Health and social care foundation apprenticeship

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Introduction

Foundation apprenticeships are employed positions and are for younger people who will benefit from a wide range of experiences. Each foundation apprenticeship provides a mix of employability skills and behaviours, technical knowledge and skills, and associated English and maths. It combines valuable hands-on practice in the workplace with off-the-job learning. The apprentice’s experiences will not only help them to grow their skills but will also help to inform their next career steps. Completion of this foundation apprenticeship will certify achievement of all of the technical knowledge and skills, together with all of the employability skills and behaviours described. The typical progression routes will likely include employment or progression onto another skills product such as a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.

Foundation apprenticeships benefit employers as they get to see the apprentice in work-based settings while the apprentice receives extra support. Employers also benefit from accessing a broader talent pool of young learners than they might otherwise do.

Under DfE Apprenticeship funding Rules 25/26 the employer qualifies for up to £2,000 per foundation apprentice, subject to retention and progression.

Overview of the role

Health and care support assistants work in a range of health and care settings, for example in a care home, hospital, General Practice, as part of community team and in individuals’ homes where their wider team may include workers from both health and social care.

The broad purpose is to provide high quality and compassionate care and support to individuals. Daily duties will vary dependent on where they work and whether their work is focused on supporting healthcare professionals in providing clinical healthcare or in providing personal care and support in adult social care.

This Foundation Apprenticeship requires a minimum 187 hours off-the-job learning. Upon successful completion, the apprentice will be competent in the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined in this standard. Someone who completes some or all of this content will be part-way through a journey to a more specialist occupation. Taking another apprenticeship after this one is one way of progressing. More information about the main occupations involved can be found via the links below.

Included occupations

• Adult care worker
• Healthcare support worker

Typical job titles include:

Entry requirements

The apprentice must normally be age 16 to 21 at the start of their apprenticeship. Exceptions to this are set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules. 

Technical knowledge

• K1: Introduction to the health and social care sectors, and how the sectors link together.
• K2: Career progression opportunities.*
• K3: The importance of equality, diversity and inclusion and human rights.
• K4: Fundamental principles of a duty of care.
• K5: Fundamental principles of adult safeguarding and how to report a safeguarding concern.
• K6: Fundamental person centred values to maximise an individual’s independence.*
• K7: Fundamental mental health, physical health and emotional wellbeing needs that individuals may have.
• K8: Fundamental principles of infection prevention and control.*
• K9: Developments in digital working and professional boundaries when using technology.*
• K10: Fundamental principles of health promotion and illness prevention to support positive lifestyle choices.*
• K11: Basic food hygiene and preparation methods.*
• K12: Common health conditions and routine interventions and knowing when and to whom to escalate for action.
• K13: Techniques and sources of support to help develop personal resilience when working in a health or social care setting.
• K14: Principles of safe moving and handling of equipment and other objects and assistance of individuals.

Technical skills

• S1: Explore career progression opportunities within the health and social care sectors.*
• S2: Act in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm.
• S3: Work in partnership with others to help to keep individuals safe.
• S4: Support individuals using person centred values.*
• S5: Adapt your approach when providing care and support to meet the needs of the individual.
• S6: Follow infection prevention and control precautions to protect yourself and others in the workplace.*
• S7: Use digital systems and technology in the workplace.*
• S8: Support individuals with positive lifestyle choices to promote health and wellbeing.*
• S9: Apply basic food hygiene and preparation methods.*
• S10: Develop personal resilience when working in a health or social care setting.
• S11: Move and handle equipment or other items safely and assist individuals.

Employability skills and behaviours

• EB1: Communicate and share information using verbal, non-verbal, written and digital methods.
• EB2: Act in a professional manner including good time keeping and conduct.
• EB3: Apply new learning and feedback to everyday practice.
• EB4: Complete own work tasks and ask for help when needed.
• EB5: Work with colleagues to contribute to team outcomes.
• EB6: Seek ways to manage own financial, health and wellbeing needs using available resources.
• EB7: Overcome challenges and adapt to changes at work.
• EB8: Work in line with health, safety and environmental requirements.

English and maths

Functional English and maths

(*) Knowledge and skills statements which offer opportunities to develop functional English and maths are identified with an asterisk.

These are knowledge or skills statements which provide a learner with an opportunity to utilise English and maths in a workplace. This could include reading instructions, measuring or recording information.

English and maths qualifications

Apprentices must follow the English and maths formal qualification requirements as set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules.

Mandatory qualifications or licence to practice

There are no mandatory qualifications or license to practice requirements for this occupation. 

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Assessment details

This assessment plan sets out the requirements for the assessment of the level 2 Health and Social Care Foundation Apprenticeship. The assessment outcomes group and summarise the knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated in assessments and are of equal weighting. The End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) must ensure that all assessment outcomes are met.

It is important that the assessment of foundation apprentices is proportionate and supports the swift progression of learners onto their next destination, whether that be a further apprenticeship, entering the workplace, or another programme of study. As such, EPAOs must design assessments to ensure there is no unnecessary delay in the progression of learners.

This assessment plan does not prescribe when assessment takes place. Apprentices may be assessed at appropriate points (or milestones) throughout their Foundation Apprenticeship.

This assessment plan does not prescribe assessment methods, but does require:

• a knowledge test
• a practical assessment

The practical assessment must give the foundation apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the practical application of the knowledge and skills they have acquired over the course of their training. This may take many forms, including (but not limited to) observation, undertaking a set task in a simulated environment, direct assessment of materials generated during their training, projects, presentations, compiling a portfolio of evidence.

The EPAO must set Foundation Apprenticeship assessments. The EPAO may design the assessment to permit a centre to mark the assessment(s). The EPAO is responsible for ensuring all assessments are sufficiently reliable and valid, and the accuracy of any centre marking. EPAOs are permitted to sample within knowledge and skills statements, and evidence can be drawn from one or more occupations.

Assessment outcomes