Therapies

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 3 pathway is 59 credits

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 4 pathway is 120 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, 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 3

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/HEI

• 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

• Foundation Apprenticeship

• GCSEs

• GCEs

• Welsh Baccalaureate (at this time there is no credit transfer)

• Welsh Baccalaureate with Principal Learning (at this time there is no credit transfer)

• Other relevant level 2 qualifications

•  

Apprentices who wish to accredit any prior learning must select options within the Pathway which will equip them with new skills and learning.

Personal Attributes

Employers look for health sector apprentices who demonstrate the values and behaviours of the employing organisation and who: 

• Are well organised and conscientious

• Can work in a team

• Are keen and motivated to work in a healthcare environment

• Are willing to undertake a course of training both on-the-job and off-the-job and apply this learning in the workplace

• Have basic literacy, numeracy and communication skills on which the apprenticeship will build

• Are willing to undergo an Occupational Health Check.

• Are willing to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service checks (this is needed as apprentices may come into contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults)

• Can be flexible as there may be a requirement to work shifts

Individual Healthcare sector employers may have additional employment entry requirements e.g. ability to travel between different locations depending on where services are delivered.

Level 4

Entry requirements are the same as Level 3, but also includes Applicants may have already achieved a range of qualifications eg:

• Essential Skills Wales

• Apprenticeship

• GCSEs

• GCEs

• Welsh Baccalaureate (at this time there is no credit transfer)

• Welsh Baccalaureate with Principal Learning (at this time there is no credit transfer)

• Other relevant 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 3: Therapies

Level 3: Therapies Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the combined qualifications below.

Please see Annex 1 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge units within the combined qualifications.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh.

On/Off the Job training

On-the-job learning will comprise:

One of the Level 3 qualifications 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 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/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Communication Skills
• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Application of Number Skills
• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Digital Literacy Skills

Level 4: Therapy Assistant Practitioners

Level 4: Therapy Assistant Practitioners Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following combined qualification below.

Please see Annex 2 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge units within the combined qualifications.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh.

On/Off the Job training

On-the-job learning will comprise:

One of the Level 4 qualifications 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 Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Combined qualification 120 credits

Essential Skills 18 credits

Therapy Assistant Practitioner - Total 138 credits

To satisfy the requirements of this apprenticeship pathway an apprentice will need to complete a total of 1901 on and off-the-job training hours-in typically over 24 months.

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Communication Skills
• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Application of Number Skills
• 6 credits/45 GLH Level 2 Essential Digital Literacy Skills

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

Job roles

Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The latest version of the job roles and job descriptions for this Pathway

Progression

Progression routes into the Apprenticeship:

See Entry Requirements

Progression from the Apprenticeship:

Learners may progress from this pathway onto a Level 4 Apprenticeship or progress onto further qualifications specific to their work context. A wide range of qualifications are available for use within the health sector. These may include further qualifications, a range of higher education qualifications or other work-related education and training to support Continuing Professional Development. 

Progression should not just be seen as vertical. In some instances, progressing into another role at the same level may be just as rewarding as it offers the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge.

Many therapy support apprentices will complete their apprenticeships and continue to work as therapy support workers with delegated responsibilities assigned to them by the practitioners they work alongside. This may include training and supervision of other team members.

To become a Health Professional (eg Nurse, Midwife, Allied Health Practitioner) apprentices would have to progress from their apprenticeship to undertake a specific qualification, often a 3-year university Degree, which, on completion, would enable them to register as a professional. Apprentices who have achieved one of these Level 3 qualifications and can evidence academic research and study skills will be guaranteed an interview on applying for an appropriate Health Professional undergraduate course. 

Further detailed information and advice on careers within the health sector can be found at http://www.wales.nhs.uk/

Level 4

Progression routes into the Apprenticeship:

See Entry Requirements

Progression from the Apprenticeship:

On completion of this pathway, learners may progress onto further qualifications specific to their work context. A wide range of qualifications are available for use within the health sector. These may include further qualifications, a range of higher education qualifications or other work-related education and training to support Continuing Professional Development. 

Progression should not just be seen as vertical. In some instances, progressing into another role at the same level may be just as rewarding as it offers the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge. 

Many therapy support apprentices will complete their apprenticeships and continue to work as therapy support workers with delegated responsibilities assigned to them by the practitioners they work alongside. This may include teaching and supervision of other team members.

To become a Health Professional (e.g., Nurse, Midwife, Allied Health Practitioner) apprentices would have to progress from their apprenticeship to undertake a specific qualification, often a 3-year university Degree, which, on completion, would enable them to register as a professional. Apprentices who have achieved this Level 4 qualification may be able to obtain recognition of prior learning (RPL) when applying for an appropriate Health Professional undergraduate course. This will be at the discretion of the receiving HEI.

Further detailed information and advice on careers within the health sector can be found at http://www.wales.nhs.uk/

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.

The Healthcare Sector Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) workforce is a predominately female workforce, many of whom are over 35 and the need to recruit younger staff and men in particular is promoted by the publication and use of this apprenticeship framework. Healthcare has traditionally been seen as being delivered by a female workforce and the need to attract more men into the profession to ensure care can be offered by men to men is important. 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 will 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 

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 full 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

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