The content of this Pathway has been agreed by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), in collaboration with Healthcare Sector Employers. This is the only Apprenticeship Pathway in the Healthcare sector approved for use in Wales that is eligible for Medr funding.
Learning Programme Content
The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:
Qualifications,
Essential Skills
On/off the job training
The total minimum credit value required for the Level 4 Pathway Clinical Coding is 48 credits.
Entry requirements
Employers from the Health Sector using this framework offer a broad range of skills training through the individual pathways, and welcome applicants from a wide range of
diverse backgrounds and anticipate that they will have a wide range of experience, achievements and qualifications. The selection process by employers (or in partnership
with learning providers) may include initial assessment where applicants will be asked if they have any qualifications or experience that can be accredited against the
requirements of the apprenticeship. Apprentices will need to be able to comply with the Pre-Employment Checks of the employing organisation.
Level 4
Applicants to this Apprenticeship will be from different age groups, with differing backgrounds and experience. As a guide, applicants may enter via a range of routes
including from:
Work (current role)
Work experience
School
College
Training and/or experience which may include a portfolio showing what they have done
Applicants may have already achieved a range of qualifications eg:
• Essential Skills Wales
• Level 3 Apprenticeship
• GCSEs
• GCE A Levels
• Welsh Baccalaureate (at this time there is no credit transfer)
• Welsh Baccalaureate with Principal Learning (at this time there is no credit transfer)
• Other level 3 qualifications
Apprentices who wish to accredit any prior learning must select options within the Pathway which will equip them with new skills and learning.
Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)
Level 4: Clinical Coding
Level 4: Clinical Coding Qualifications
Participants must achieve one of the following combined qualification(s) below.
| Level 4 - Diploma in Clinical Coding (Wales) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| Agored Cymru | C00/4514/4 | 48 | 480 | Combined | English -Welsh |
Please see Annex 1 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge units within the combined qualification. This will be included once the qualifications have been agreed for inclusion in the pathway.
Essential Skills Wales (ESW)
| Level 4: Clinical Coding | Level | Minimum Credit Value |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2 | 6 |
| Application of number | 2 | 6 |
| Digital literacy | 2 | 6 |
Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh
On/Off the Job training
| Pathway | Minimum On the Job Training Hours | Minimum Off the Job Training Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4: Clinical Coding | 280 | 200 |
On-the-job learning will comprise:
The Level 4 qualification listed above
Evidence to support the application for an apprenticeship completion certificate for on-the-job training will include a copy of the qualification certificate for the above qualification detailing the units completed.
Off-the-job learning will comprise:
Level 2 Essential Skills Wales in Communication
Level 2 Essential Skills Wales in Application of Number
Level 2 Digital Literacy
Off-the-job training undertaken before the apprentice started their apprenticeship may count towards the off-the-job training required for the apprenticeship if it was undertaken in relation to an accredited qualification contained in the framework for which a completion certificate is to be applied for.
Evidence to support the application for an apprenticeship completion certificate for off-the-job training will include a copy of the qualification certificate for each of the above qualifications detailing the units completed.
It is expected that:
On-the-job and off-the-job training hours are both planned, reviewed, and evaluated jointly between the apprentice and a tutor, or teacher, their workplace supervisor or manager and, where relevant, the apprentice’s coach or mentor.
On-the-job and off-the-job training support via either a tutor, teacher, mentor, or manager is made available when required by the apprentice.
On-the-job and off-the-job training hours are delivered through one or more of the following methods: individual and group teaching; e-learning; distance learning; coaching; mentoring; feedback & assessment; collaborative/networked learning with peers; guided study.
On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number
6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Digital Literacy
Other additional requirements
Apprentices are required to:
Be willing to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service checks (this is needed as apprentices may come into contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults)
Be flexible as there may be a requirement to work shifts
Comply with the pre-employment checks of the employing organisation
Progression
Progression from the Clinical Coding Apprenticeship:
Learners may progress from this pathway onto further qualifications specific to their work
context which may be in other areas such as IT, Data Analysis or Library and Information
Services. These may include qualifications or other work-related education and training to
support Continuing Professional Development. Learners may also progress from this pathway
into Higher Education undertaking a range of Computer Science, Digital or Informatics related degrees.
Equality and diversity
It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.
The protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.
Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.
There is a gender imbalance within the health sector, which is a predominantly female workforce. All jobs are open to both males and females and are advertised accordingly. Male role models are positively promoted through marketing materials, photos and case studies. However, a perception that certain job roles are for women remains and this may discourage some males from applying to work in these job roles.
Local apprenticeship programmes may be designed by employers to encourage a higher number of male applicants into these roles and into the workforce as a whole. For all health apprenticeships local recruitment is encouraged to reflect the local community.
It is equally important that we must increase the numbers of Welsh speakers in healthcare and improve access to services through the medium of Welsh. This will meet the Government expectation of More than Just Words and the Active Offer where people are offered and can receive their support through the medium of Welsh if they want to.
Apprentices undertaking this pathway may also be adult learners who may have been away from education for a considerable period of time. It is therefore important that the education/training provider delivering this pathway has support systems in place to maximise learners’ potential and to ensure that their educational needs are met by developing a personalised learning programme. Healthcare apprentices undertaking this pathway must be made aware of all the learner support services available to them
There should be open recruitment of apprentices to the programme, which is available to all people, regardless of gender, ethnic origin, religion/belief, sexual orientation or disability who meet the stated selection criteria. Employers/providers must be able to demonstrate that there are no overt or covert discriminatory practices in selection and employment. All promotional, selection and training activities must comply with the following relevant legislation such as:
The Equality Act 2010
The Welsh Language Act 1993
The Care Standards Act 2000
Data Protection Act 1998
Employment Right Act 1996
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Human Rights Act 1998
Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (Whistle Blowing Charter)
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974-1986
Amendment Sexual Discrimination Act 1976
Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018
It is recommended that employers/providers conduct an exit interview if the apprentice leaves the programme before completion. During the learner’s exit interview, it is recommended that information on learners leaving the programme before completion is identified and used to support the learner and develop the provision where necessary.
Employment responsibilities and rights
Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory. But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.
Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government/Medr Apprenticeships Guidance.
Further information may be obtained from: Medr