Lead Practitioner in Adult Care

Overview of the role

The Lead Practitioner in Adult Care will guide and inspire team members to make positive differences to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, psychological or intellectual challenges. They will have achieved a level of self-development to be recognised as a lead practitioner within the care team, contributing to, promoting and sustaining a values-based culture at an operational level.

A Lead Practitioner has a greater depth of knowledge and expertise of particular conditions being experienced by the user of services. They will have specialist skills and knowledge in their area of responsibilities which will allow them to lead in areas such as care needs assessment, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and enablement, telecare and assistive technology. They will be a coach and mentor to others and will have a role in assessing performance and quality of care delivery.

Details of the Standard

The apprenticeship is broken up into distinct phases:

• The sign-up, which includes an assessment of maths and English, and an agreement between us, the apprentice and the employer, regarding the training plan.
• The practical period, which is the bulk of the apprenticeship. This is where the apprentice completes their required off-job-training according to the agreed training plan.
• The gateway. At the end of the practical period, the employer, training provider and apprentice meet to discuss the next, and final stage, the End Point Assessment (EPA). At the Gateway meeting, we ensure that the apprentice is ready to undertake the EPA.
• The End Point Assessment (EPA) is the last stage of the apprenticeship. The apprentice will undertake a series of independent assessments, which may include multiple choice questions, a professional discussion and/or a practical test. Successfully completing this step results in achieving the apprenticeship!

Duration

This apprenticeship is based on an 18-month practical period, although this may be amended based on prior experience and recognised qualifications. The minimum duration is 12-months.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements are largely dependent on the vacancy notice set out by the employer - please read the job advert that relates to the role you are considering.

English and maths

Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to completion of their Apprenticeship.

Curriculum, delivery and readiness for End-Point-Assessment

The content delivery will be agreed between the apprentice, employer and training provider and is based upon prior knowledge and qualifications. This agreement forms the individualised Training Plan, detailing how the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the apprenticeship Standard will be met.

The apprentice will need to undertake (and successfully achieve) the Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care. This forms the backbone of the apprenticeship, but the apprentice will also have to provide evidence of meeting all the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of this apprenticeship Standard.

Summary End-Point-Assessment

The EPA consists of two distinct assessment methods: Observation of Practice, and a Professional Discussion (for which the apprentice will need to submit a portfolio of work).

The apprentice must lead the observed activity and should be given four weeks to prepare for this activity following the gateway.

The professional discussion will take 90 minutes. The independent assessor will ask questions to ensure all the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours are covered.

Progression

Following successful completion of this apprenticeship, the natural progression would be on to the Level 5 Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship.