Therapy Assistant Practitioners

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 Therapy Assistant Practitioners is 138 credits.

Entry requirements

Entry to this Apprenticeship Pathway.

Apprentices should:

• Demonstrate previous learning in a related discipline or equivalent experience
• Have achieved a minimum of a level 3 qualification in a relevant related discipline
• Have already achieved or be willing to work to achieve the required literacy, numeracy, communication and digital literacy skills on which the apprenticeship will build within the apprenticeship programme
• Undergo Disclosure and Barring Service checks (this is needed as apprentices may or will come into contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults)
• Be flexible as there may be a requirement to work shift
• Have a suitable level of physical fitness to perform some aspects of the job roles (e.g. assisting in moving and handling objects)

Individual health sector employers may have additional employment entry requirements e.g. a current driving licence would also be an advantage (and may be necessary for some roles).

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 (which may include a previous role in the NHS)
• work experience
• college/school
• training and/or experience which may include a portfolio showing what they have done

Applicants may have already achieved a range of qualifications, for example:

• 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

Initial Assessment

Training providers and employers will use initial assessment to ensure that applicants have a fair opportunity to demonstrate their ability and to tailor programmes to meet individual needs, recognising prior qualifications and experience.

Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)

Level 4: Therapy Assistant Practitioners

Level 4: Therapy Assistant Practitioners Qualifications

Participants must achieve the following combined qualification 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/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

None

Job roles

Therapy Assistant Practitioner

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

Progression

Learners may progress from this Pathway onto further qualifications specific to their work context, which may be in other healthcare and related services. These may include qualifications or other work-related education and training to support Continuing Professional Development.

Learners may also be able to progress from this pathway into Higher Education undertaking a range of related degrees leading to professional registration subject to meeting their entry requirements.

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.

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.

Employers/providers must be able to demonstrate that there are no overt or covert discriminatory practices in selection, recruitment and employment. All promotional, selection and training activities must be monitored and comply with legislation.

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 prevent 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.

Skills for Health is not aware of any other imbalance in the take up of this particular Pathway eg by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups. For all health apprenticeships local recruitment is encouraged to reflect the local community.

Skills for Health will monitor take up and achievement of all Apprenticeships and take steps to address any barriers to take up and achievement as part of our Sector Qualifications Strategy.

Welsh language

Skills for Health recognises the principle that the Welsh and English languages should be treated on a basis of equality. Consideration should be given to those whose first language is Welsh or those who simply are able and choose to speak Welsh. Awarding Bodies, employers, HEIs and training providers should take a proportionate approach to delivering the on programme and assessment elements of qualifications delivered in Wales in the Welsh language: based on a level of established demand to cater for both languages where needed and/or required when delivering this apprenticeship.

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 Apprenticeships Guidance.

Further information may be obtained from: Welsh Government

DfES-ApprenticeshipUnit@gov.wales

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