Description
This Foundation Apprenticeship gives pupils skills to prepare for a career in social services. It'll help them to:
- learn to communicate with people who use care services
- understand and support people's social and developmental needs
You can support pupils to aim for rewarding jobs where they can improve lives and help others. Possible care roles could include:
- adult or children's nurse
- care assistant
- care home manager
- residential support worker
- social worker
The qualification
SCQF level 6
The Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services and Healthcare includes:
- a National Progression Award (NPA) in Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6
- 4 units of an SCQF Level 6 in Social Services and Healthcare
- a substantial work placement
Example of course units include:
- NPA
- Social services in Scotland
- Safeguarding people - SCQF
- Develop your own knowledge and practice
- Support the safeguarding of individuals
Entry requirements
Pupils don't need formal qualifications for entry, but should have:
- a good level of written and spoken English
- the ability to work with others
- communication skills
- problem-solving skills
- a commitment to the appropriate values
The pupil would select a Foundation Apprenticeship as a school subject choice. Then they'd go through a recruitment process arranged by the college, or other learning provider. It's great if you can get involved, too.
Pupils need to register with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme before placement.
Progression and development
Pupils will get the skills, knowledge and competence to help them move on to:
- a Modern Apprenticeship
- more vocational training
- further study at school or college
These will help them to prepare for working in a social services subject.
If you're looking to hire, Foundation Apprenticeships help you spot talented pupils. You can assess their skills on a longer term than a regular interview process would allow.
Your role
As an employer, you can decide what level of involvement you have in the apprenticeship. You can discuss this with the college or other learning provider who's working with you.
There’s no financial cost to you as an employer because the learner is still at school. But investing your time can bring rewards, with access to talented young people in your workplace.
The work placement
Pupils study a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of their school subjects, usually over S5 and S6. Placement experience takes place in both S5 and S6.
In S5 pupils may complete an industry challenge project based on a care practice issue. They could spend up to 10 days learning about a care setting and the care practice issue.
In S6 each pupil must complete a work placement of about 1 day a week. That helps them build the evidence needed to complete the units from the SVQ.
We recommend that placements are in community care or in daycare for adults or older adults.
What's next?
Fill out our contact form and we'll connect you with your local learning provider who can talk to you about working with Foundation Apprenticeships.
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