Career boost for health workers across Sheffield

Learners starting a higher apprenticeship to train as healthcare assistant practitioners attended an induction day at The Sheffield College.

More than 80 clinical support workers, from six hospital trusts and a hospice, have been offered the opportunity to take on an apprenticeship at The Sheffield College to become healthcare assistant practitioners.

The pilot higher apprenticeship programme provides them with the chance to complete a two-year Higher Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship in Health at Level 5.

Learners will complete most of their training in their work place and study at the college, on Granville Road, once a week.

On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, the staff will have the chance to progress on to a full-time or part-time degree afterwards if they wish.

The project is led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and funded by Health Education England - with the college being the lead training provider.

Staff from Barnsley Hospital, Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, and St Luke’s Hospice are taking part in the training.

The first groups of learners started the course, either earlier this month or last month.

Paul Corcoran, Chief Executive, The Sheffield College, said: “We are delighted to be providing higher apprenticeships which will result in more healthcare assistant practitioners being available to support clinical teams in our local hospitals to provide the very best care for patients.

“The higher apprenticeship will help each of the learners on the programme develop new skills that will be in demand for years to come and they will be equipped to become a valuable member of the healthcare team.”

Professor Hilary Chapman, Chief Nurse, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We are always looking to be innovative in our approach to training and developing our current staff as well as those people who will be our workforce of the future.

“The Higher Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship is a fantastic example of how, by working together with The Sheffield College and other partner organisations, we can offer an opportunity to our staff to further develop their skills and knowledge.”

The apprenticeship takes two years to complete. The next group of learners will start the course in March.

To find out more about all the apprenticeships and training opportunities for employers at The Sheffield College, please visit the website at www.sheffcol.ac.uk or call the college on 0114 2602600.