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Healthcare Worker assisting an elderly woman in a care home setting.

Lead Adult Care Worker - Advanced Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Summary

This apprenticeship programme is designed to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that an individual seeking a lead role in adult care will need to perform that role diligently and professionally.

For employers looking to recruit new talent or upskill existing employees in an adult care setting, this apprenticeship offers a structured pathway enabling an apprentice to acquire the leadership skills and competencies that will allow them to function effectively at a more senior level.

For the apprentice, this means developing the skills to  lead frontline care delivery, supervise and guide colleagues, and support individuals with a wide range of needs – from learning disabilities and mental health to dementia and end-of-life care. Apprentices will learn how to exercise sound judgement, promote independence and dignity, and ensure safe, effective care in settings such as residential homes, domiciliary care, day centres, and supported living environments. This apprenticeship not only enhances practical abilities but also builds confidence to take on greater responsibility and progress into more senior roles within the health and social care sector.. 

Apprenticeship standard dates

Start date Location Duration
Anytime
Bispham Campus
Anytime
Bispham Campus

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 the Enquire Now form above 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 a Lead 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

Entry Requirements

For the apprentice:

Although specific entry requirements are set by individual employers, the following entry requirements will apply to all applicants.

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.

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

A Lead Adult Care Worker must know and understand:

  • Their own and others' roles, responsibilities, and boundaries in the context of different care settings.
  • The legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks including Codes of Practice, Duty of Care, and safeguarding standards.
  • How to create, develop, monitor, and review person-centred care plans tailored to individuals’ evolving needs.
  • The importance of dignity, inclusion, and equality in care, and how to uphold these values in team leadership.
  • How to identify and overcome communication barriers and influence positive, effective interaction.
  • Responsibilities around confidentiality and information governance for themselves and their team.
  • Health and safety protocols, infection prevention, fire safety, and the use of risk assessments in supporting wellbeing.

Skills

A Lead Adult Care Worker must be able to:

  • Support individuals according to personalised care plans and encourage informed choice and active participation.
  • Lead or facilitate assessments for individuals with complex needs (cognitive, sensory, physical).
  • Guide and support colleagues in ensuring informed consent and delivering safe, dignified care.
  • Mentor others and contribute to care planning, team development, and service improvement.
  • Communicate clearly across teams, individuals, and external professionals using appropriate methods.
  • Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, support colleagues in doing the same, and liaise with external agencies.
  • Promote wellbeing through leadership in infection control, nutrition, risk management, and safe working practices.

Behaviours

A Lead Adult Care Worker is expected to:

  • Demonstrate and model respect, empathy, and dignity in all interactions with individuals and colleagues.
  • Support others to uphold values of equality, diversity, and inclusion in practice.
  • Take initiative and show resilience in solving problems and managing emotional or ethical challenges.
  • Uphold confidentiality and professionalism, encouraging the same in others.
  • Reflect on and improve their own practice while encouraging development in others through supervision and feedback.
  • Build and maintain professional relationships with colleagues, external partners, and service users.
  • Contribute positively to recruitment, induction, team dynamics, and the overall quality of care delivery.

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 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.