Professional Practice in Health and Social Care (Adults) Level 4

Level 4 Apprenticeship Professional Practice in Health and Social Care

The Professional Practice in Health and Social Care Higher Apprenticeship aims to develop the knowledge, understanding, behaviours and skills that underpin Professional Practice within the Health and Social Care sector. This qualification is practice-based and assesses learners’ knowledge and practice. This qualification provides progression for learners who has completed Level 3 Health and Social Care: Practice (Adults).

Contents

Apprenticeship Framework

Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care; Adults

Essential Skills Qualifications

Welsh Language Development

Apprenticeship Framework

The aim of the Professional Practice Health and Social Care higher apprenticeship is to provide learners with the skills and knowledge required for professional practice within health and social care settings. The programme is aimed at learners in roles who support adults and who exercise autonomy and judgement within limited parameters, such as Senior/Social Care Workers or Senior Support Workers.

For more information, please visit:

https://socialcare.wales/registration

The programme prepares learners such as:

Successful completion of this qualification will enable learners to work with more autonomy and responsibility as a qualified Level 4 Health and Social Care Senior Care Worker specific to their job roles. Please refer to the ‘Qualification framework for social care and regulated childcare in Wales’, which can be accessed on the Social Care Wales’ website, below: https://socialcare.wales/resources/qualificationframework-for-thesocial-care-sector-in-wales

Who is this apprenticeship for?

This programme is for individuals who are currently working in the health and social care sector who require the qualification for Social Care Wales purposes.

It is suitable for;

• Learners who have successfully completed the Level 3 Health and Social Care: Core and Practice qualification

• Learners who understand, and apply in practice, person-centred approached

• Learners who promote and support effective practice within Health and Social Care and are aware of key policies within the sector to understand how these affect service development and delivery

• Learners who apply a range of problem-solving techniques reflect on practice to continuously improve use of literacy, numeracy and digital competency skills whilst

working in partnership with individuals, their families, careers and a range of professionals

Overview

There are four different pathways for this qualification and learners are able to choose any one of these four pathways as long as they are in the role. They range between 62 and 65 credits.

1. Leading support for reducing restrictive practices through positive approaches for behaviour*

2. Leading practice with individuals living with mental ill-health*

3. Leading practice with individuals living with dementia*

4. Leading practice with individuals living with a learning disability/autism*

* Learners will also be required to complete unit 410 (Legislation, theories and models of person centred approach) and unit 420 (Professional Practice)

On completion of this higher apprenticeship, you will achieve the following:

• City and Guilds Level 4 Professional Practice in Health and Social Care; Adults

• Level 2 Essential Skills: Communication

• Level 2 Essential Skills: Application of Number

• Level 2 Essential Skills: Digital Literacy

• Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development

On the following pages, you will find information relating to the main qualification (Level 4 Health and Social Care), as well as other aspects that will make up this apprenticeship programme, including Essential Skills and Welsh Language Development.

Level 4 Professional Practice in Health and Social Care – Adults

This is the qualification you will be completing alongside your employment.

Length of time to complete

We will tailor your learning programmes to suit your needs, so that each learner’s experience is unique. While learner’s needs will be different, the recommended time to complete this programme is 18 months

Course Delivery

This qualification is split up into a variety of tasks. They will be delivered through a mixture of online remote learning sessions and 1-to-1 sessions with tutors and an assessor. The online sessions will take place once or twice a month which could be between one to three hours long. Assessments will take place with your ACT assessor and with a City and Guilds external assessor. Written assignments and oral assessments will require learners to have good verbal and written communication skills and it is essential for learners to be undertaking managerial responsibilities on a regular basis in order to collect product evidence for their portfolio.

Course delivery plan –

•

•

•

10 – 14

•

•

15 – 18

•

• Complete plan in 8 weeks

• Review with assessor and support for project. Gather evidence for portfolio

• Attend Task D (ii) workshop for implementation of project

• Carry out the project over 16 weeks *2 observations and reflection logs

• 4 x reviews with assessor. Gather evidence for portfolio

• Time for support for the practice element. Use this time to mop up on any knowledge. Submit portfolio of evidence

• Monthly reviews to continue monthly

minutes

Month Activity Time frame

• ESW’s to close down

• Completion of framework

*The Essential Skills will run alongside the practice qualification so timeframes can slightly change therefore giving the framework requirement of 18 months to complete all of the elements.

What you will learn

To achieve the Level 4 qualification, learners must choose one of the mandatory pathways* and learners will also be required to complete Legislation, theories and models of person-centred approach** and Professional Practice**

Mandatory Units

• Leading support for reducing restrictive practices through positive approaches for behaviour*

• Leading practice with individuals living with mental ill-health*

• Leading practice with individuals living with dementia*

• Leading practice with individuals living with a learning disability/autism*

• Legislation, theories and models of person-centred approach**

• Professional Practice**

Workshops

We run a series of workshops that will help learners develop the knowledge needed for the programme. Workshops are delivered using online programmes such as Microsoft Teams on a 1-1 basis or group basis with the learner’s assessor. This will be planned to suit the learner’s availability.

We have provided an overview of these workshops below.

Workshop 410.1A – Legislation, conventions and guidance

This workshop will cover:

• Equality and rights

• Person-centred practice

• Safeguarding

• Welsh language

• Advocacy

• Preparation for assignment writing

Workshop 410.1B – Supporting person-centred practice

The workshop will be on exploring a number of theories and models that are used to support person centred practice and how these theories and models can be applied within person centred practice to support the well-being, rights and liberties of individuals. A reference of theories/models that cover each of the following factors:

• biological

• sociological

• psychological

This workshop will also support preparation for assignment writing

Workshop number 410.1C – How to promote voice and control of individuals

Workshop based on how you promote voice and control of individuals and your learning of the following topic areas in your responses:

• Dignity and respect

• Citizenship and inclusion

• Advocacy and co-production

This workshop will also support preparation for oral discussion

Professional Practice

In addition to attending workshops, you will be required to collect a number of pieces of evidence. Your assessor will discuss these with you in greater detail, but a summary is below:

1. Portfolio of evidence. Provide any ‘showcase’ examples of evidence that capture key activities and achievements that you have undertaken as part of your practice from across the period of assessment. Examples may include workplace documentation / products, witness testimony, question responses, reflections, supportive case studies.

2. Written assignments and an oral assessment, as below:

a. Written assignment on legislation, conventions and guidance relating to:

i. Equality and rights

ii. Person centred practice

iii. Safeguarding

iv. Welsh Language

b. Written assignment on exploring:

i. A number of theories and models that are used to support person centred practice

ii. How these theories and models can be applied within person centred practice to support the wellbeing, rights and liberties of individuals.

iii. A reference of theories/models that cover each of the following factors:

1. Biological

2. Sociological

3. Physiological

c. Oral assessment. A scenario will be provided to read and review. You will have 60 minutes to prepare for your verbal discussion and will be given 3 questions to answer verbally within 30 minutes. Assessment will be based on how you promote voice and control of individuals and your learning of the following topic areas in your responses:

i. Dignity and respect

ii. Citizenship and inclusion

iii. Advocacy and co-production

3. Written Evaluation. Evaluation of an area of practice in relation to the regulatory and theoretical perspectives considered in Task (B) with a view to improve support for the achievement of positive outcomes for individuals. You will need to include an outline of the process you will undertake

4. Project, detailing:

a. Written plan. Write how you will propose the development of practice, implement this within your own area of responsibility and evaluate the outcomes, with the intention of the outcomes being used to inform and possibly support a change to wider practice within the workplace/setting. You should include an account of:

i. What improvements are intended, including how these influence positive outcomes for the individuals you support

ii. How individuals and their families/carers can be encouraged to participate and how their rights, voice and choices would be acknowledged and acted upon

iii. An overview of the practical considerations for the changes you want to make including a timeline and justification for any additional resources you may need

iv. The process you will use to evaluate the implementation of your plan

b. Implementation of the project, assessed via:

i. Completion of a reflective log drawing on research, theories and models to inform your practice

ii. You will be observed a minimum of 2 direct observations of practice

c. Professional discussion. A final evaluation of activities explored through a 45-minute professional discussion. The tasks as part of the project will be internally assessed alongside the portfolio of evidence, with a final holistic judgement determined and the result submitted to City & Guilds

Have any questions about our Level 4 Professional Practice in Health and Social Care?

We are here to help. If you have any further questions or enquiries about the main qualification element of the programme, please contact our Route Manager:

Hannah Piles Route Manager for Health and Social Care

hannahpiles@acttraining.org.uk

Essential Skills Qualifications

When you agree to undertake an apprenticeship, you may be required to complete Essential Skills as part of your apprenticeship framework.

What are Essential Skills?

Essential Skills qualifications develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of Application of Number (Numeracy), Communication (Literacy) and Digital Literacy. These qualifications enable learners to demonstrate that they can apply these vital skills to a range of situations whilst at work, in learning and throughout life.

The Essential Skills qualifications you are required to complete depend upon your previous qualifications, the apprenticeship level you are completing and your own particular needs.

The Essential Skills qualifications are all available at four levels, depending on your individual needs (Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3) and includes:

Essential Application of Number Skills

• Understand numerical data

• Carry out calculations

• Interpret and present results findings

Essential Communication Skills

• Speaking and listening

• Reading

• Writing

Essential Digital Literacy Skills

• Digital responsibility

• Digital productivity

• Digital information literacy

Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST)

• Digital collaboration

• Digital creativity

• Digital learning

All learners will undertake WEST when signing up for an apprenticeship. These are a set of online skills assessments that calculate the level of ability and understanding in Literacy (Communication), Numeracy (Application of Number) and Digital Literacy.

The WEST assessments are not exams and have no pass or fail criteria. WEST assessments can be completed in Welsh or English, and the Application of Number assessment is bilingual (any learners who would like to explore this, just ask!). There are no set time limits for any of the assessments, but they must be taken under supervised conditions.

WEST is a vital part of your learner journey. The results help your Essential Skills Tutor plan your learning programme to meet your specific needs. As well as assessments, you will also be encouraged to use WEST to develop your skills throughout your apprenticeship programme. Your Essential Skills Tutor will provide guidance on how to use WEST fully.

Course Delivery

If you are required to complete your Essential Skills as part of the apprenticeship framework, they will be discussed at your first visit with your Assessor and employer.

Through analysis of your WEST results and a detailed conversation, a learning plan will be put in place to support the achievement of any Essential Skills you are required to complete.

Together you will agree the best times and locations for the support for both you and your employer, balancing your personal needs and your work life commitments.

Examples of how we will support you with this include:

• Support with a member of our Essential Skills team

• Attendance at group workshops

• Digital workshop sessions

If you have already achieved qualifications in literacy, numeracy or digital literacy, but would like to further develop these skills with the support of our Tutors, just let your Assessor know and this can be arranged for you.

Length of time to complete

We tailor your learning programme to your needs; every learner’s learning programme is unique. Whilst we cannot say for certain how long it will take to complete your Essential Skills qualification(s), we are able to give you a little guidance on time frames. These guidelines depend on the apprenticeship level you are completing and your own particular needs. For example:

*Includes Task and Test

Please note:

• Each skills session is between 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending upon method of support. Your Essential Skills Tutor will discuss the time required for your Essential Skills assessments with you, which will also depend upon the level you are taking.

• We often find that where we need to work with you to upskill by more than one level, we may ask you to attend some extra sessions with us. Don’t worry – we have a range of ways that we can help you to do this (for example through skills sessions)

• We can support you on a one to one basis, but as you may appreciate these spaces are limited. Please discuss with your Assessor.

Proxy

If you already hold qualifications, these may be used as ‘proxy’ towards your Apprenticeship framework. As a result, you will be exempt from achieving that particular Essential Skill, if you wish.

Below are some examples, although this list is not exhaustive. All applications for proxy will be checked and confirmed at the start of your apprenticeship. Please be aware that original certificates will need to be produced within the first 8 weeks in order to be exempt from Essential Skills.

This will be discussed with you before you sign up with us, and will also be followed up by your assessor before and during your first visit from us.

Have any questions about Essential Skills?

We are here to help. If you have any further questions or enquiries about Essential Skills element of the programme, please contact our Essential Skills Manager:

Julie Maughan Essential Skills Manager

juliemaughan@acttraining.org.uk

Welsh Language Development

As part of your Welsh Government funded framework, you will be supported to develop and maintain your Welsh language skills for the workplace.

What is Welsh Language Development?

ACT are committed to playing their part in the Welsh Government Million Speakers strategy. All learners will complete the Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development course as part of your framework with us.

Don’t panic – this is as a means of development and is aimed to support you with the development of your Welsh Language skills. This course is specially designed to give apprentices a basic knowledge of Welsh for the workplace and consists of 6 interactive modules to complete online. The course will be completed throughout your framework, with support from your assessor.

Already bilingual?

If you are Welsh speaking you will undertake your learning bilingually. In practice this means that you can choose the elements of your learning that you would like to complete through the medium of Welsh. You will be able to discuss your particular preferences with your assessor.