Social Care Apprenticeship Programme
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Social Care Apprenticeship Programme involve?
- A comprehensive induction which will prepare you for your placements within Pembrokeshire County Council – Adult care provider services
- You will be supported by a workplace mentor
- You will have the equivalent of a day a week ‘off-the-job training’ to develop your learning in the first year
- You will have a mentor in the work placement and Pembrokeshire college
- You will attend workshops where you will have the opportunity to discuss and share ideas
- You will work towards a QCF Level 2 Health & Social Care vocational qualifications, building your understanding and knowledge as you grow in confidence and experience
How long will the Apprenticeship Programme be?
The Apprentice will follow an 18 month on the job work qualification programme working with qualified/skilled members of staff at all times as part of a team delivering frontline support & care to individuals whilst undertaking a QCF Level 2 qualification in Health & Social Care.
What will the Apprentice be expected to do?
The Apprentice will always work with the qualified/skilled member of staff to provide support and care to individuals living within their own homes or in the Community, Residential Homes and Day Services.
Where are the work placements?
The apprentice must undertake between two and three placements in different work settings during the programme. During the first placement, the apprentice will be required to work from Monday to Friday during the daytimes, progressing to working on a Rota basis to include evenings and weekends. The apprentice will always work alongside an experienced & skilled member of the staff team.
What will the Apprenticeship Programme entail?
It will be an 18 month training on the job work qualification programme, working in work setting placements, following a social care training framework to develop new skills and qualifications. Please refer to Apprentice Job Description & Apprenticeship Programme 10 Step Guide.
Apprentices are paid and will be employees of Pembrokeshire County Council.
How will the Apprenticeship Programme be delivered?
Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire College will deliver a training framework, which consists of QCF Level 2 qualification in Health & Social Care, All Wales Induction Framework, Code of Professional Practice for Social Care Workers - Social Care Wales. These qualifications will enable the apprentice to register as a care worker with Social Care Wales alongside accessing PCC social care training such as manual handling, medication, first aid, food safety and a mandatory course framework. The Apprentice will have time included in their working week to free them up to do training and will be required to do some course work in their own time to contribute to learning and completion of courses.
What are the Entry Requirements?
There are no formal entry requirements but it is essential that people have a positive attitude, approach & have excellent interpersonal qualities in working with people, have an interest in social care, aged 16 years plus, are committed to working hard, want gain a qualification in health and social care working in a service setting. If you do not hold Maths and English Grade C, there is an opportunity to complete this as part of the apprenticeship.
- be a kind, caring person who is passionate about helping others
- be aged 16+ in September 2021
- have lived in the UK/EEA for the last three years
- be able to demonstrate kindness and compassion and a passion for helping others
- be able to demonstrate a willingness to work hard
- not be in any formal government-funded education at the time of starting the Health Care Apprenticeship Programme
Why Choose a Social Care Apprenticeship with Pembrokeshire County Council?
- Apprenticeships are great first step into a career in social care
- Apprenticeships combine practical training with paid employment (‘learn while you earn’)
- An opportunity to work alongside experienced staff to support you and help gain the practical skills you need
- You gain nationally recognised qualifications, with no tuition fees
- 25 days paid holiday a year, plus additional public holidays. Holiday entitlement increases with service
- A potential first step to professional training (e.g. Team Leader, Deputy Manager, Manager, Social Work Assistant, Social Worker
A great experience, working as part of a team, making a real difference
What will the 18-month Social Care Apprenticeship programme involve?
Depending on where the apprentice lives in Pembrokeshire, we will design a bespoke work placement package with the apprentice. The apprentice will complete 2 – 3 rotational placements in the following areas:
Work Placement |
Purpose and expected learning outcomes |
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First Work placement 12 months |
Working alongside registered/skilled social care workers and other health care professionals, this will give you an insight into social care provision at an introductory level, involving working with a mentor to deliver support and care to people. This role will allow the apprentice to become familiar with the layout of the service provision, as well as the standards expected of a social care worker. The Apprentice will interact with people and develop your communication skills, whilst displaying the qualities needed to become a support worker of the future. It will provide an insight into how this service supports & play an important role in a person’s life, through providing a person centred approach. |
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Person Centred Care & Approaches |
This role will allow the apprentice to become familiar & embed good standards of support and care. The Apprentice will be trained and required to utilise recording processes and the need for confidentiality and respect of all information. The Apprentice will interact with people and work colleagues and develop communication skills, whilst developing personal resilience when dealing with people and staff. The placement will provide an insight into various work place procedures, policies and practices; giving a holistic experience in communicating through emails, telephone and face to face. This gives a holistic experience of the work setting. |
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Training |
This role will give the apprentice the opportunity to access training - implement knowledge and understanding, carrying out various tasks within the service. Examples include following care and support plans, support with personal care tasks and activities. The apprentice will gain an awareness of multi-disciplinary teams and how different services work together to provide personalised support and care. In addition, this will allow the apprentice to understand the different roles within the work placement. |
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Second & Third Placements Last 6 months |
After successfully completed the first 12 months, the remaining time will be working to develop within the role of a social care support worker, whilst continuing with training & learning. |
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18 month Training includes |
Individuals will complete the following and attend college:
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