The Primary Care Training Hub are working together with the primary care workforce to offer a range of different apprenticeship opportunities. Apprenticeships are a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled, and qualified workforce; allowing you to diversify and freshen up your workforce. There are no “acute” or “primary care” apprenticeships, instead they have been developed to meet the needs of all employers.
The below information outlines the apprenticeship opportunities that are available, the differences between them and how you can get involved. This webpage also signposts to useful resources and learning materials.
Click on the below subheadings to take you to HASO's website to find out more about apprenticeship standards, funding and levy, job families, quality, skills for life and the available case studies.
Which Apprenticeships Support the Primary Care Workforce?
To see the NECS Flexible Apprenticeship Scheme and guidance, please click here.
Level 2 Healthcare Assistant Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship standard focuses on the core practical skills and underpinning knowledge and theory to gain competence, under clinical supervision, to be a healthcare practitioner in a GP Practice.
Route: Health and Science | Pathway: Allied Health Professionals, Corporate Services, Healthcare Support Work, Midwifery, Nursing, Theatres | Funding: £3,000 maximum | Typical Length: 12-18 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship is ideal for those aspiring into a supervisory or management role and who may subsequently move into the full practice management role. It is suitable for new or existing employees who are expected to develop the skills necessary to lead or manage teams.
Route: Business and Administrative | Pathway: Leadership and Management, Voluntary Services | Funding: £4,500 maximum | Typical Length: 12-18 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 3 Community Health and Wellbeing Worker Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship can be used to train Social Prescribers, Health & Wellbeing Coaches & Care Co-ordinators. Personalised Care roles are rapidly expanding, and this apprenticeship supports the increased emphasis on a wide range of responsibilities.
Route: Health and Science | Pathway: Public Health | Funding: £7,000 maximum | Typical Length: 12 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship covers all things administration such as communication, organisation, decision-making, interpretation of information and IT skills. The business administration apprenticeship can be contextualised to include specific areas within the primary care environment.
Route: Business and Administrative | Pathway: Corporate Services, Human Resources (HR) and Organisational Development (OD), Leadership and Management, Support Services, Voluntary Services | Funding: £5,000 maximum | Typical Length: 12-18 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 3 Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship offers the opportunity for receptionists, administrators, care navigators to develop their business and customer insight knowledge and skill. They will become ‘specialists’ in customer support and ‘advocates’ for excellent customer service, supporting other team members and highlighting service improvements, working with a range of systems and data.
Route: Sales, Marketing and Procurement | Pathway: Corporate Services | Funding: £4,000 maximum | Typical Length: 15 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship is ideal for experienced HCSWs who are ready to demonstrate best practice and act as role models in addition to accepting more responsibility and accountability. They may be required to act as a supervisor to other team members.
Route: Health and Science | Pathway: Allied Health Professionals, Healthcare Support Work, Midwifery, Nursing, Psychological Professions, Theatres | Funding: £5,000 maximum | Typical Length: 18-24 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 4 Dental Practice Manager Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship develops Dental Practice Managers who is responsible for all non-clinical aspects within a practice to achieve excellent patient care, quality, cost and delivery performance in line with practice strategy, goals and values by providing support and direction to all practice staff.
Route: Business and Administrative | Pathway: Dental Team | Funding: £9,000 maximum | Typical Length: 24 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship is designed for those already working in an established management role but would benefit from developing a wider range of management skills . Other responsibilities may include managing change, financial and resource management, talent management, coaching and mentoring.
Route: Business and Administrative | Pathway: Leadership and Management, Voluntary Services | Funding: £7,000 maximum | Typical Length: 30 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship is designed for a leader who has senior management responsibility. They will provide clear, inclusive, and strategic leadership and direction which contribute to the execution and achievement of the strategic objectives set by the organisation.
Route: Business and Administrative | Pathway: Leadership and Management, Voluntary Services | Funding: £14,000 maximum | Typical Length: 24-30 months
To access the apprenticeship standards, please click here.
Apprenticeship Standards
Each apprenticeship standards will have differing entry requirements as prior achievement at a certian level, or registration with the appropriate governing body. Training providers may also have their own, separate entry requirements.
Please check each apprenticeship standard and each training provider individually for entry requirements. You can view all available apprenticeship standards here, along with information as to their duration, cost, level, assessments and availability.
For further information on apprenticeship standards, you can view the Institute for Apprenticeships website.
Funding
Paying for Apprenticeships Training
If your organisation does not pay the Apprenticeship levy (if you have a pay bill under £3million), apprenticeships can be funded in two ways:
1. Levy Transfer from a Gifting Employer. This will cover 100% of the training costs of the apprenticeship up to the maximum funding band. If the training is priced above this band, the difference must be paid by your organisation.
You can request support in sourcing a levy transfer from the NHSE Levy Transfer Service at: england.levytransfer.north@nhs.net
You can also apply for a transfer directly using the Pledge Service, available at: https://transfers.manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk/
2. Funding Reservations. The ESFA will fund 95% of the training costs, and the employer pays the remaining 5%. Funds can be reserved up to 3 months in advance and must be used in this period.
Both methods will require a Digital Apprenticeship Service account. All payments for levy transfers are managed through this system automatically.
If you require support with any aspect of apprenticeship funding, please email england.levytransfer.north@nhs.net and we will assist you.
Additional Funding Available
There are various additional funds available for employers wishing to explore apprenticeships:
If you have any further queries regarding funding for apprenticeships, please email: england.levytransfer.north@nhs.net
Apprenticeship ‘Levy Gifting’ Available to Support Recruitment of Social Prescribing Link Workers and Other ARRS Roles in Primary Care
Large employers that pay the apprenticeship levy can now choose to transfer up to 25% of their levy funds each year to other businesses to pay for their apprenticeship training and assessment. This includes NHS providers, local government and private businesses and includes recruiting new staff or upskilling existing ones using the Level 3 Community Health and Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship standard. Employers must pay the apprentice’s salary; this transfer of levy funds can only be used for the costs of the apprenticeship training and the end-point assessment.
Literacy and Numeracy Skills for Apprentices
BKSB
NHSE have funded BKSB, a tool used to assess apprentice numeracy and literacy and upskill, for employers to use until April 2024. Once staff have used BKSB to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, they can then take their Functional Skills exams via Open Awards. Open Awards is also funded by Health Education England and is an excellent way for healthcare staff to gain the essential qualifications they will need to progress onto apprenticeship training.
To get started on BKSB, please email:
hee@bksb.co.uk and confirm the main contact from your employing organisation and the number of learners estimated.
Useful Resources
The Primary Care Training Hub have collated the below list of resources to help answer any queries you may have and to help you get started with the apprenticeships service.
Primary Care Nursing Apprenticeship Factsheet
Community Nursing Apprenticeship Factsheet
Top Tips for Employers – Primary Care
Top Tips for Apprentices – Primary Care
Trainee Nursing Associates in Primary Care Infographic
Trainee Nursing Associates in Primary Care Pathway
Trainee Nursing Associates Primary Care Checklist: use this checklist to assess the readiness of the practice and potential candidate for the nursing associate apprenticeship.
Gov.uk – Getting help with the apprenticeship service
ESFA – How to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer
How to fund the salary of apprentices
How to set up a digital service account and reserve apprenticeship funding
BMedSci Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Degree Apprenticeship