Opportunities for HCAs and APs
As health services across the UK change, so are the roles and responsibilities of the healthcare support workforce. There are now many more HCAs and APs working in a wide range of settings, performing increasingly complex and specialist tasks.
In response, we have designed a learning and development programme specifically for HCAs and APs working at Levels 2-4 on the Career Framework. It uses a flexible, step-on/step-off model that students can follow as far as they wish:
- Study a single course to build knowledge and skills
- Combine modules towards a Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice
- Build further to achieve a Foundation Degree in Healthcare Practice (or a Diploma of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice in Scotland)
- Progress to the honours degree BA/BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care.
Each step integrates theory and practice and involves work-based learning which needs the support of employers. As students work through the programme, they can choose to focus on areas that interest them most – such as mental health, end-of-life or long-term conditions.
Benefits for individuals:
- Stay in your job while you study
- Work-based learning helps you apply your studies to real life practice
- Helps you develop in your current role, increasing job satisfaction and confidence, and opens up opportunities for career progression.
Benefits for employers:
- ‘Grow your own’ workforce
- Address training needs while minimising time away from the workplace
- Staff apply their new knowledge and skills to their own practice as they learn
- Workforce development attuned to organisational priorities and needs
- Increased employee satisfaction and retention.