A new apprenticeship to support people to build a career in health and social care has been developed in Portsmouth.
The Health and Care Level 2 Apprenticeship offers Trainee Health and Social Care Support Workers the opportunity to experience up to three different health and care settings while studying for their apprenticeship.
Each placement will last for five months, with apprentices working in different settings across health, care, and community support services in Portsmouth.
It has been developed by Portsmouth City Council and NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and will be delivered through the Health and Care Portsmouth partnership.
Jo York, Place Director for Portsmouth within NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: “The apprenticeship offers a broader and more diverse training schedule for our trainees, giving them exposure to the whole health and care sector and increasing their understanding across the system. In turn, we hope this will help us in supporting the changing health needs of our population with staff who have greater knowledge of health and care, and not just one element of it, and who see the benefit that joined-up working can have for the people we care for.
“Working in partnership with our local government colleagues is an innovative approach to recruiting Health and Social Care Support Workers and one we’re very proud to be trialling in Portsmouth.”
At the end of the 15-month programme, apprentices will gain a Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship and an Adult Care Diploma. They will also receive a guaranteed job interview for a permanent post.
Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member Community Wellbeing, Health and Care, said: “Apprenticeships are a great way to gain hands-on experience while studying for an industry-recognised qualification, which is perfect for health and care. The transfer of skills and knowledge from one placement to the next will enable our apprentices to build on their experiences and become the flexible, multi-skilled, future workforce our health and care settings need.
“We hope the apprenticeship will support our apprentices to see how a future career pathway can be achieved, as we look to inspire the next generation of nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, team managers and more.”
Up to 10 apprentices are expected to be employed during the recruitment process. The roles are offered as a full-time fixed-term contract for 15 months, with a salary of £21,029 per annum.
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Resources at Portsmouth City Council, said: “We are proud to work with the NHS on this apprenticeship, to help provide a highly skilled, knowledgeable and motivated workforce, that is so crucially needed within health and care.
“This apprenticeship is a fantastic way to develop our workforce with the clinical, technical and personal skills to build fantastic careers in health and care and make a real difference to the people in Portsmouth.”
To reflect the Portsmouth socio-economic landscape, the programme intends to attract candidates from diverse backgrounds reflecting the local population, including candidates from deprived areas and digital poverty.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds, deprived areas and digital poverty, are encouraged to apply for the role, in order to reflect the Portsmouth population.
If anyone would like any support with their application, or has any additional questions, please contact Farai Shoko, apprenticeship coordinator, on farai.shoko@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or 023 9261 6879.
Find out more about the apprenticeship on our jobs page. The closing date is Friday 21 July 2023.