Lead Practitioner in Adult Care (Level 4)
Who is this Apprenticeship for?
This course is for any eligible candidates, who are in lead practitioner adult care role and wish to further their career in the adult care sector.
The Lead Practitioner in Adult Care will guide and inspire team members to make positive differences to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, psychological or intellectual challenges. They will have achieved a level of self-development to be recognised as a lead practitioner within the care team, contributing to, promoting, and sustaining a values-based culture at an operational level. A Lead Practitioner has a greater depth of knowledge and expertise of particular conditions being experienced by the user of services. They will have specialist skills and knowledge in their area of responsibilities which will allow them to lead in areas such as care needs assessment, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and enablement, telecare, and assistive technology. They will be a coach and mentor to others and will have a role in assessing performance and quality of care delivery. Lead Practitioners in Adult Care may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, a person’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings. As well as covering Lead Practitioners in Adult Care this standard also covers Lead Personal Assistants who can work at this senior level, but they may only work directly for one individual who needs support and/or care services, usually within their own home.
Examples of job roles include Dementia Lead, Re-ablement Worker, Physiotherapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Public Health Associate Worker, Keeping in Contact Worker, Community Care/Support Officer, Social Care Assessor, Care Assessment Officer, Social Services Officer, Brokerage Worker, Rehabilitation and Reablement Assistant, Independence Support Assistant, Reablement Support Workers/Officer, Telecare Assistant and Assistive Technology Co-ordinator/Officer.
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 9-4 (A*-C) 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 Lead Practitioner in Adult Care L4 Apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and understanding of:
A: Tasks and responsibilities
- Statutory frameworks, standards, guidance and Codes of Practice which underpin practice in relation to the safe delivery of services
- Theories underpinning own practice and competence relevant to the job role
- Principles of assessment and outcome based practice
- Principles of risk management
B: Dignity and human rights
- How to contribute to, promote and maintain a culture which ensures dignity is at the centre of practice
C: Communication
- Effective communication and solutions to overcoming barriers
- Legal and ethical frameworks in relation to confidentiality and sharing information
- Range of technologies to enhance communication
D: Safeguarding
Legislation, national and local solutions for the safeguarding of adults and children including reporting requirements
E: Health and wellbeing
- Models of monitoring, reporting and responding to changes in health and wellbeing
- Range of holistic solutions to promote and maintain health and wellbeing using person centred approaches
- Importance of effective partnerships, inter-agency, joint and integrated working
F: Professional development
- Goals and aspirations that support own professional development and how to access available opportunities
Develop the skills and behaviours in:
A: Tasks and responsibilities
- Apply professional judgement, standards and codes of practice relevant to the role
- Develop and sustain professional relationships with others
- Identify and access specialist help required to carry out role
- Lead the specialist assessment of social, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals with cognitive, sensory and physical impairments
- Mentor colleagues to encourage individuals to actively participate in the way their care and support is delivered
- Contribute to the implementation of processes to implement and review support plans
- Provide leadership and mentoring to others for whom they are responsible
- Apply risk management policies
- Contribute to the quality assurance of the service provided
B: Dignity and human rights
- Implement a culture that actively promotes dignity and respects diversity and inclusion
- Model high levels of empathy, understanding and compassion
C: Communication
- Model effective communication skills
- Identify and address barriers to communication using appropriate resources
- Apply organisational processes to record, maintain, store and share information
- Provide meaningful information to support people to make informed choices
D: Safeguarding
- Apply and support others to adhere to safeguarding procedures
- Work in partnership with external agencies to respond to safeguarding concerns
E: Health and wellbeing
- Apply person centred approaches to promote health and wellbeing
- Collaborate with external partners to achieve best outcomes in health and wellbeing
F: Professional development
- Evaluate own practice and access identified development opportunities
- Evaluate the effectiveness of own leadership, mentoring and supervision skills and take steps to enhance performance
- Value individuals to develop effective teams in order to achieve best outcomes
- Contribute to the development of an effective learning culture
- Lead robust, values-based recruitment and selection processes
- Contribute to the induction process by developing the knowledge of individuals within their role
- Lead and support others in professional development through personal development plans, supervision, reflective practice, research, evidence-based practice and access to learning and development opportunities
End Point Assessment
To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must have:
- Proof of English & maths GCSE minimum grade 4+ (C+) or equivalent level 2 qualification
- Proof of completing a Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care (part of the on-programme element)
- Completed a showcase portfolio, demonstrating how you have met the knowledge, skills and behaviours
The End Point Assessment consists of:
- Observation of Practice: A 60-minute observation, followed by 15 minutes of post observation questioning
- Professional Discussion: A 90-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?
Pursue a career as a lead health care supervisor/management. Careers within a variety of settings including NHS/care homes/mental health/learning disabilities/substance misuse/social care. Further education, such as Leader in Adult Care (Level 5), Degree or FE/HE courses in Health and Social Care, Nursing or Adult Care.
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 18 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