FdSc Nursing Associate Apprenticeship

Program Overview

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Course Overview

The Nursing Associate role was introduced in response to the Shape of Caring Review (2015), to help build the capacity of the nursing workforce and the delivery of high-quality care. It will be a vital part of the wider health and care team and aims to:

• Support the career progression of healthcare assistants
• Enable nurses to focus on more complex clinical work
• Increase the supply of nurses by providing a progression route into graduate-level nursing

As an apprentice Nursing Associate, you will remain employed and continue with on-the-job learning at your workplace, alongside learning in the University and practice placements. These placements will give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you are capable of meeting the holistic needs of people of all ages, including children, to NMC standards (2018).

Course Features

• Make a difference to people’s lives and learn how to optimise their care in a safe and stimulating environment
• Learn from supportive and accessible lecturers and gain real insights from experienced and registered professionals
• Bring your learning to life through practice placements with partner organisations under the supervision of experienced nurses
• Develop excellent communication skills, clinical knowledge and hands-on experience to prepare you for your future professional life
• Study for an award that confers eligibility to apply for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• This contemporary and exciting new apprenticeship provides practical training to enable Nursing Associates to deliver hands-on, person-centered care as part of a wider nursing team

Course Details

Learning and Teaching

The University aims to shape 'confident learners' by enabling students to develop the skills to excel in their studies here and be transferable to further studies or the employment market. Staff and students form a community of learners who, together and independently, seek to generate and exchange knowledge. Over the duration of the course, students develop independent and critical learning, building confidence and expertise progressively through independent and collaborative research, problem solving, and analysis with the support of staff. Students take responsibility for their own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.

Digital Literacy

There is ongoing and building of digital literacy throughout the programme.

Digital literacy is important in all professions. In healthcare it is now seen as a vital tool and is used for managing patient records, assessment, research and education. It is also the most common and the preferred way the Programme Team will communicate information to student cohorts.

All students are expected to have digital literacy skills and use these throughout the programme and become proficient in the use of commonly used software. Training and support for this will be available to students.

Digital platforms will be used for the submission of assignments, access information and conduct research. All students will have access to computers and a university email address.

Assessment

At the University of Winchester validated programmes may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used in the programme you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day/Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.

Feedback

We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.

Location

On campus, University of Winchester

Modules

Year 1

• Foundations of Personal & Professional Practice (30 Credits)
• Integrated Health & Social Sciences for the Nursing Associate (30 Credits)
• Integrated Health & Social Sciences for the Nursing Associate (30 Credits)
• Integrated Health & Social Sciences for the Nursing Associate (30 Credits)
• Practice-Based Learning Part 1 (30 Credits)

Year 2

• Enhancing Personal & Professional Practice (30 Credits)
• Health Promotion and Education (30 Credits)
• Quality Improvement & Development of Evidence Based Practice (30 Credits)
• Practice-Based Learning Part 2 (30 Credits)

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirement

• A GCSE A*-C or 9-4 pass in English Language and Mathematics required (certified alternatives, such as Functional Skills level 2 will be considered)
• You will need to provide original certificates to the University. If you only hold a ‘statement of provisional results’ and do not hold original certificates, please contact the relevant awarding body to obtain a ‘certified statement of results’ as soon as possible. Further information about obtaining a replacement exam certificate is available on the gov.uk website.
• Qualification evidence of learning at level 3 (normally 56 UCAS points or relevant Access to Higher Education Diploma) or two years of verifiable and relevant work experience

Relevant Experience

• We will look for evidence within your application of a commitment to the nursing profession and that your personal values align with the NHS Constitution and the University. Also desirable, is prior care experience in a paid or voluntary capacity to demonstrate an informed decision to embark on a career in nursing
• You must be employed in a health or social care organisation as a healthcare assistant or equivalent and be working full-time (minimum of 30hrs per week)
• You must have a sponsoring manager and support from the employing organisation to ensure commitment (including release to attend off-the-job training). The employer will also need to commit to the apprentice’s protected learning and supernumerary status

Additional Requirements

• An enhanced DBS (undertaken by the employer) is required prior to the commencement of the course and at progression points an update will be required. Applicants are therefore recommended to register for the DBS update service
• Occupational Health clearance (undertaken by the employer) is required prior to the commencement of the programme and on an annual basis throughout
• Please note, this course is only open to applicants who have the right to work in England and meet the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) residency rules. If you are a non-UK national we will ask you to provide further information to determine your eligibility during the application process

Tuition Fees

Costs to Student/Apprentice

• Apprentices are full-time employees and will be entitled to a wage and paid time off to study
• There are no tuition fees

Costs to Employers

How much will it cost an employing business per apprentice?

The apprentice will remain employed by their existing employer throughout the programme, who will continue to pay their salary. The funding you are eligible for is determined by the number of people you employ, the annual payroll of your company and the age of the learner

Additional Costs

• A full set of uniforms will be provided at the beginning of the programme by the University. If you require additional uniforms later on, you may need to pay for these. Indicative cost: £30
• Your employer will ensure you have an occupational health assessment; however, you may need to pay for immunisations if they are not covered by your GP
• You will need a pair of suitable comfortable shoes while on clinical placement. Indicative cost: £40–£60
• You will need to purchase some of your own clinical items, for instance a stethoscope and fob watch. Indicative cost: £30
• You will need to be able to travel to your placement ‐ travel costs will be associated with this and paid by your employer
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check is required which will be undertaken by your employer when applicants accept their offer for a place on the course
• Where a module specifies core texts these should generally be available in the library in hardcopy or electronic copy. Some students may choose to buy their own and these can be purchased from any source. Indicative cost is £10-£50
• There are placements in each year of the programme that are organised by the University with our local healthcare provider. Insurance for students on placement and the necessary immunisation/vaccination is provided by the University. Students will need to travel to placements/arrange accommodation. In some situations, there may be costs incurred here for travel and accommodation
• Printing and Binding: We are proud to offer free printing for all students to ensure that printing costs are not a potential financial barrier to student success. The University of Winchester and Winchester Student Union are champions of sustainability and therefore ask that all students consider the environment and print fairly. Students may be required to pay for the costs of dissertation binding. Indicative cost is £1.50-£3