Apprenticeships

What is an apprenticeship?

Earn, learn and make a difference with an NHS apprenticeship. Our apprenticeships offer routes into many of the more than 350 NHS careers through a mix of on-the-job training and classroom learning.

• Find out more at: NHS apprenticeships | NHS Health Careers

What apprenticeship pathways are there in the NHS?

An easy way to look for one is by job family. Look at the below link.

• Job Families - HASO (skillsforhealth.org.uk)

I want to do an apprenticeship qualification

That is brilliant news and DCHS want you to do an Apprenticeship qualification! This is the very start of an amazing journey.

There are over 750 x different types of apprenticeships and there are over 350 different roles within the NHS. This can be a little over whelming!

If the apprenticeship you are interested in doesn’t appear in this list please follow this link and search the Institute for Apprenticeships website

• Apprenticeship search / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education 

We currently offer a variety of qualifications under a different range of apprenticeships. Click on the relevant section to view:

• Accounts and finance
• Allied Health Professions Occupations
• Business and administration Support 
• Education and learning 
• Facilities and Estates (Hard) 
• Facilities and Estates (Soft) 
• Facilities and Estates (Management) 
• HR & OD The People Professions 
• Leadership and Management 
• Nursing Occupations 
• Pharmacy 
• Primary Care Nursing 
• Public Health 
• Wellbeing & Psychology Professions

Key Apprenticeship Dates

For all Apprenticeships. Please be aware application closing dates and programme start dates are subject to change.

Nursing applications are shortlisted twice a year (subject to change): 

Closing Dates for Applications are:

• 28th Feb for Autumn Cohort.
• 30th Sept for Spring Cohort.

AHP applications are shortlisted once a year (subject to change): 

Closing Dates for Applications are:

• 30th September for Spring Cohort.

I want to do an apprenticeship but am unsure which one

We hold monthly virtual information sessions, where you can drop in and have a chat (see calendar).

If you prefer to have something more individual, please book in with us, links below.

We have created Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for some of our more popular Apprenticeship Programmes.

• DCHS HCA Information & FAQ's
• Nurse Degree (Top up) Apprenticeships
• ECP Apprenticeship
• Student Nursing Associate & Trainee Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship
• OT & Physio Apprenticeship
• Pod, Diet, S&L Apprenticeship

Eligibility

Where our Trust requires you to have (Maths and English GCSE A* to C or Functional Skills Level 2 or CSE Grade 1) to be able to apply for any of our apprenticeship programmes. You will need to upload the certificates as evidence. Please check as sometimes the paperwork suggest it is a ‘provisional statement of results’. This is not valid, we need the recognised certificate from the Awarding body.

My qualifications are from over seas

That is fine. Our Trust can request a ‘Statement of Comparability’ from (ENIC) The UK National Agency for International Qualifications. Just contact us via our email to discuss next steps around this. You will need to email us a copy your certificates.

I haven’t got the required Maths and/or English GCSE (or equivalent)

First of all, don’t worry – this is something we can help you with. You will have to take Level 2 Functional Skills in the required subject.

• Functional Skills Information & FAQ's

I cannot find my Maths and/or English GCSE (or equivalent) certificate

Option 1 - Contact the Qualification Body to request a copy of the required certificate (they may charge you for this).

1. You can sometimes find your records via this government website (only if after 2010)
2. How to get a replacement certificate

Get a replacement exam certificate: Who to contact - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Option 2 - Complete a Level 2 Functional Skills in the required subject. We can offer this to you, please see the information in the Functional Skills section above.

I want to submit an expression of interest for an apprenticeship (Internal staff)

1. Firstly, you will need to know which apprenticeship course you wish to study.
2. Secondly, please gain your manager and budget holder (General Manager) support prior to submitting your expression of interest, as we are unable to process your request unless you have gained their consent.
   
   Please note you will now have to upload the signed approval form, along with evidence of your qualifications when you submit an expression of interest.

• Complete the form via this link: Apprenticeship Expression of interest

Manager Approval Forms (Internal staff only)

Here are the template forms for some of our popular apprenticeship programmes. If you can’t find one you want, please contact us via dchst.apprenticeships@nhs.net to request one. (More templates will be added here over time.)

• OT - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• Physio - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• Podiatry - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• TAP - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• SNA - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• ECP JOINT - Mgr & GM Template
• Top Up Nurse Degree - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• Non Clinical - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• MSc Degree - Mgr & GM Approval Template
• DCHS - Blank Mgr & GM Approval Template

I manage a team and would like to know more about what an apprenticeship is and how it will benefit my team

1. We would be happy to join one of your team meetings to talk about what is on offer.
2. Or we can arrange a ms teams call with you to talk further

• Please email us at dchst.apprenticeships@nhs.net to request.

I am a manager and would like to advertise externally for an apprentice

For clinical apprenticeships, please book time with Tracey Nock, via her link:

• Book time with Tracey Nock

For anything else, please book time with Angela Gilbert, via her link:

• Book time with Angela Gilbert - And select ‘Apprenticeship External Recruitment’

I am looking to replace/fill a vacancy in my team can this be an apprenticeship?

Yes! All teams are encouraged to take the Apprenticeship First approach Apprenticeships for every role and vacancy. This allows you to support career pathways for people in your teams and will help to attract, develop, and retain your workforce. For example, you can replace a HCSW with a trainee at level 2 and develop them to a band 3, 4 and 5 roles as part of their career journey.

• Taking the above approach will mean initial cost savings in your team while you develop and transform your workforce.
• Contact the Wider Workforce Team for more information about Apprenticeship 1^st
• More information can be found on the government website: Apprenticeships.

Who will pay the apprenticeship salary?

If you take the above approach, you will have funding in your budget to pay the salary if you are recruiting an apprenticeship to support your future workforce pipeline, by employing apprenticeships you will be investing to save.

Does DCHS provide backfill for apprenticeships?

No there is no funding for salary backfill however we will pay for all tuition costs.

To recruit on a Substantive or Fixed Term Contract?

If Fixed Term: There must be a genuine job available with a contract of employment long enough for an apprentice to complete their apprenticeship programme and End point assessment.

It will depend on your Service budget, but to truly ‘Grow your own talent’, consider substantive. The Apprenticeship programme should be completed and passed before the offer of a substantive post.

Calendar of Information Sessions

We offer regular sessions on:

1.    Career Development - Advice & Guidance Session for Staff

2.    Apprenticeship Application Preparation – Academic Interview & Skills Scan workshops

Notes: The Calendars for National Apprenticeship Week are shown on a separate document.

Career Development – Advice & Guidance Sessions

• The Wider Workforce Team hold career development ‘drop-in’ sessions every month to discuss everything and anything about your career aspirations and what apprenticeship programmes are on offer!
• This is your first stop to gather general information and help you explore options on your career journey.

Career Development - Advice & Guidance Session for Staff

Apprenticeship Application Preparation – Academic Interview & Skills Scan workshops

• These workshops are specifically for colleagues who are thinking about applying in the future or, have an upcoming Academic Interview for an Apprenticeship programme.  Please join one of the drop-in sessions

Being a Mentor for an apprentice

Assigning a workplace mentor/supervisor is a powerful tool which can ensure your apprentice settles into their role quickly and thrives in the workplace. A mentor/coach is usually separate to a line manager and is someone who provides a support system for the apprentice. They can help your apprentice resolve issues quickly when they don’t feel comfortable talking to their line manager.

Every apprentice needs a workplace mentor - someone there every day who understands and supports their needs, and the concerns that go along with settling into a new role.

• Don’t assume it’ll be easy – protect time to spend with your apprentice.
• Make time to help apprentices settle in

Who would make a good mentor?

Someone who is good at:

• Active listening
• Questioning
• Building rapport
• Offering constructive feedback
• Setting targets
• Offering support and guidance
• Signposting
• Acting as a role model

A workplace mentor may:

• Share their knowledge and experiences
• Provide advice, guidance and feedback
• Act as a sounding board for ideas and action plans
• Offer encouragement and support
• Celebrate the apprentice’s success
• Identify development opportunities
• Build an apprentice’s confidence, independence, and self-belief set goals
• support personal development and wellbeing

We would like to introduce you to:

• Chelsea
• Luan
• Nicola
• Jaimon
• Janet
• Deneen
• Edwina
• Joe
• Gemma
• Michelle
• Tania
• Zoe
• Mark
• Vicki
• Tracy
• Niahm
• Mandy
• Kim
• Ella

Contact us via the following email accounts:

Apprenticeships: dchst.apprenticeships@nhs.net 

To keep in regular with us, join us on Twitter @WiderWorkNHS.

If your query is urgent, you can call us on:

• Tracey Nock Wider Workforce Manager: 07787 260016  
• Angela Gilbert Wider Workforce Coordinator: 07880 266055    
• Jane Goodall Practice Learning Facilitator (Wider Workforce): 07769 925560
• Lisa Lenton Practice Learning Facilitator (Wider Workforce): 07880 411573
• Catherine Anguish Practice Learning Facilitator - DCHS (Wider Workforce) 07769 164022
• Alex Southgate Practice Learning Facilitator – DHcFT (Wider Workforce) 07766 364983