Apprenticeship Summary
In today’s evolving care sector, there is an increasing demand for skilled, compassionate, and dedicated individuals who can deliver high-quality, person-centred care. Apprenticeships are a practical and cost-effective way to meet this demand by developing talent from the ground up.
For employers, apprenticeships provide a structured route to build a loyal, competent workforce that shares your organisation’s values and standards. Apprentices can be trained on the job, tailored to your service’s specific needs—whether in residential care, domiciliary settings, day services, or supported living. Government funding and incentives make it easier to invest in training while gaining staff who are motivated and committed to delivering excellent care. Apprenticeships also support long-term staff retention and progression, helping to reduce recruitment costs and build leadership from within.
For apprentices, this is a rewarding entry point into a meaningful career. Adult Care Workers make a real difference in the lives of those they support, empowering individuals to live as independently and safely as possible. Apprentices will gain hands-on experience, nationally recognised qualifications, and the essential values, skills, and behaviours needed to thrive in a care role.
This apprenticeship is more than a job pathway—it’s a chance to shape the future of adult social care, one dedicated worker at a time. It offers purpose, career development, and the chance to make a lasting impact.
Entry Requirements
To enrol on the Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Age: Must be at least 16 years old.
Qualifications: GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 or above, or be prepared to achieve Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths while undertaking the apprenticeship
Additional Requirements:
DBS Check: A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required, typically obtained through employment.
Employment: Applicants must be employed in a suitable adult care setting that enables them to meet the full requirements of the apprenticeship through their job role.
Commitment: Ability to commit to the full length of the programme and meet the programme modules through your job role.
Apprenticeship standard dates
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Anytime
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Bispham Campus
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Anytime
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Bispham Campus
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Next steps
As an Employer
If you would like to offer this as an apprenticeship vacancy within your organisation, enrol one of your existing employees on this apprenticeship or simply find out more about supporting an apprenticeship within your organisation, please complete this form and a member of our Business Development Team will be in touch within 2 working days to advise you on next steps.
As an Apprentice
If you are interested in securing an apprenticeship as an Adult Care Worker, please visit our Vacancies page to check for any suitable roles.
If there are currently no roles available, please submit an enquiry form using the Enquire Now button above to register your interest. We will use this information to let you know when a suitable vacancy becomes available and also to advise you of any courses we offer that might advance your career goals in the meantime.
Key information
How will the Apprenticeship be funded?
As the employer
How your apprenticeship is funded will depend on whether or not you pay the Apprenticeship Levy. If you do pay the Levy, your apprenticeship will be funded out of this, provided you have sufficient monies available. If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy, 95% of the apprenticeship will be funded by the Government, with the remaining 5% being funded by you. There may also be some further incentives offered by the Government which we will be able to advise you of when setting up your apprenticeship. Either way, B&FC's Business Development Team will be on hand to help you navigate the funding arrangements and support you through this process.
As the apprentice
One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is that, as the apprentice, you are not required to fund your training. You will also receive a wage for the work that you do with minimum hourly rates set by the Government. Your employer can choose to pay you more than the minimum wage, but they cannot pay you less. For details of current minimum wage rates for apprentices, please visit the Government website.
Terms and conditions
Read our full terms and conditions.
What will my Apprentice learn?
Knowledge
By the end of their apprenticeship, your apprentice should understand:
- The key duties and responsibilities of an adult care worker's role across a variety of care settings.
- The limits of a care worker's responsibilities and when to seek help or escalate concerns.
- Statutory standards, codes of conduct, and relevant legislation affecting the role, including health and safety, infection control and fire safety.
- What “duty of care” means in practice and how it applies to the role..
- How to contribute to care planning that reflects individuals’ needs and preferences.
- How to recognise and respond to changes in an individual’s health, emotions, or behaviour.
- How to comply with organisational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
- The principles of person-centred care, dignity, respect, and equality.
- The importance of effective, respectful communication and the barriers that may exist.
- What safeguarding involves, including types of abuse, whistleblowing, and safe practice.
- How risk assessments promote safety and person-centred care.
Skills
An Adult Care Worker must be able to:
- Follow personalised care or support plans in line with individuals' preferences.
- Communicate clearly and respectfully using preferred communication methods.
- Encourage and empower individuals to participate in their care and make informed choices.
- Identify when tasks are beyond their skills and seek appropriate support.
- Contribute to the ongoing review and adaptation of care/support plans.
- Recognise and respond to changes in wellbeing, including symptoms of cognitive impairment.
- Promote health and wellbeing, including hygiene, nutrition, and mobility support.
- Use appropriate techniques to move individuals and objects safely.
- Record and maintain confidential information accurately and securely.
- Recognise and report concerns about abuse or unsafe practices according to procedures.
Behaviours
An Adult Care Worker is expected to demonstrate:
- Compassion, empathy, and respect in every interaction with individuals and their families.
- A commitment to person-centred care, dignity, and the rights of those they support.
- Courage in addressing challenging situations or supporting individuals with complex needs.
- Accountability by recognising the limits of their role and seeking guidance when necessary.
- Integrity and honesty in recording, reporting, and handling sensitive information.
- Resilience and professionalism when working under pressure or facing emotional demands.
- Inclusivity, recognising and respecting diversity and treating everyone fairly.
- Willingness to collaborate effectively with colleagues, professionals, and families.
- Responsiveness to feedback, using it to enhance their own performance and care quality.
Expert Tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. This is especially important for apprenticeships where off-the-job training needs to align with apprentices' on-the-job experience.
How will the Apprenticeship be delivered?
The apprenticeship will typically be delivered over a 12-18-month period with additional time required to prepare for the End Point Assessment. Apprentices' time will typically be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme with four days a week spent at the employer premises learning on the job and one day a week spent off-site, undertaking classroom-based and workshop-based training at B&FC.
What support will I get from B&FC?
As the employer
Each employer is supported by an experienced member of our Business Development Team to set up their apprenticeship. For those employers who are completely new to the apprenticeship process, the Team will support them with all the necessary paperwork and administration to get their apprenticeship programme up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. For existing employers, their dedicated Client Services Manager will be an ongoing point of contact for all their apprenticeship queries, however big or small.
We can also help employers who are looking to recruit new apprentices by advertising their vacancy, finding suitable applicants and supporting them with the interview and selection process. Once an apprentice is onboard, our Curriculum Tutors and Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches also step in to support the employer-apprentice relationship and ensure the apprentice is on track to succeed.
As the apprentice
In the first instance, we aim to give potential apprentices all the support they need to find a suitable apprenticeship. That can mean working with them prior to an application to improve their CV, hone their interview skills and advise them of any additional training that may help them secure an apprenticeship vacancy.
Once they start their apprenticeship, we continue to support them with their off-site training and with regular meetings with our Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches to ensure they are progressing and acquiring all the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will ensure they complete their apprenticeship successfully.
How will the Apprenticeship be assessed?
What is an end-point assessment and why it happens
An EPA is an assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. The EPA is the apprentice's opportunity to show an independent assessor how well they can carry out the occupation they have been trained for.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
- fail
- pass
- distinction
When the apprentice passes the EPA, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate.
Assessment methods
- Portfolio of Evidence: Throughout the apprenticeship, apprentices will compile a portfolio of evidence that showcases their learning and achievements. This portfolio will include various forms of assessment such as written assignments, case studies and practical tasks.
- Written Assignments: These assignments will test apprentices' understanding of theoretical concepts and their ability to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios.
- Case Studies: Apprentices will analyse specific situations, demonstrating their problem-solving skills and ability to provide appropriate care and support.
End-Point Assessment (EPA) Methods:
- Observation: Apprentices will be observed in their workplace by an independent assessor, demonstrating their practical skills and competencies in a real-world setting.
- Professional Discussion: This is a structured discussion between the apprentice and the assessor, focusing on the apprentice's portfolio of evidence and their experiences during the apprenticeship.
- Knowledge Test: A test to assess the apprentice's understanding of the theoretical knowledge required for the role.