New careers advice launched for care apprenticeships

The National Apprenticeship Service has launched a new film to encourage more young people to explore the wide range of Apprenticeships available in the care sector.

In the film, four former and current apprentices working in different roles across the sector recount their experiences and talk about how an Apprenticeship has benefited them.  

The four stars, who work for social care provider Barchester Healthcare, childcare provider Fennie’s Under 5’s, residential care provider Hendra Healthcare and in the physiotherapy department at James Paget University Hospitals, also talk about the breadth of skills they developed during their Apprenticeship and the importance of the sector to the economy.  
 
Employers, led by Skills for Care, the Sector Skills Council for the social care sector, are being encouraged to promote the film across the sector and to young people. The film will also be used by the National Apprenticeship Service in resource packs for schools and at careers events up and down the country.  To view and share the film, visit apprentice.tv

Lindsay Giess, 32, who features in the film, has completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care at Hendra Healthcare in Ludlow and is now a senior carer at the residential home. She said: “My Apprenticeship has given me a leg up the career ladder in the care sector. I knew for quite a while that I wanted to work in this sector but I wasn’t sure of the best way to go about it. Being an apprentice meant from the outset I was doing exactly what I wanted to do – from day one I got plenty of face to face time with the people I care for, while also gaining vocational qualifications that have helped me to progress in my career. Becoming an apprentice is one of the best decisions I ever made.”

The other stars of the film are:

• Katie Gaston (21), completed Intermediate and Advanced Apprenticeships in Children’s Care, Learning and Development at Fennies under 5s in Croydon. Katie is now undertaking a Higher Apprenticeship in Leadership and Management and is an assistant manager at the company.
• Lily Middleton (18), has completed an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Allied Health Profession Support at the James Paget University Hospital in Norfolk, and is now working as a therapy assistant at the hospital. Lily is continuing her learning by undertaking an Advanced Apprenticeship in Allied Health Profession Support.
• Richard Richards (32) completed an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care with Barchester Healthcare and is now a senior carer working with younger adults with dementia at Barchester’s Park View Care Home in Dagenham

Sharon Allen, CEO at Skills for Care, said: “The care sector is growing at a rapid rate and we are in constant need of new people with the right skills to join the workforce. An Apprenticeship provides an opportunity for young people and adult learners to gain the interpersonal skills vital to a career in the care sector through workplace experience.

“Apprentices earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future and there are now a wide range of Apprenticeships available across the sector, including the new Higher Apprenticeship in Care Leadership and Management.”

David Way, Executive Director of the National Apprenticeship Service, commented: “Apprenticeships in the Care sector offer young people an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and progress rapidly up the career ladder. Thousands of job opportunities in Care are set to be created over the next few years, so there has never been a better time to consider taking up an Apprenticeship in this field. The stars of the ‘sector in the spotlight’ campaigns show how much can be achieved through an Apprenticeship and why we need to make them the natural choice for ambitious young people. We hope many people will see the film and be inspired to explore what an Apprenticeship could do for them.”

The film is the sixth in a series of ‘sector in the spotlight’ films being created by the National Apprenticeship Service to promote Apprenticeships in key industry sectors.  

Apprenticeships cover more than 170 skills and industries across 1,500 job roles, over an extensive range of skill levels. An Apprenticeship in the care sector can cover a broad range of roles. This could include being a therapy assistant, a social carer, a nursery assistant, a dental nurse and a pharmacy technician. Having a genuine desire to help other people is essential for this sector, and an ability to cope under pressure is helpful too.

Government funding is available to help companies take on an apprentice. Through the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) of 16 to 24 year olds, businesses who choose to grow their business through Apprenticeships can access funding of £1,500.   The grant is open to organisations employing up to 1,000 people, who have never employed an apprentice before, or have not recruited one in the past 12 months.

View the film at: http://apprentice.tv/
For more information on Apprenticeships, visit: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/