skilled workforce for

individual employers
who employ their
own staff

High quality care

Over 160,000 people across England are now
employing personal assistants (PAs) to provide care
and support for themselves or a loved one. With the
benefits and flexibility of employing your own staff
comes the responsibility of being an employer.
PAs are a growing workforce and the need to train and
develop them is becoming even more important.
Apprenticeships provide a way to do this, leading to a
highly skilled and motivated workforce.
An Apprenticeship is a combination of on and off the job
training and learning, available for people of all ages to
develop skills in a real working environment.
Apprenticeships are available for your existing staff and can
also be used as an opportunity to recruit new PAs and
develop them for a permanent position. You can get financial
and practical support to run an Apprenticeship programme.
This guide provides more information on Apprenticeships,
the benefits of the programme and how you can support
an apprentice.

02

Apprenticeship programme
An Apprenticeship is a real job with training that
leads to nationally recognised qualifications, put
together by sector experts. The programme of how
it will be delivered is agreed between the employer,
the apprentice and the learning provider.

03

How will I benefit from

an apprentice?
Apprenticeships provide a cost effective way to improve the skills of your PAs and
help build confidence.
You can create and manage a tailored Apprenticeship programme to meet your
needs and be involved in the training.
You can benefit from a motivated, knowledgeable and skilled worker.
Training and development support and government funding is available to
support Apprenticeships.
The flexible programme provides an opportunity to highlight any issues about
competence or skills needs and enables the apprentice to address these
with support.
Competence
This is the behaviour, knowledge and values expected of workers to fulfil a specific role competently.

For more information on the benefits, including those for the apprentice, please see
Skills for Cares guide for employers implementing social care Apprenticeships:

www.skillsforcare.org.uk/apprenticeshipsguide
04

the Apprenticeship
has enabled my PA to
fully understand her
responsibilities. She
has gained a great deal
of knowledge from her
Apprenticeship and is
using this to enhance
our care at home

Indivi
dual e
mplo
yer

05

How does an
Apprenticeship work?
The Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care is available to any new
recruit or existing employee over 16 years with no upper age limit.
There are three types of Apprenticeships available:
Intermediate level Apprenticeship (level 2)
Advanced level Apprenticeship (level 3)
Higher level Apprenticeship (level 5).
The Apprenticeship is made up of different parts:

06

The Apprenticeship is made up of different parts, including qualifications to

demonstrate competence in performing relevant skills and to demonstrate
knowledge and understanding relevant to social care. There are additional elements
to ensure apprentices meet good standards of literacy and numeracy and that they
understand their role within the social care sector. The Higher level Apprenticeship
has an additional Higher Education (HE) pathway so learners can gain credits
towards a university degree.
Most Apprenticeships last between one and two years with a combination of
off-the-job learning and on-the-job training. You can partner with learning providers
directly or via a support organisation/network* or Apprenticeship Training Agency to
create a programme that is tailored to meet your needs and the needs of the
apprentice. The learning provider will look after all of the administrative aspects of the
study programme. More information can be found on page 14 of this document.
Assessment is done in the workplace whilst the apprentice does their job. The
delivery of new skills or knowledge is done with a learning provider at college or at
the workplace but off-the-job.
Assessment
The process of gathering evidence of an apprentices competence. Assessment will cover
knowledge, ability and attitude. Assessment is a check that the apprentice understands the
learning and can meet the knowledge required in the outcomes.

*User led organisations, direct payments support organisations and other networks
will be referred to as support organisations/networks throughout this document.

07

Social care Apprenticeship programmes

Apprentices are expected to be contracted to work a minimum of 30 hours per

week. There are a number of solutions if your PA is not required for 30 hours.
You can share an apprentice with another employer(s) to make up the hours,
providing one employer holds the main contract of employment.
You can contact the Skills Funding Agency (who direct Apprenticeship funding)
and seek an exemption. The exemption means that in certain circumstances
where the learner is not contracted to work 30 hours per week, they may seek
permission to undertake the Apprenticeship whilst working less hours. In these
cases employment must be for more than 16 hours per week.
You can use an Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) who will manage and
employ the apprentice whilst hiring them out to you as the host employer.
This enables you to offer a placement to the apprentice for the duration of the
Apprenticeship and beyond. More information on this can be found on page 14.
Like all employees, apprentices must still receive a wage paid by the employer
(or ATA). Please refer to the National Apprenticeship Service website for the
latest information on wages. However as skills develop, many employers tend to
increase the wages. If the apprentice is an existing employee you can continue
to pay them their normal wage. You may decide from the beginning that you
wish to pay more than the minimum wage for your employee.

08

you cant teach

someone to care but
you can train them,
give them new skills
and a qualification to
be proud of
Individual employer

09

How do I pay
an apprentice?

Government
funding varies for
Apprenticeships

The National Apprenticeship Service will match an employers commitment to

hiring apprentices by covering in full (or in part) the training costs depending on
the apprentices age and previous qualifications.
The funding is paid directly to the organisation that provides and supports the
Apprenticeship in most cases this will be a learning provider. The prices
charged by learning providers varies and you will be expected to meet the
shortfall (if any) between the government funding and the cost of the training.
To find out what is currently available, please visit the National Apprenticeship
Service website: www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Some or all of the training fees and other related costs such as PA cover may
be funded via Skills for Cares individual employer skills funding.
For more information on this funding and how to access it visit:
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/individualemployerskillsfunding
or contact your local Skills for Care Area Officer
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/areas
Skills for Care has created factsheets to help employers understand the funding
available for Apprenticeships. To view these visit:
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/apprenticeships
and click on Apprenticeship resources.

10

How will I find

an apprentice?
You may identify an existing employee as a potential apprentice. If
not there are a number of resources available to help.
Skills for Care has developed a toolkit to help people employ their
own PAs, which includes information on how to recruit staff. The
toolkit includes sample documents such as interview questions,
contracts of employment and risk assessments.
To view the toolkit visit:
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/employingpas
or for a printed copy email
marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk
or call 0113 245 1716.
If you are recruiting a new apprentice, it is
recommended that Skills for Cares selection
and recruitment processes are followed and
that the potential apprentice (new or existing staff)
be assessed by the learning provider to
ensure they will be able to complete
the Apprenticeship framework.

11

The National Apprenticeship Service is a free service for employers to advertise

their vacancies and for potential apprentices to search and apply for vacancies.
Learning providers and Apprenticeship Training Agency can also be sourced
from this website though the list provided is not exhaustive. Visit their website at:
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Support organisations/networks may also support you with recruitment.
Apprenticeship Training Agencies will recruit the apprentice and assume
responsibility as the employer.
If you would like more information please contact Skills for Cares information line
on 0113 241 1275 who can put you in touch with one of our area officers.
Once you have identified a suitable apprentice
An Apprenticeship agreement must be signed which is between the employer
and the apprentice. Details of the Apprenticeship agreement can be found at:
www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Partners/Policy/
Apprenticeship%20Agreement.aspx

12

How is the
Apprenticeship
programme run?
The Apprenticeship scheme is just
perfect for training your staff. They
have picked up, in my experience,
a lot of useful skills and have
made my life a lot easier.
Rory Moss, an individual employer, has created his own
bespoke Apprenticeship programme for his team of personal
assistants (PAs) with support from his local direct payments
support service, Cheshire Centre for Independent Living
(CCIL). Rory has worked in partnership with CCIL and his
chosen learning provider to create a successful Apprenticeship
programme which is tailored to his individual needs and the
needs of his apprentice.
CCIL supported Rory to find and communicate with local
learning providers and to develop a flexible Apprenticeship
which fits in around his day to day life.

13

How to get started

Every Apprenticeship programme is different to meet the needs of the individual
employer, the apprentice and the demands of the role. There are three main
approaches to getting started.
1. You can identify an existing member of staff to undertake an Apprenticeship
programme or recruit a new apprentice and source Apprenticeship training
yourself. Detailed guidance and advice on how you can set up an Apprenticeship
programme is available from a variety of sources, including the National
Apprenticeship Service www.apprenticeships.org.uk. Learning providers can
also be sourced from this website though the list provided is not conclusive.
2. If you have access to a support organisation/network, an advisor may be able to
help you. The support offered varies depending on where you live, and between
organisations but may include funding, recruitment, selecting learning providers
and managing payroll.
3. You can use an Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA). There is a cost for this
service. However, an ATA will:
support you with recruitment
assume responsibility as the employer for wages, tax, national insurance,
administration and performance management
arrange the training, coordinate the programme and supervise the apprentice
look to place an apprentice between employers fulfilling the 30 hours
minimum contracted hours requirement
work with you to source a replacement should your apprentice leave.
The National Apprenticeship Service has details on their website for you to search
for one in your area.

14

my PA is more
committed to training
and development
since accessing an
Apprenticeship
Individual employer
15

Social care Apprenticeship programmes

Top tips
on running
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16

since doing the

Apprenticeship all tasks
undertaken by my PAs
are being completed
properly, following the
legal requirements. I
have more confidence
in their abilities when
at work
Indivi
dual e
mplo
yer

17

Apprenticeship
programme

An Apprenticeship is a real job with training. It is a nationally

recognised framework of qualifications put together by sector
experts. The programme of how it will be delivered is agreed
between the employer, the apprentice and the learning provider.

Learning
provider

This is the organisation which delivers the Apprenticeship

programme, e.g. training provider, college.

Competence

This is the behaviour, knowledge and values expected of

workers to fulfil a specific role competently.

Assessment

The process of gathering evidence of an apprentices competence.

Assessment will cover knowledge, ability and attitude. Assessment
is a check that the apprentice understands the learning and can
meet the knowledge required in the outcomes.

Exemption

In this case exemption means that in certain circumstances

where the learner is not contracted to work 30 hours per week,
they may seek permission to undertake the Apprenticeship
whilst working less hours. In these cases employment must be
for more than 16 hours per week.

Criteria

Refer to a set standard that needs to be met.

Mentor
(Mentoring)

A relationship between an experienced person (mentor) and a

less experienced person for the purpose of helping the one with
less experience. The mentor provides wisdom and guidance
and helps answer questions to help an individual reach their
goal. The process can be informal or more structured.

18

Skills for Care

Publications

www.skillsforcare.org.uk
Email info@skillsforcare.org.uk
Telephone 0113 245 1716

Printed copies of the following documents

mentioned in this guide can be ordered by
emailing marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk
or calling 0113 245 1716.

National Apprenticeship Service

Skills Funding Agency

Apprenticeship employer guide A

guide for employers implementing
adult social care Apprenticeships
(please note: delivery models in
section three may vary).

www.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk
Email info@skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk
Telephone 0845 377 5000

Personal assistant toolkit A toolkit to

help people employ their own
personal assistants.

www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Telephone 08000 150 600

Choosing workforce learning A

practical guide to help those responsible
for purchasing learning.
Other useful publications can be found at:
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/individualemployers

Acknowledgements
Thanks to the following people for their contribution in developing this guide:
Nikki Watson
Compass Disability Services
www.compassdisability.org.uk

Jackie Taylor
HCPA Ltd
www.hcpa.info

Sarah Bryson
WECIL Ltd
www.wecil.co.uk

Louise Whitley
Suffolk Brokerage
www.suffolkbrokerage.org

Jonathan Taylor
Cheshire Centre for
Independent Living
www.cheshirecil.org

19

This document is part of Skills for Care's comprehensive range

of resources that includes case studies and guides aimed
at potential apprentices and employers considering
adult social care apprenticeships.
For more information about social care apprenticeships
and to access further resources, please visit:

www.skillsforcare.org.uk/apprenticeships
You can also see us online or get in touch via:
YouTube www.youtube.com/user/skillsforcare
Facebook www.facebook.com/icareapprenticeships
Twitter @skillsforcare

Skills for Care

West Gate
6 Grace Street
Leeds
LS1 2RP
Telephone 0113 245 1716
Email info@skillsforcare.org.uk
Skills for Care 2013