Apprenticeships are one of the Government's flagship qualifications. As participation is extended (i.e. the school leaving age is raised), demand for apprenticeships is expected to grow. Health sector apprenticeships need to be on offer and the public sector is expected to promote their development. For more information on Public Sector Apprenticeships, go to the Public Sector skills challenge. To access a leaflet which illustrates how training Apprenticeships link to the Department of Health's Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) initiative for the NHS, click here.

Following a commitment in February 2009 to increase the number of public sector apprenticeships by 21,000, the Department of Health is investing £25 million in over 5,000 NHS clinical and non-clinical apprenticeships which will be in place by March 2010. Under the initiative, the East of England Strategic Health Authority has been set a target of 518 apprenticeship starts in the 2009/2010 financial year. County Workforce Groups (CWGs) were invited to submit proposals to meet the targets and the table below shows the outcome.

The apprenticeships are open to existing staff as well as new employees and cover many clinical and non-clinical disciplines. As at February 2010, the NHS in the East of England is on track to exceed the target number of apprenticeship starts with two counties – Hertfordshire and Norfolk – already meeting their targets for the whole year (the apprentices range in age from 16 to 57).  For further information, please contact Sean McLoughlin by email: sean.mcloughlin@nhs.net.

For further information on employer support for Apprenticeships, see the Learning Networks page of this website, or contact Wendy Wilkinson, Learning Networks Manager - email: Wendy.wilkinson@healthskillseast.org.uk.

For information on Apprenticeship Week 2010 (which will take place week commencing 1 February 2010) and the Annual Apprenticeship Awards go to to the NAS website at http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Awards.aspx.

Recent Developments:

The Business Administration Apprenticeship Framework has been revised to reflect the needs of the health sector and now includes the following Technical Certificates:

• C&G Level 2 Diploma in Medical Administration
• C&G Level 3 Diploma for Medical Secretaries

National Apprenticeship Service (NAS)

NAS was launched on 27 April 2009. It is responsible for the delivery of Apprenticeships and is accountable for the delivery of national targets and co-ordinating the funding of Apprenticeship places. For further information, click here.

The consultation on the Specification of Apprenticeships Standards for England (SASE), which will set out the role of NAS and the minimum national requirements for Apprenticeship frameworks, ended on 29 May 2009 - for more information, including the Government's responses published in December 2009 click here.

In January 2010, it was announced that NAS will provide funding for up to 5,000 Apprenticeship Grants for employers who take on unemployed 16-17 year olds as apprenticeships.  This initiative is aimed at employers (particularly small and medium sized employers) who would not otherwise be taking on an apprentice or would be taking on more apprentices than they otherwise would have done.  For further information, click here. 

TYPES OF APPRENTICESHIPS

There are Young Apprenticeships (14-16yrs), Apprenticeships (16 yrs + at level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (16 yrs+ at Level 3) leading to access to Higher Education if required. There is no longer an upper age limit so Apprenticeships are also available for adults.

Apprenticeships are not new – they have been around for many years, traditionally in the building craft areas. Within the Health sector, there are a wide range of apprenticeships available.

For further information, see the following Skills for Health documents:

• Job roles linked to Apprenticeship Frameworks and Range of Apprenticeship Frameworks appropriate within the Health Sector. Both these resources were updated in October 2009 and will be updated regularly. 
• The Health Sector Apprenticeship Toolkit: The Employer's Journey which provides an overview of the stages required in implementing an Apprenticeship scheme.

Click on the links below for more information:

• GOVERNMENT POLICY for Apprenticeships
• EMPLOYERS' GUIDE to Implementing Apprenticeships
• TYPES OF APPRENTICESHIPS:
         -  Apprenticeships (Level 2)
         -  Advanced Apprenticeships (Level 3)
         -  Young Apprenticeships

USEFUL RESOURCES / WEBSITES


• General information about apprentices can be found on the Apprenticeship website, or The Apprenticeship Guide 2009.
• A Health Service Journal / Skills for Health Apprenticeships supplement was published in June 2009 and includes features on the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals FT orthopaedic surgical care practitioner role and the West Suffolk College Apprenticeship model.
• Directories - LSC has published its Directory of Apprenticeships 2009.   For A guide for Employers in the East of England and A Guide for Individuals, click here.  
• Third Sector - Guidance on establishing apprenticeships in the Third sector.
• Skills for Health – Apprenticeships in England and Wales provides information on the variety of Apprenticeships available in the health sector, including the Health and Social Care Apprenticeship Framework.

CASE STUDIES

• The Health Skills East Useful Websites for Case Studies – Useful websites for case studies,  includes links to Apprenticeships case studies.
• Good Practice – Resource Guide and Case Studies web page for case studies from the East of England.