ways of working and codes of conduct that apply to own role.
Work within the scope of practice, the limits of own knowledge and skills, escalating and reporting to others when needed.
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide safe non-discriminatory person-centred care and support in line with individual’s established consent.
Implement a duty of care, recognising and responding to safeguarding and protection concerns and acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm.
Recognise and respond to the signs and symptoms that an individual is in pain, distress or discomfort to maximise comfort and wellbeing.
Recognise and respond to changes in individuals’ health and wellbeing.
Perform basic life support.
Undertake physiological measurements, selecting and using the correct tools or equipment.
Assist the registered practitioner in encouraging individuals to take or use their prescribed medication.
Promote access to fluids and nutrition in line with an individual’s care plan.
Support individuals with activities of daily living to maximise independence in line with their desired outcomes and plan of care.
Contribute to the storage of supplies and equipment.
Contribute to the cleaning, disinfecting and disposal of materials and equipment.
Support others with appointments, enquiries and referrals.
Communicate with individuals using techniques designed to facilitate understanding.
Recognise and respond to limitations in an individual’s mental capacity.
Act on opportunities to support others to maximise their health, well-being, and positive lifestyle choices.
Record and store information related to individuals securely and in line with local and national policies, including the safe use of technology.
Report and share information related to individuals securely and in line with local and national policies, maintaining confidentiality.
Maintain a safe and healthy working environment, using a range of techniques for infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Move and handle equipment or other items safely and assist individuals.
Take action in response to identified concerns, risks, incidents or errors and near misses arising in the workplace.
Participate in appraisal and supervision to support ongoing personal development.
Participate in training and development activities including the Care Certificate Standards
Reflect on own practice.
Contribute to improvement activities in the workplace, for example collecting and logging data for audit.
Use evidence to make suggestions.

Develop and demonstrate the following behaviours:

Treat people with dignity.
Show respect and empathy for those you work with.
Be adaptable, reliable and consistent.

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

To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must:

Have proof of English & maths GCSE minimum grade 2/ E or equivalent level 1 qualification.
Completed a showcase portfolio, demonstrating how you have met the knowledge, skills and behaviours.

The End Point Assessment consists of:

Observation of Practice – 120 mins (90 mins observed and 30 mins Q&A).
Professional discussion – 60 mins (underpinned with a portfolio of evidence).

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

What could I do when I have finished this Apprenticeship?

You may gain employment with your employer and / or decide to work towards the Senior Healthcare Worker Level 3 Apprenticeship.

You will also be given information and guidance to continue onto other courses.

Where and when will I learn?

During the course you will be expected to, normally, 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 18 months, but this is based on a vocational initial assessment to determine prior learning in this area and may be reduced. The course duration is based on the apprentice working 30 hours per week but will be extended if the apprentice works less hours. 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?

If you are already employed in this area and wish to join the course, or have identified an employer wishing to start you as an apprentice in this area contact us on 01325 405601.

Alternatively …

View our latest vacancies!