Using Onefile to deliver health and social care apprenticeships

Britain's population is getting older. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people aged over 80 is expected to rise from three million to eight million by 2050. 

Furthermore, the percentage of people in the UK who are over 65 is predicted to reach 22.1 million or 27%, by 2072, says the ONS.  

Looking after more older people in the future is bound to put even more pressure on an already stretched health and social care sector - resulting in an even greater demand for well-trained care staff. 

Care sector staff shortages 

Over recent years the impact of Covid, funding cuts and Brexit-related employment restrictions have all made pre-existing care sector staff shortages even worse. 

To address this, the previous UK government put caring roles on The Shortage Occupation List, a register of jobs identified as having a lack of resident workers. This list was recently replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL) and includes home carers, care workers and senior care workers. 

A tried and tested route  

Whether you or welcoming newcomers from overseas or recruiting care staff already in the UK, apprenticeships remain a tried and tested route into social care. 

With an apprenticeship, your staff receive a nationally recognised qualification on completion and are assessed throughout their learning. For those recruits new to the sector, it's the ideal way to begin their careers.  

From day one, they'll gain vital experience of working in a care setting. They'll learn the practical skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to excel in their work, supported by 'off-the-job' training.  

And, at the end of their training contract, they'll get chance to prove their competence during their end-point assessment.  

Delivering care apprenticeships  

Whether your staff member is new to the caring profession or already has experience there's a care apprenticeship for them. 

Entry level apprentices start at Level 2, also known as intermediary level, which is equivalent to GCSE. Once trained, they can then move up through the levels to Level 5 healthcare assistant roles.  

Each course has its own standards and criteria. Training providers and employers need to be fully aware of the details so they can deliver a curriculum which is relevant and compliant. This knowledge will also help to guide and tutor apprentices through their programmes to EPA.  

 Collaboration  

To get the best out of a care apprenticeship, and ensure that what's taught is industry-relevant, learners, employers and training providers must collaborate.  

In a high-pressure environment such as a residential care home, software can really help streamline communications. It's not always easy, convenient or practically possible to have face-to-face visits or talk on the phone.  

Onefile's remote reviews, annotations and messaging features are invaluable in helping everyone communicate in their own time.  

Off-the-job training 

Care workers have demanding on-the-job roles but still need to spend a percentage of their contracted hours completing off-the-job learning outside of their usual workplace.  

You'll need to work with your apprentices to decide how they will meet this requirement and put the information into a commitment statement.  

Apprentices must record and evidence their off-the-job training, as this is a key part of Ofsted inspections and ESFA, (Education and Skills Funding Agency) audits. 

The easiest way to do this is to use Onefile's software, which includes an off-the-job training tracker. Apprentices enter details of their learning, and state whether it was completed on- or 'off-the-job.' Our system automatically calculates the percentage of hours delivered as a percentage against the minimum requirement. 

Supporting your apprentices 

Health and social care apprentices tend to be highly motivated learners who feel compelled to offer the absolute best standards of care every day. 

To recognise their commitment, keep in regular contact with them by sending them motivational messages, leaving feedback and commenting on their progress. You can also create engaging learning content and set quizzes to test their knowledge. This will keep learning fun and encourage them that they're on the right track.  

Preparing for EPA 

Prepare your learners for gateway and EPA well in advance. Start with the end in mind, by checking which assessment method will be used and plan your apprentices' assignments around that, so they get lots of practice. Use an Eportfolio to track progress and identify any gaps in their learning. 

Onefile brings all of this together - and more. With our system, you can create learning content, test knowledge, track progress, send feedback, collaborate online, and prepare for the EPA. 

Using Onefile is the best way to deliver apprenticeships. That's why it's already used by more than 2 million people across the UK.  

To find out how you can use Onefile to deliver your health and social care apprenticeships, download your delivery guide.