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 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 Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and understanding of:
Communication
- Why it is important to communicate effectively at work; how to communicate with individuals that have specific language needs or wishes; ways to make yourself understood; how to reduce problems with communication
- Legislation, policies and local ways of working about handling information; how to keep information confidential; why it is important to record and store patient information securely and what to do if you think information is not secure
Person centred care and support
What it means to give ‘person centred care and support’; why it is important to get consent, even when it is difficult; why it is important to get people actively involved in their own care; why it is important to give people choices about their care; and why treating people as valuable and unique
- Individuals makes a big difference in how they feel
Dementia, cognitive issues, mental health
- The main forms of mental ill health and their impact on people’s lives; and how to promote mental health and wellbeing
- The possible signs of limitations in mental capacity and what to do when you notice them
- The possible signs of mental health, dementia and learning disability in people ; why depression, delirium and the normal ageing process may be mistaken for dementia; the importance of early diagnosis in relation to dementia and other cognitive issues
- How to report changes or deterioration
Basic life support
- How to perform basic life support
Physiological measurements
- The range of physiological states that can be measured including body temperature, weight, height, blood pressure, pulse and breathing rate
- The normal range of physiological measurements
Personal and people development
- Your role and the responsibilities and duties of your job; why it is important to work in ways that have been agreed by your employer and to follow standards/codes of conduct;
- Working relationships and the importance of working well with other people; who or where to go for help and support about anything related to your work
- the importance of personal development and how to reflect on your work ; how to create a personal development plan
Health, safety and security
- Legislation, policies and local ways of working which relate to health and safety at work; your responsibilities, and the responsibilities of others, relating to health and safety at work
- What to do in situations that could cause harm to themselves and others; how to handle hazardous materials and substances; and what to do when there is an accident or sudden illness
Duty of Care
- The meaning of ‘duty of care’ and why it is important; what support is available when you come across a difficult situation or when someone makes a complaint
Safeguarding
- Legislation, policies and local ways of working about ‘safeguarding’ and protection from abuse ; the signs of abuse and what to do if you suspect abuse; and how to reduce the chances of abuse as much as possible
Infection prevention and control
- Legislation, policies and local ways of working that help to prevent infection; the meaning of ‘risk’ and ‘risk assessment’; the importance of good personal hygiene and hand washing ; how to select the right PPE (such as gloves, aprons and masks); how infections start and spread; the importance of cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining a clean workplace to reduce the risk and spread of infection; and the meaning of ‘antimicrobial resistance’
Moving and handling
- Why people and objects need to be moved safely; how to move and position people safely; how to move and handle equipment and other objects safely; agreed ways of working when moving people and know how to identify any risks
Equality and diversity
- Equality and diversity legislation, policies and local ways of working; why equality is important and how discrimination can happen at work
Develop the skills in:
Communication
- Communicate effectively with individuals, their families, carers and healthcare practitioners using a range of techniques, keeping information confidential
- Handle information (record, report and store information) related to individuals in line with local and national policies
Health intervention
- Support individuals with long term conditions, frailty and end of life care
- Identify and respond to signs of pain or discomfort
- Promote physical health and wellbeing of individuals
- Assist with an individuals’ overall comfort and wellbeing
- Support individuals with activities of daily living
- Recognise deteriorations in health, long term conditions, physiological measurements, skin integrity and report appropriately
- Report any changes in physical health needs as appropriate
Person centred care and support
- Demonstrate what it means in practice to provide person centered care and support
Dementia, cognitive issues, mental health
- Promote mental health and wellbeing
- Recognise limitations in mental capacity and respond appropriately
- Recognise and respond to signs of poor mental health for example dementia, depression, anxiety or other cognitive issues
- Recognise and report any deterioration in an individual’s mental health
Basic life support
- Perform basic life support for individuals using appropriate resuscitation techniques and equipment
Physiological measurements
- Undertake a range of physiological measurements using the appropriate equipment including height, weight, temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure
Personal and people development
- Take responsibility for, prioritise and reflect on your own actions and work
- Work as part of a team, seeking help and guidance when you are not sure
- Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal
Health, safety and security
- Maintain a safe and healthy working environment
- Take appropriate action in response to incidents or emergencies following local guidelines
Duty of Care
- Follow the principles for implementing a duty of care, always acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm
Safeguarding
- Follow the principles of safeguarding and protection
Infection prevention and control
- Use a range of techniques for infection prevention and control including waste management, hand washing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Moving and handling
- Move and position individuals, equipment and other items safely
Equality and diversity
- Follow the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion
Develop the behaviours in:
- Treating people with dignity
- Showing respect and empathy for those you work with
- Being adaptable
End Point Assessment
To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must have:
- Met the 15 standards required by the Care Quality Commission (as set out in the Care Certificate)
- 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:
- Knowledge Test: A 60-minute multiple choice test, consisting of 60 questions
- Workplace Observation: A pre-planned observation with questions, in your normal place of work and independently assessed for a minimum of 90 minutes
- Professional Discussion: A 30–60 minutes 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 within a variety of settings including NHS/care homes/mental health/learning disabilities/substance misuse/social care. You may gain employment with your employer and / or decide to complete Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship (Level 3) or 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 course 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 course will typically take 15 months, but this is based on a vocational initial assessment to determine prior learning in this area and may be reduced.
How much will the Apprenticeship cost?
There are no fees for this apprenticeship.
What do I do next?
You can:
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