In 2013, the government pledged to develop a world-class apprenticeship system, offering young people an alternative to university and employers a job-ready pipeline of workers.
For the health sector, apprenticeships provide an opportunity to develop committed, home-grown, talent through a structured work programme. For the candidate, the development opportunity and experience apprenticeships provide can be priceless.
While existing apprenticeships hold many benefits for both employees and employers, there is always space for improvement and to get more employers involved, which is where apprenticeship reform comes in.
Apprenticeship reform began in 2013 with the government publishing The Future of Apprenticeships in England: Implementation Plan. Since then, teams of employers have worked together to create employer-led standards and set up independent assessment processes.
With a growing number of employers realising the benefits of working with apprenticeships, groups of ‘trailblazers’ have been already formed. Trailblazers are groups of employers approved by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to develop the new apprenticeship standards and assessment processes.
Over the past year, a large number of employers in the health sector have joined trailblazer groups developing standards for healthcare sciences, optical manufacturing, dentistry, nursing, emergency care, pharmacy, healthcare support workers and assistant practitioners.
Kay Fawcett, joint chair of the trailblazer group for healthcare support workers and assistant practitioners, said: “The trailblazer process enables employers to shape apprenticeships for the staff that they want to employ in their organisations. It is employer-led with consultations providing great opportunities for employers outside of the immediate development group to influence this work.”
BIS has so far approved and published standards for healthcare support worker (at level 2) and assistant practitioner (at level 5) along with other health-related standards from other trailblazers such as dental healthcare.
Vicky Yearsley, from Skills For Health, said: “Apprentice healthcare support workers can advance towards becoming senior healthcare support workers over an agreed period of time via a carefully developed learning programme. Not only are employer and employee’s expectations aligned but the resulting efficiencies apprenticeships offer have the potential for a truly positive impact on the delivery of health care.”
With the potential for more apprenticeship standards to be developed, Skills for Health, working in Partnership with the NHS Talent for Care team, is calling for healthcare employers to join the debate and help set the standards.
John Rogers, Skills for Health chief executive, said: “Skills for Health is delighted to be providing support to the development of new apprenticeship standards. We have always worked collaboratively with employers and other stakeholders and the introduction of the standards is a continuation of this commitment. We would like to encourage more employers to take the opportunity to join the trailblazers and be part of developing an excellent apprenticeship system in England.”
To find out more about how you and your organisation can help change the face of apprenticeships in the health care sector visit the Skills for Health website or email Healthcare.Trailblazer@skillsforhealth.org.uk
Further information
The Future of Apprenticeships in England: Implementation Plan
Apprenticeship standards in development – Trailblazers
Information about standards and the Skills for Health, healthcare trailblazers
Content on this page is produced and paid for by Skills for Health, sponsor of the Guardian Healthcare Professionals Network’s workforce development hub
