Training

Many health apprenticeship standards contain or refer to the 15 Standards of the Care Certificate. Guidance, workbooks and other resources for employers are available below.

Resources:

• Skills for Health Care Certificate resources

The Statutory/Mandatory Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) provides guidance and minimum standards for healthcare organisations. In particular, the Subject Guide provides minimum learning outcomes, proposed frequency of refresher training and links to relevant legislation or expert guidance.

Any individual or organisation is able to access and use the Subject Guide, whether or not they choose to formally align their training to the Statutory/Mandatory CSTF.

Resources:

• Skills for Health Statutory/Mandatory Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF)

As well as containing information on programme training and assessment, all apprenticeship standards must contain an end-point assessment. Employers will use the register to select an organisation to undertake end-point assessment for them.

Resources:

• Gov.uk guidance: Joining the APAR as an end point assessment organisation. (APAR – Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register)  
• Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE) –  Developing an End-Point Assessment Plan
• Visit our standards page to view registered EPAOs and End Point Assessment Plan documents against each standard

For apprentice starts before 1^st August 2022, an apprentice is required to train for a minimum of 20% of their working hours.

For apprentice starts from 1^st August 2022 onwards, the minimum volume of hours is not linked to working hours. The minimum off-the-job training requirement for a full-time apprentice is 20% of a 30 hour week (even where the apprentice works more than 30 hours per week for an employer); this equates to an average of 6 hours of off-the-job training per week.

The off the job minimum requirement for a part-time apprentice remains unchanged at 20% of their normal working hours.

Please note that the volume of training hours delivered must be supported by the initial assessment. Some apprentices and standards will need more than the minimum requirement.

Training delivery models vary from apprenticeship to apprenticeship but here are some examples:

• at work four days a week; in training one day a week
• following a degree programme in term time; at work during academic holidays
• attending training blocks at college quarterly; in work all other times.

In some instances a rotation of work-based experiences may be needed if the learner cannot meet all the necessary requirements in their normal work place.  These will be agreed between the employer and training provider.

Resources:

• Gov.uk – Off-the-job training top 5 myths
• Gov,uk – Off-the-job training flowchart
• Gov.uk – Off the job training guide
• Papworth NHS Foundation Trust Off-the-job recording sheet
• Health Education England What is 20% off the job training

On-programme training is all of the training and assessment an apprentice goes through in order to meet the gateway requirements for progressing on to end point assessment.  In all apprenticeships at least 20% of on-programme training will be delivered ‘off-the-job’. Please note that for apprenticeships starting after 1^st August 2022, the “Off the Job” training requirement is an average of 6 hours per week (Full-time apprentices) rather than 20%. Click on our Off-the-job section on this page to learn more. 

On-programme training must be delivered by a training provider that is listed on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.

Not all training and assessment that an apprentice receives on-programme will be linked to a training programme, some will be delivered and assessed as part of their employment (for example statutory and mandatory training which apprentices need to have to be able to work in the health sector).

As the apprentice moves through their on-programme training and assessment they will gradually grow in competence.  As salaried employees this makes them increasingly useful within their team at work, enabling them to take on more or different tasks in the workplace as they progress through their apprenticeship.

Resources:

• Government’s Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers . From 1st August 2023, RoATP (Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers and RoEPAO (Register of End Point Assessment Organisations) have merged and is now called APAR (Apprenticeship Providers and Assessment Register).
• Apply to the APAR as an apprenticeship training provider

Not all Apprenticeship Standards include a mandatory qualification. This is because the Institute for Apprenticeships sets some very strict criteria around when qualifications can be included in standards.

If no qualification is mandated, the employer is free to choose training packages that meet their needs. Additional guidance may be available from the Trailblazer group to assist employers with this. Where available, employer guides can be downloaded from the pop-up for each standard in the standards directory.

Resources:

• IfATE guidance on mandating qualifications can be found here: Developing Occupational Standards, Mandating Qualifications Information and Evidence Requirements, Degree Apprenticeship Policy 2022
• NHS Employers Allied Health Professional apprenticeships
• Skills for Health Mandating Qualification brief