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, Maternity 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 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 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Apprenticeship will develop the core knowledge and understanding of:

Working to protocol

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-centered 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

Supporting Individuals

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
The physiological states, their normal ranges and the correct tools or equipment to use to measure them

Communication

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
Ways to record and store information securely, including the safe use of technology
The principles of confidentiality, duty of confidence and disclosure

Health and Safety

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

Other knowledge requirements are based on which occupational specialism option you take.

Develop the core skills and behaviours in:

Working to protocol

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-centered 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

Supporting Individuals

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
Undertake physiological measurements, selecting and using the correct tools or equipment

Communication

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
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

Health and Safety

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

Other knowledge requirements are based on which occupational specialism option you take.

Develop and demonstrate the following behaviours:

Treat people with dignity
Show respect and empathy
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:

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:

Workplace Observation: A 90-minute pre-planned observation with an additional 30 minutes of questions, in your normal place of work and independently assessed
Professional Discussion: A 60-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 assistant or supervisor/management. Careers within a variety of settings including NHS/care homes/mental health/learning disabilities/substance misuse/social care. Further education, such as a 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 24 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:

View our latest vacancies

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