Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Level 3)

Who is this Apprenticeship for?

This course is for any eligible candidates, who are in lead adult care role and wish to further their career in the healthcare or adult care sector.

This apprenticeship has been designed to be taken by anyone wanting to work as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker. The apprentice can specialise in a specific area, including, Adult Nursing Support Worker, Mental Health Support Worker, Allied Health Professions (Therapy Support Worker) or Children and Young People Support Worker.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with

Patients, service users and carers
Registered healthcare professionals, for example doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals
Social care staff including registered managers, care workers and social workers
Administration, management and other non-clinical staff like porters, cleaners and receptionists

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working within the limits of their competence, following standards, policies or protocols and agreed ways of working to provide a range of clinical, diagnostic or therapeutic interventions as part of the wider health and care team.

Senior Healthcare Support Workers report to a registered healthcare professional and undertake delegated activities in line with an individual’s care plan. Senior Healthcare Support Workers use their knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within their area of responsibility. They are accountable for their own work and for reviewing the effectiveness of their actions. Senior Healthcare Support Workers may supervise or guide other staff in their team. They must communicate effectively and be able to adhere to standards, including legislation, employer policies and procedures when handling sensitive information. They must maintain a safe and healthy working environment and keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

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 4 (C) or equivalent Level 2 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 L3 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, including limitations of own role in relation to medication 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’, the signs of abuse and ways to reduce the risk of abuse.
National and local definitions of health and well-being and priorities for promoting public health and reducing inequalities.
The availability of services to support individuals with lifestyle choices and how to make a referral if required.
The signs and symptoms that an individual’s health and wellbeing is changing, including the role of prescribed medication.
The signs and symptoms that an individual is in pain, distress or discomfort.
The principles of hydration, nutrition and food safety.
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 infection prevention and control and the importance of good personal hygiene, hand hygiene and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Local systems and processes to manage the supply, storage, use and safe disposal of stocks and supplies.
The principles of safe moving and assisting individuals, and moving and handling equipment.
The meaning of ‘risk’ in the workplace, ways to raise concerns and own responsibilities in relation to incidents, errors and near misses.
Techniques and principles to safely perform basic life support.
The common causes of conflict and how to respond to them in the workplace.
The importance of continuing personal and professional development.
The local arrangements for appraisal of performance in the workplace.
The principles of reflective practice.
Ways to record and store information securely, including the safe use of technology.
The principles of confidentiality, duty of confidence and disclosure.
The principles of ‘quality improvement’ and ways to measure quality in the workplace.
The principles of investigatory techniques, research and evidence-based practice, and how to access existing evidence and use it to validate and improve practice.
The principles of critical thinking and methods of critical appraisal.
The principles and styles of leadership in relation to own role and place of work.
The relationship and differences between leadership, management, supervision and mentoring.
The physiological states, their normal ranges and the correct tools or equipment to use to measure them.

Please note additional knowledge units will be worked towards, specific to the healthcare route taken.

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 and non-discriminatory person-centred care and support with individuals’ 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.
Support individuals to make informed and positive lifestyle choices.
Actively seek out and act on opportunities to support individuals to maximise their health, well-being and positive lifestyle choices.
Recognise and respond to changes in an individual’s health and wellbeing.
Recognise and respond to the signs and symptoms that an individual is in pain, distress or discomfort to maximise comfort and well-being.
Promote and monitor access to fluids and nutrition in line with an individual’s care plan.
Communicate with individuals, their families, carers, and others in the workplace using techniques designed to facilitate understanding.
Recognise and respond to limitations in an individual’s mental capacity.
Maintain a safe and healthy working environment, using infection prevention and control techniques including hand washing, sanitisation, disinfection, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Maintain the safe supply, storage, use and disposal of supplies and equipment.
Move and handle equipment or other items safely and assist individuals.
Take appropriate action in response to concerns, risks, incidents, or errors and near misses arising in the workplace.
Perform basic life support techniques.
Recognise and respond to potential conflict, challenging behaviour, or an escalating situation.
Undertake own training and development activities and contribute to the training and development of others.
Participate in appraisal to support professional development.
Reflect on and develop your own practice.
Record and store information related to individuals securely, including the safe use of technology.
Report and share information related to individuals securely and in line with local and national policies, maintaining confidentiality, duty of confidence and disclosure.
Participate in and support others with quality improvement activities in the workplace.
Use investigatory techniques to source evidence to validate and improve the delivery of care and support within own scope of practice.
Critically appraise sources of information and apply to practice.
Provide leadership and act as a role model for others within the scope of own role.
Contribute to mentoring and supervision of others in the workplace within the scope of own role.
Undertake physiological measurements, selecting and using the correct tools or equipment.

Please note additional skills units will be worked towards, specific to the healthcare route taken.

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:

English & maths GCSE minimum grade 4+ (C+) or equivalent level 2 qualification proof.
A level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support.
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 Nursing Associate Level 5 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.

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