TRAINING & EDUCATION Career Connections
Here Jill Whittaker, Managing Director of Connect2Care,explains how organisations can implement the best apprenticeship programme and get the most out of their staff, in light of the Apprenticeship Levy set to come into force next April.
Apprenticeships form a big part of training and education programmes within care homes, particularly when it comes to hiring and developing new members of staff. Over the next year, we’re likely to see the number of apprenticeships increase in line with the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in April 2017. This is because, for the first time ever, care businesses with an annual pay bill over £3million will have a pot of funding from the Levy which can be spent on apprenticeships only.
For operators who haven’t previously run an apprenticeship, and even for those who have, the prospect of this can be quite daunting. So here are some tips on what you need to know when hiring an apprentice, or indeed enrolling an existing member of staff onto an apprenticeship.
Back to Basics There are many types of apprenticeships and qualifications available, across a number of roles. From care and support workers and care managers, to chefs and
food handlers, to receptionist and administrator roles, there are intermediate, advanced, higher and degree-level training courses available, as well as NVQs, for all positions and ability levels.
Apprenticeships take the format of on- the-job training and the learners work with a mentor to study role-specific skills. Typically, most businesses work with external training providers who set the course structure, assess the apprentices’ development and carry out examinations. However, if the resource is available, care home operators can choose to run apprenticeship programmes internally.
Understanding the
Regulations When it comes to hiring or appointing an apprentice, there are a number of standards which need to be met. An apprenticeship must be a minimum of a year long, include 280 hours of guided learning and more than 16 working hours a week. Learners also have to receive training in Level 2 English and Maths if they do not already have these qualifications.
There are also currently changes being made to apprenticeships within the care sector. The new standards being introduced will set out the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to complete the qualifications, and include an assessment by an independent body at the end of the training. These are currently being developed by a trailblazer group and the government.
Support Available For larger care businesses, the Apprenticeship Levy - set at a rate of 0.5% - will fund apprenticeships from 6th April next year. Each of these businesses will also receive a £15,000 allowance to offset
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against the Levy and spend on apprenticeship training. If operators make the most of these payments it will provide an unprecedented level of access to training and skills development for employees.
If your business has a pay bill under £3million, you won’t have to use the new Levy digital apprenticeship service until at least 2018, but there is still lots of support available.
You can choose the training you’d like your apprentices to receive and work with a training provider to run this. You will be asked to make a contribution to the cost of this and then the government will fund the rest (up to the maximum amount of funding available for that apprenticeship).
Benefits on Offer Before deciding on your apprenticeship scheme, it’s important to be aware of the benefits, not just to the learners, but to your business. Here are a few of the main ones, gleaned from Skills Training UK and CIPD figures.
• Hiring an apprentice can have a positive impact on the whole team, with 80% of employers stating a significant increase in employee retention.
• 92% of companies find that having an apprenticeship programme has led to a more motivated and satisfied team.
• 72% of businesses report an increase in productivity of £214 per week from employing an apprentice.
• 90% of apprentices stay in employment after finishing their qualification, with 71% staying with the same employer.
www.connect2care.net
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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