Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships offer an exciting opportunity to help employers recruit and develop new staff and support the development and progression of existing staff.
Opening up a nursing career to people from all backgrounds
Since the introduction of the new Apprenticeship Levy in April 2017, apprenticeships have been undergoing an overhaul and we are now seeing qualifications such as the Registered Nurse Degree being converted into apprenticeships.
Smaller employers (those who pay less than £3 million per annum in staff salaries) will be able to use government funding for up to 90% of the costs of these apprenticeships and larger employers will be able to use their Apprenticeship Levy funds.
Case Study
Eleanor Compton, 16, went straight from school to working as an apprentice Health Care Assistant at Springmead GP Surgery in Chard. With ambitions to become a practice nurse, Eleanor chose to do a Clinical Healthcare Support Apprenticeship through Richard Huish College.
Eleanor said: “The apprenticeship sounded really interesting and I thought it would bene fit me for my future career. I am learning new things all the time and really enjoying it. I carry out blood tests, test patients INRs, urine tests, blood pressure checks, ECGs, fit patients with ABPMs (24hr BP monitor), weight monitoring, new patient checks and stitches removal.”
Eleanor added: “I also help out in the baby immunisation clinic putting all the recalls onto the patient’s notes. I assist the doctor when there is a minor op clinic too. I am attending a course soon to learn how to give injections and complete spirometry with patients. Once I have completed my apprenticeship, I am aiming to go onto university to get my nursing degree and hopefully in the end, become a practice nurse and then a midwife. “I would de finitely recommend this apprenticeship. You gain so much experience whilst learning at the same time, and you know there is always somebody around if you’re unsure of something.”
Martin Daly, Practice Manager, said: “The main bene fit of having an apprentice health care assistant in the surgery is that we are able to give someone, right at the very beginning of their working life, the work and study opportunities to develop a career in health care. As a well-established medical training practice we already recognised the bene fits of learning and development at work, supported by structured college study. It has been a very positive experience for us.”
Information about apprenticeships
Find out more about apprenticeships in Primary Care, follow the links below or contact us to discuss how apprenticeships could be used to support your organisation.
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