Course Overview

To work in care is to make a positive difference to an individual’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional or intellectual challenges. Working with people, feeling passionate about supporting and enabling them to live a more independent and fulfilling life is a rewarding and worthwhile job that provides excellent career opportunities.

The Adult Care Apprenticeship Standard provides you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to work in a variety of health and social care settings; from helping people with a particular need to providing vital assistance to healthcare professionals in the care of patients.
This Apprenticeship is predominantly a work-based training programme designed around the needs of both employers and apprentices and attendance at Bridgwater campus is one day per fortnight.

This apprenticeship standard is for frontline staff who support adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives which is at the heart of person centred care. Careers are varied and determined by and relevant to the type of the service being provided and the person supported. Apprentices may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, a individual’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings, in role’s such as a care assistant, support worker or personal assistant.

The qualification is listed as an approved qualification on the Skills for Care website www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Units of study/what is involved

Learners will work through the following components (unless excempt) –
L2 Diploma In Adult Care
Level 1 Functional skills Maths
Level 1 Functional skills English
20% Off The Job training
Adult Care Worker Standard

The qualification within the apprenticeship consists of mandatory units covering core knowledge and skills competencies with optional specialisms which can be are combined in flexible ways to reflect the real working context of different learners.

Mandatory units include –
person centred approaches
communication
personal development
equality and inclusion
handling information
duty of care
safeguarding

Assessment Methods

Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard Adult Care Worker is a competence-based qualification which is assessed by a portfolio of evidence. You we be measured against learning outcomes and assessment criteria described in each unit of the qualification. You must meet all the learning outcomes within the chosen units and meet the rules of combination to be able to be awarded the qualification. The majority of assessment will be work-based, using real experiences, written assessments and observations by a qualified assessor.

• Teaching through workshop delivery for unit topics
• You will create an online portfolio of evidence using various assessment methods including assignments, reflective accounts and projects
• Workplace assessments including observations and professional discussions
• End Point Assessment (EPA)

A synoptic End Point Assessment (EPA) will include two distinct components. Firstly, the completion of a situational judgement test answered through a multiple choice computer-based test, and secondly, a professional discussion undertaken online. To achieve final certification, you must have completed and achieved all elements of the end point assessments in addition to the Care Certificate.

Progression Options

This qualification allows you to learn, develop and demonstrate the skills and knowledge required for employment and/or career progression in Healthcare and Adult Care settings. You can then progress to the apprenticeship for the Lead Adult Care Worker or Senior Healthcare Support Worke.
Opportunities may also be available to progress to a City & Guilds level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (3096-31) or the City & Guilds Level 3 in Healthcare Support (4345-31) providing you are in an appropriate job role.