Apprenticeships in Health and Care

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you’re thinking about an apprenticeship in the health and care sector then you’re in the right place! This page has everything you need to think about when you’re considering an apprenticeship.

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What are Apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are real jobs, with real hands-on experience, a salary and the chance to train while you work. You’re treated just like all the other employees, with a contract of employment and holiday leave.

Whilst working you also have the opportunity to learn; at least 20% of your time in apprenticeships will be spent doing ‘off the job training’ – often at a college, university or with a training provider.

Apprenticeships are often confused with internships, but they are two different types of employment, there’s more on this below.

You’re in good company

Apprenticeships in England have a rich history and can be traced as far back as the middle ages.

Famous people including the chef Jamie Oliver, Formula One engineer Ross Brawn and designer Stella McCartney all started their careers as apprentices.

Apprenticeships are now available in over 170 industries, with over 1,500 job roles from healthcare to aerospace and everywhere in between, there is something out there for everyone!

Why Choose Apprenticeships?

Learn While You Earn

This is one of the biggest advantages you’ll have over your counterparts who are recent graduates. Not only will you avoid student debt, but you’ll have a head-start in the career you’ve chosen. An apprenticeship starts you directly on your career path.

Support

You’ll likely be supported by the college you chose to attend whilst doing an apprenticeship. This could include, financial, emotional and welfare or careers support

Qualify

Once you’ve completed you’re apprenticeship you will have gained an accredited qualification, which depending on the apprenticeship you’ve chosen could range from A-level to equivalent all the way to a Masters degree.

How Apprenticeships Work

Doing an actual job while studying for a formal qualification
The skills and qualification you get depends on the role that you’re training for
At the end of your apprenticeship you’ll receive a nationally-recognised qualification

Qualifications You Could Gain

GCSE Level – English, Maths and IT qualifications
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) – These range from A-Levels comparable to five GCSEs, up to A-Levels similar to a postgraduate degree.
Technical certificates – City and Guild Progression Award, BTEC
Academic qualifications – The equivalent of a full Bachelors degree. Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) foundation degree

Guaranteed a Minimum Wage

The average wage is £170 weekly
Some employers may pay more
The apprenticeship wage is for people under 19 or still in the first year as an apprentice, which is £3.90 per hour
Over 19 and completed the 1st year of your apprenticeship you’ll be entitled to the National Minimum Wage (£6.15 per hour 18-20 years old, £7.70 (21-25) years old)
Holiday entitlement – 20 days
Some apprenticeship employers advertise a ‘competitive salary’ which means that they may pay you in line with what similar positions in the industry pay or they may pay more if you have a certain skill set

Apprenticeship Level Entry Requirements

Intermediate/ Level 2 apprenticeships: Not be in full-time education and over 16
Advanced/ Level 3 apprenticeships: Prior work experience and equivalent of 3 GCSEs A*-C or 9-4
Higher/ Level 4,5,6 apprenticeships: You’ll need at least 5 GCSEs A*-C or 9-4 grade, as well as further qualifications in relevant subjects e.g. Level 3 NVQ, AS-levels, BTECs
Degree/ Level 6, 7 apprenticeships: 3 A-levels in specific grade range, on top of good GCSEs. It’s likely you’ll be required to have prior work experience

Apprenticeships Aren't Just For School Leavers

Stereotypical views of apprenticeships are no longer accurate. In the past people have thought they are just for boys leaving school looking to train in a traditional industry

71% of apprenticeships are actually started by people over 19

So there is no age limit for when you can start an apprenticeship.

Equally apprenticeships aren’t just for boys and men

49% of apprenticeships were started by women last year

There can be a course out there for everyone.

Some of the Most Popular Apprenticeship Roles

Healthcare: nursing, dental, NHS apprenticeships and youth work
There are popular apprenticeships for support staff too: HR, recruitment, accounting, marketing, IT, software developer, information security

Timescales

As expected the higher level apprenticeships take the longest to complete.

Intermediate apprenticeships start at 1 year to 18 months.

Advanced apprenticeships usually last 2 years.

Higher and degree apprenticeships could last between 3-6 years.

They're not Internships!

As you can see there can be very specific outcomes and qualifications gained from apprenticeships, which is why they are a formal type of employment.

Internships: informal employment, short-term, usually no qualification associated with them, helpful to decide on a career path.

Apprenticeships: formal employment with your workers right guaranteed by contract, longer, qualifications gained, kick-starts you down your career path,

Can I get a degree from an apprenticeship?

In short, yes you might be able to! Apprenticeships come in different levels and depending on the level you undertake you might study a Degree.

Here are 5 apprenticeships that result in a degree qualification.

What kind of apprenticeships are there in health and care?

Read through our table below to find out more detail. It’s packed with different healthcare apprenticeships!

Level	Title	Length	Description
Level 2	Healthcare Science Assistant	18 months	The Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) support workforce contributes to safe patient care across all care pathways from conception to end of life in job roles within hospitals, general practice and other settings in the healthcare sector and across all areas of healthcare science. HCSAs perform a range of low risk, routine technical and scientific procedures usually within one broad area of HCS, following specific protocols and in accordance with health, safety, governance and ethical requirements. HCSAs work using standard operating procedures, initially under direct supervision but increasingly with experience, under indirect supervision.
Level 2	Adult Care Worker	12-18 months	To work in care is to make a positive difference to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional or intellectual challenges. Adult Care Workers need to have the right values and behaviours developing competences and skills to provide high quality compassionate care and support. They are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives which is at the heart of person centred care. Job roles are varied and determined by and relevant to the type of the service being provided and the person supported. Adult Care Workers may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, a person’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings. This standard covers both Adult Care Workers and Personal Assistants.
Level 2	Healthcare Support Worker	12-18 months	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 (by checking things like blood pressure, temperature or weight), 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.
Level 2	Optical Assistant	12 months	An Optical Assistant requires many skills to be able to work within the Optical retail Industry. They are often the people that spend the most time interacting with customers. Therefore strong communication, listening skills and a passion for working with others to deliver excellent service and products that are both clinically and cosmetically correct, are skills, knowledge and behaviours that need to be demonstrated at all times. They may be working within a small practice, a large multiple practice or within the domiciliary environment. Optical Assistants have to interpret and understand a clinically issued prescription, its effects on the eye, and the customer’s vision. They need to be able to identify the appropriate spectacles to meet the customer’s needs and be able to explain the features and benefits of these, using non-technical customer friendly language.
Level 2	Pharmacy Services Assistant	12-15 months	The Pharmacy Services Assistant (PSA) works under the supervision of a Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, or other accountable healthcare professional. The PSA provides a variety of pharmacy and medicines services to patients, the public and other professional healthcare teams. The PSA supports the delivery of pharmacy services in a variety of pharmacy environments. A PSA will be involved in supporting the supply, preparation and assembly of medicines and products; issuing them to patients and other healthcare professionals and assisting in providing advice to patients to help them to make effective use of their medicines. They will be responsible for ordering and receiving medicines, as well as their storage, disposal and return. They will have an understanding of healthy lifestyle choices and relevant screening services.
Level 3	Ambulance Support Worker (Emergency, Urgent and Non-urgent)	13-18 months	Ambulance Support Workers respond to emergency (999), urgent and or/unscheduled care calls from the public and/or wider health and social care communities to provide care and clinical support to individuals of all ages within an agreed scope of practice and outside of a multi-disciplinary hospital team, or provide scheduled non-urgent transport for people with specific health needs. You will transport them, as required, to (and from) specified treatment centres and other locations which may be very remote settings, driving safely and at progressively high speed as appropriate, and also have the responsibility of managing a vehicle. You will work as part of a double ambulance crew either alongside a more senior member of staff such as a Paramedic or Associate Ambulance Practitioner, or with another non-registered Ambulance Support Worker; for some non-urgent care you may work alone
Level 3	Dental Laboratory Assistant	18 months minimum	To complement the role of Dental Technicians who design, manufacture, modify and repair custom-made dental devices. It is recognised that many dental laboratories have opportunities for individuals who will assist, under supervision, in the manufacture of dental devices. This pathway is designed to be the initial stage leading to the role of assistant and giving the opportunity for entry to higher qualifications that develop individuals for professional registration with the General Dental Council (GDC). During the apprenticeship, Dental Laboratory Assistants will develop basic competency in core laboratory skills before focusing on specific areas of employment.
Level 3	Dental Nurse	24 months	The Dental Nurse role complements the role of other dental professionals. One of the primary roles is to provide chair side support to dental professionals and deliver a high level of patient care. Dental Nurses may work in a variety of clinical environments and the Apprenticeship reflects all aspects of clinical responsibilities and duties of a dental nurse’s role and will provide the apprentice with the relevant qualification to apply to the General Dental Council (GDC) for professional registration as a dental nurse. Dental Nurses are registered professional and work within the standards and scope of practice defined by the GDC Scope of Practice document (Sept 2013).
Level 3	Emergency Services Contact Handler	12 months	An “Emergency Service or NHS Integrated Urgent Care Contact Handler” responds to requests for specialist professional assistance from members of the public, colleagues, and employees from other organisations (all of these individuals are called “service users”). The requests from service users could be received through a variety of communication methods, including the telephone (for example, 999 emergency or 111 urgent care calls), online applications, text messages and through social media. Some service users will be directly or indirectly involved in difficult and/or traumatic situations (for example, they may be in danger or unwell), and may display a variety of characteristics (for example, vulnerability, anxiety, confrontational). The role of the Contact Handler is to communicate with the service users to ascertain their needs, provide reassurance and advice, and decide and take the appropriate course of action (following processes and procedures).
Level 3	Laboratory Technician	24 months	Laboratory technicians work in a wide range of organisations, including but not exclusively, chemical, primary and secondary pharmaceutical, biotechnology, formulated products, nuclear companies; and analytical science services. A laboratory technician may carry out both routine and one-off laboratory testing and perform a variety of technical support functions across the organisation. In any context working safely and ethically is paramount and many companies operate under highly regulated conditions because of the need to control the quality and safety of products, for example medicines.
Level 3	Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician	36 months	Prosthetic or Orthotic Technicians design and manufacture custom made devices to meet the specification/ prescription determined by the Prosthetist/ Orthotist. In prosthetics this is an artificial limb (prostheses) in orthotics it can be a range of devices from diabetic footwear to spinal bracing (Orthoses). Using the specification/ prescription provided you will make devices that aid movement, correct deformity and relieve discomfort for adults and children. These devices are designed to replace, support or improve the functioning of a limb or the spine. You will have an understating of the clinical conditions that you may provide devices for include scoliosis, polio, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, musculoskeletal injury and cerebral palsy
Level 3	Safety, Health and Environment Technician	24 months	The SHE Technician will be able to work in organisations of varying size and industry; the role could be based in one location or may involve travel across a range of contracts. The role will be partly office based and partly at the work front providing advice to others on how to work without harming themselves or others. The Technician will work with the management and delivery team of the organisation to advise on the statutory health, safety and environmental requirements as they affect the company’s operations. They will assist the management team in ensuring that the legal and company SHE requirements are implemented.
Level 3	Senior Healthcare Support Worker	18-24 months	Senior Healthcare Support Workers help registered practitioners deliver healthcare services to people. As an experienced support worker, you carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner. You provide high quality, compassionate healthcare, following standards, policies or protocols and always acting within the limits of your competence. You may work in a range of services eg hospital, community, health or day case unit, birth centre or midwifery led unit, someone’s home, operating theatre, nursing or care home, assessment centre, hospice, school, prison, GP surgery, charity, working in partnership with individuals, families, carers and other service providers.
Level 4	Associate Ambulance Practitioner	12- 18 months	The Associate Ambulance Practitioner (AAP) works as part of the wider Emergency & Urgent Care setting, having direct contact with service users or others, providing high quality and compassionate care. Day to day duties and tasks for an AAP would involve working as part of an ambulance crew responding to emergency (999) and urgent calls providing emergency and urgent assistance, driving safely and progressively at high speed. The AAP will assess, treat and manage service users at the scene (reducing the need for hospital admission), either referring service users to alternative care provisions or safely discharging them on scene. Other tasks involve working closely with other emergency services and the wider NHS. Tasks of an AAP will include evaluating different approaches to solving problems, communicating those results accurately and reliably, with structured and coherent arguments. AAP’s work at a level above that of Healthcare Support Workers and have knowledge of the underlying concepts and associated principles within their area of study, including the ability to evaluate and interpret these.
Level 4	Dental Practice Manager	24 months	The Practice Manager is responsible for managing all non-clinical aspects within a specified practice/s to achieve excellent patient care, quality, cost and delivery performance in line with practice strategy, goals and values. The Practice Manager leads the team by providing support and direction to enhance performance, skills and knowledge of all practice staff.
Level 4	Healthcare Science Associate	24 months	The Healthcare Science (HCS) Associate workforce supports the work of HCS Practitioners and Clinical Scientists in performing high quality, safe diagnostic, therapeutic and monitoring technical and scientific procedures from conception to end of life in job roles within hospitals, general practice and other settings in the healthcare sector and across all areas of HCS. They perform a wide range of routine technical and scientific procedures, with minimal supervision, within one of the Divisions in HCS, following specific protocols and in accordance with health, safety, governance and ethical requirements. The clinical scientific environment determines the context of the HCS Associate work/role.
Level 4	Mammography Associate	12 months	Mammography Associates work within the breast imaging workforce undertaking routine two-view mammography (x-ray images of breasts). You will work in a multi-disciplinary team within a hospital or in a community setting (e.g. mobile breast screening units, medical centres), undertaking mammography of individuals as part of a breast screening programme. You will also be able to undertake routine mammography on individuals with symptoms of breast disease. You will have a good understanding of breast anatomy, physiology and pathology, including clinical signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and be able to apply knowledge of ionising radiation regulations. You will be technically skilled in operating specialised mammography equipment and be responsible for monitoring equipment function and performance.
Level 5	Assistant Practitioner (Health)	18-24 months	Assistant Practitioners work as part of the wider health and social care team and have direct contact with patients, service users or clients providing high quality and compassionate care. Assistant Practitioners work at a level above that of Healthcare Support Workers and have a more in-depth understanding about factors that influence health and ill-health (e.g. anatomy and physiology). Assistant Practitioner is a job title applied to a very wide variety of roles that have been developed locally by employers to meet individual service need. Upon successful completion of this standard, individuals will have obtained the core skills, knowledge and values/behaviours to become an Assistant Practitioner.
Level 5	Dental Technician	36 months	Dental Technicians design, manufacture, modify and repair custom-made dental appliances. Typically the work is undertaken in a dental laboratory on a prescription from a dentist. The work can broadly be split into crown & bridge, dentures and orthodontics; most labs specialise in one or two of these areas but during the apprenticeship, Dental Technicians will develop competency across all disciplines from start to finish before choosing if/where to specialise once they are qualified. Dental Technicians tread a fine line between art and science; they manufacture precise custom-made medical appliances but require the attention to detail, colour and manual dexterity that is expected of fine artists.
Level 5	Nursing Associate	24 months	The Nursing Associate is a highly trained support role to deliver effective, safe and responsive nursing care in and across a wide range of health and care settings. Nursing Associates work independently, and with others, under the leadership and direction of a Registered Nurse within defined parameters, to deliver care in line with an agreed plan. Nursing Associates will have a breadth of knowledge and a flexible, portable skill set to serve local health populations, in a range of settings covering pre-life to end of life. The Nursing Associate apprentice must meet the 15 standards as set out in the Care Certificate, prior to taking their end point assessment.
Level 5	Rehabilitation Worker (Visual Impairment)	24 months	Working within the statutory, voluntary and private social care sector the Rehabilitation Worker assesses individual need and formulates, delivers and evaluates professional person-centred rehabilitation training to visually impaired people to develop and enhance the skills and confidence they need to maximise their independence. The worker is an advocate for visually impaired people, the sight loss sector and their employing organisation to support, design and influence the development of services and promote accessibility, equality, social integration and the societal contribution of people with a visual impairment.
Level 6	Clinical Trials Specialist (Degree)	60 months	The Clinical Trial Specialist works in Public or Private Clinical Research Organisations, generally in Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Industries. They are part of a multi-disciplinary team focused on the delivery and execution of Phase I-IV clinical trials in humans. They are mainly office-based but travel to sites (hospitals, pharmacology units and General Practitioners) to conduct monitoring activities. Clinical Trial Specialists work initially with significant oversight as required by external regulations but over time gain increasing autonomy to monitor and deliver clinical trials consistently to the right quality and within budget. Typical job roles may include: Clinical Trials Assistant/Administrator, Clinical Research Associate and Study Coordinator with development to Clinical Project Manager.
Level 6	Healthcare Science Practitioner (Degree)	36 months	Healthcare Science (HCS) Practitioners (HCSPs) fulfil a common occupational role1. They work independently and as part of a team providing HCS scientific and technical services within HCS Divisions in Life Science, Physiological Science, or Physical Science, with the specific focus of work determined by the area/department within which they work.2 They use expertise in applied scientific techniques to deliver patient sensitive and quality assured tests, investigations and procedures (in some cases, including specialist therapeutic interventions) on samples, patients and equipment. HCSPs are responsible for the analysis of a wide range of diagnostic tests that contribute to the clinical assessment of patients for the presence of disease, the monitoring of health and the effectiveness of treatments. While working to departmental protocols, HCSPs are required to use judgement, deal with ambiguity and supervise the training of those in the trainee practitioner and HCS support workforce. HCSPs work in a range of different settings including hospitals, primary care, public health, and private sector hospitals.
Level 6	Laboratory Scientist (Degree)	60 months	A laboratory scientist applies specialist knowledge and broad scientific understanding to carry out a range of technical and scientific activities in their specialist discipline: Chemical Science, Life Sciences, Research & Development, and Analytical. They analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant scientific information, concepts and ideas and use these to develop subsequent experiments or investigations and to propose solutions to problems. They identify areas of business improvement and propose innovative scientific ideas. They perform practical, established and novel laboratory procedures using standard and specialist laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Ensuring uniformity, consistency, reliability, reproducibility, quality, and integrity of scientific tests underpins their work and the working environment
Level 6	Midwife (Degree)	48 months	A midwife is the first and main contact for a woman, her partner and family, recognised as a responsible and accountable professional, the midwife acts as an advocate for the woman, working in partnership with her and giving the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. Midwives are lead co-ordinators of care as well as the first point of contact for a woman, her baby and family. They offer support, care and advice and are responsible for facilitating births and providing care for the newborn. Midwives are experts in normal physiological birth and in supporting the woman through all birth outcomes.
Level 6	Occupational Therapist (Degree)	48 months	Occupational therapy is a rewarding career which requires a highly developed knowledge and professional skill-set to enable you to work across a range of settings and environments. Occupational therapists work with individuals from birth to end of life including those with physical and mental health conditions, injury, learning disabilities, long-term conditions, palliative care needs and with those who find themselves displaced from their societies. Your primary goal as an occupational therapist is to enable people to participate in meaningful occupations and activities of everyday life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to do such as self-care, leisure or work
Level 6	Operating Department Practitioner (Degree)	48 months	Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are registered healthcare professionals specialising in caring for people of all ages before, during & after surgery. ODPs therefore mainly work in operating departments. They work alongside other professionals (such as doctors and nurses) and take a lead role in ensuring a patient is safe during each stage of a patient’s journey through the operating theatre. ODPs must continually make professional decisions to ensure the patient receives the best care before, during and after their surgery. ODPs also ensure that the operating theatre environment is safe and effective and therefore have expertise in the management of specialist equipment & materials in a highly technical environment, for example handling surgical instruments, checking anaesthetic equipment, moving patients and giving medication ODPs must demonstrate confidence, compassion, competence & effective judgement; being responsible for their decisions.
Level 6	Paramedic (Degree)	36 months	A career in paramedicine is a dynamic and exciting career with opportunities to work in a range of different roles as a Registered Paramedic. You will be a first-contact Allied Health Professional who works within the wider Urgent & Emergency Care setting. You will provide high quality and compassionate care, responding to the needs of service users and carers across the lifespan. You will work in a wide variety of settings, which may include a front-line ambulance, a GP surgery, a minor injury/illness centre, in remote medicine or a varied range of other environments. Responsibilities and duty of the role: At the point of registration, a paramedic is an autonomous practitioner who has the knowledge, skills and clinical expertise to assess, treat, diagnose, supply and administer medicines, manage, discharge and refer patients in a range of urgent, emergency, critical or out of hospital settings.
Level 6	Physiotherapist (Degree)	48 months	Physiotherapy is a science-based profession. Physiotherapists work with individuals, and their families and carers, from birth to end of life and in a wide range of health and social care settings. They lead and deliver programmes and interventions to help people affected by injury, ageing, illness or disability. Physiotherapists use a range of physical and psychological treatment approaches, including movement, exercise and manual therapy, to optimise an individual’s mobility, function and quality of life. They also provide education about health and wellbeing and provide specific advice that can be applied to everyday activities to manage and reduce the risk of pain or injury. The profession helps to encourage development and facilitate recovery, enabling people to remain independent for as long as possible.
Level 6	Podiatrist (Degree)	48 months	Podiatrists are registered healthcare professionals specialising in the lower limb (feet, ankles, legs), providing high-quality clinical care to people of all ages. A Podiatrist’s job is to work to protect people’s feet, providing preventative advice, care, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a range of problems affecting the lower limb. Keeping mobile and retaining independence affects the quality of people’s lives. Podiatrists aim to reduce the impact of disability and dysfunction and have a role in rehabilitation. They play a pivotal part in reducing the risk of amputation, infection, pain, deformity and hospital admissions. They will undertake a range of podiatry interventions including wound care, routine skin and nail care, nail surgery, scalpel work or care for long term conditions. They provide musculoskeletal assessment and then instigate a treatment plan to improve or enhance movement or reduce pain. They prescribe functional insoles for the management of foot / lower limb conditions.
Level 6	Prosthetist and Orthotist (Degree)	48 months	A Prosthetist/Orthotist is a registered clinician. This unique occupation provides the opportunity to practice in two areas of healthcare. Most will specialise in Prosthetics or Orthotics; a small number continue in both. Prosthetists / Orthotists manage their own patient caseloads, work across all age ranges & with a wide variety of conditions, often providing lifetime care. Whilst autonomous practitioner with leadership & management responsibilities they work as key part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to provide holistic care to patients & work collaboratively with members of the MDT through the provision of rehabilitation & long-term care. Prosthetists & Orthotists work for both the NHS & independent companies. Prosthetists/Orthotists demonstrate confidence, compassion, competency & effective judgement about risk & be responsible & accountable for their decisions. Prosthetist & Orthotists instruct and guide their technicians in the specification and manufacture of prostheses and orthoses.
Level 6	Registered Nurse - Degree (NMC 2018)	48 months	This occupation is found in every sector. Registered nurses work in the public, independent and voluntary sector. Registered nurses are a statutorily regulated profession and the standards for proficiency are set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and successful completion of this apprenticeship will meet the education requirements to see registration with the NMC. This standard covers the NMC Standards for Proficiency and Annexes A & B for registered nurses (May 2018) and covers the four fields of practice that are Adult, Mental Health, Learning Disability and Child.
Level 6	Social Worker (Degree)	36 months	Social Work is an exciting and fulfilling international profession. As a Social Worker you will work in partnership with adults, children, carers and families in a range of different settings to support and promote positive change in people’s lives in order to improve their wellbeing and independence. Within the context of relevant Social Work legislation, you will use your professional judgement and build relationships with a variety of individuals and communities, as well as with a wide range of other professionals and agencies. In your role you will assess, plan, implement and evaluate complex situations. This requires an ability to critically reflect and make decisions within a clear professional code of ethics. As a registered Social Worker, you will engage in protecting individuals from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Level 7	Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Degree)	36 months	Advanced Clinical Practitioners are experienced clinicians who demonstrate expertise in their scope of practice. Advanced Clinical Practitioners manage defined episodes of clinical care independently, from beginning to end, providing care and treatment from the time an individual first presents through to the end of the episode, which may include admission, referral or discharge or care at home. They carry out their full range of duties in relation to individuals’ physical and mental healthcare and in acute, primary, urgent and emergency settings (including hospitals, general practice, individuals’ homes, schools and prisons, and in the public, independent, private and charity sectors). They combine expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership within their scope of practice. Advanced Clinical Practitioners work innovatively on a one to one basis with individuals as well as part of a wider team. They work as part of the wider health and social care team and across traditional professional boundaries in health and social care.
Level 7	Bioinformatics Scientist	30 months	Bioinformaticians are scientists – specialists who use computational, data analytical and data mining techniques which are applied to a range of problems in the life sciences, for example, in pharmaceutical companies in the process of drug discovery and development. Roles require scientists who understand life sciences, and who can work computationally with diverse and large volumes of data derived from different life science activities – and role names and descriptions often reflect this by using slightly different names for what is broadly the same computational skill-set. For example, bioinformatics, computational biology, computational toxicology, Health informatics, Medical informatics, Agri-informatics. This range of titles reflect the importance of life-science-specific knowledge coupled with the underlying (and sometimes specifically-adapted) data science, statistics and computational skills.
Level 7	Regulatory Affairs Specialist (Degree)	30 months	A Regulatory Affairs Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that allow a company to legally develop, manufacture, market and supply healthcare and/ or veterinary products. The role critically evaluates the evidence generated during the development and use of the product for its suitability to support obtaining and managing marketing authorizations, CE marks and approvals for clinical studies in line with legal requirements. This role may be performed within an organisation that may range in size from innovative SME businesses to major multinational companies. A Regulatory Affairs Specialist may also work within service companies offering consultancy support to manufacturers or in the relevant competent authorities or Notified Bodies where they will be assisting in the review and assessment of regulatory and technical dossiers prior to issuing a licence.

FAQs

Are there any disadvantages to Apprenticeships?

Although you won’t be accruing student debt. There are some disadvantages to taking on an apprenticeship which you might want to consider.

You may find it difficult to to switch career paths further down the road due to the vocational nature of apprenticeships. This might limit your career options.
You won’t be eligible for student discounts as you are an employee rather than a student. Having said that, the NUS offer an apprenticeship discount card (which costs £11). You may also be eligible for certain travel discounts.
Diving into full time employment means you have more responsibilites, including arriving to work on time and managing your own workload and your studies. You might find this stressful especially if you are fresh from a school environment.

Where can I find Healthcare Apprenticeship Programmes?

You can find these on the NHS careers website, or other pages such as prospects.ac.uk

What will my working hours look like?

As an apprentice, you will work no longer than 40 hours or any fewer than 30 hours a week. The average working week consists of about 36 hours.

What protection do I have as an Apprentice?

You will have the same rights as any other full time employee as you will have entered into a contract of employment. Your employer cannot discriminate against you based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.
You are entitled to 5.6 weeks (28 days if you work five days a week) paid leave per year.
You are entitled to a 20-minute rest break, if you work more than six hours in one shift. Additional breaks may be given as part of your contract.