Description
Nurses in general practice undertake a wide range of roles and are involved in almost every aspect of a patient’s care, assessing, screening and treating people of all ages. In addition to providing traditional aspects of nursing care such as wound care, immunisations and administration of medicines, general practice nurses run health checks and clinics for those with long term conditions including asthma, heart disease and diabetes.
No two days are the same when you’re a nurse. As your career progresses, you could specialise in areas, or you could undertake further postgraduate studies to become a more senior nurse, such as an advanced clinical practitioner. You could also move into management, clinical research or teaching. Whatever you choose, you’re guaranteed to make a real difference to people’s lives, every single day.
Registered nurses are a statutorily regulated profession and the standards for proficiency are set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and successful completion of this apprenticeship will meet the education requirements to see registration with the NMC.
Duration
36 or 48 months* (or 20-24 month top-up**)
Most Suitable For
Healthcare Support Workers/Care Workers. Other roles/experiences will be considered on an individual basis. *48 months route will allow some time for working duties alongside the theory and practical requirements. For the 36 month route time remaining to undertake working duties is significantly reduced. Planners are available on request, and a meeting can be arranged for the employer and candidate to discuss these options with the university prior to applying. **Nursing Associates and Assistant Practitioners may be able to join later in the programme dependent on prior learning and experience (reducing the duration to 20 - 24 months).
Award
Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Award and a BSc Hons Nursing degree (in your field of study; Adult, MH, C&YP or LD). On successful completion, learners are able to register with the NMC.
Programme Cost
£26,000. This will be pro-rata for top-up applications.
Apprenticeships are paid using employer levy. Levy Paying Employers and Non-Levy Paying Employers, please read our Tuition and Apprenticeship Service Account Guide for more information and instructions.
Additional Funding
For Primary Care Employers:
• ARRS Funding: Includes reimbursing training time for Nursing Associates to become Registered Nurses (via a ‘top-up’ Nursing apprenticeship). For more information
see here. Advice and applications for this funding is via the PCN.
For Primary Care and Social Care Employers:
• Nursing Top-Up, Nursing Associate LD focus, and Nursing LD Pathway Funding for 2024-25 apprenticeship intakes: Please see Nursing Funding offers 2024-25 for full details on each of these offers. This relates to September 2024 intakes, requests for March 2025 intakes will also be considered. This funding is not guaranteed, employers must complete the NHSE funding EOI form no later than midday on Friday 31st May 2024. Employers will ALSO need to apply for the apprenticeship itself via the training hub.
For all Employers:
- If apprentice is under the age of 25, Employer may not have to pay Class 1 Employer National Insurance. Full details and criteria are found here.
- For apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2024 - 31 July 2025, employer may be eligible for £1,000 if apprentice is aged 16 - 18 years old, OR aged 19 - 24 years old and has either an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan provided by their local authority and / or has been in the care of their local authority. Full details and criteria are found within the ESFA Funding Rules.
Start Date
October and February
Teaching Delivery
Online
Key Learning Requirements
Learning must cover pre-conception to death, across all four nursing fields (Adult, Child, MH and LD) and home, close to home and hospital settings. For The Open University, their NMC validation requirements are minimum 2,300 hours of Theory and 2,300 hours of Practical learning over the duration of the course. This will be pro-rata for top-up routes/candidates able to join later in the programme.
Apprenticeships require learners to achieve specific new knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs). For this programme, in order to achieve the NMC requirements and KSBs, a minimum of 80% of the learner’s normal working hours (if working 37.5 hours per week) must be dedicated to the apprenticeship (this may be higher if undertaking the 36 month route). This is achieved by;
1) Programme Teaching; Online, usually 1 day a week. The days mapped for teaching are fixed (example planners are available).
2) Independent study; such as assignment/project research and write up.
3) Learning in the workplace; shadowing colleagues, completing programme assigned work based projects, day-to-day development within your current role duties/work activities, reflections with assessor, relevant training sessions.
4) External Placements; are required for this programme:
- For the 3 or 4 year full programme routes; there are 6 external placement blocks (plus 3 ‘own place of work’ placement blocks) in total (varying from 220 – 270 hours per block).
- For the AP or NA top-up routes; there is usually 2 external placement blocks (plus 1 ‘own place of work’ placement block) in total (varying from 240- 270 hours per block).
- It is the employer’s responsibility to arrange placements, however the Training Hub will support employers with making the main external placement arrangements.
Modules
The programme is tailored to your chosen field of nursing; Adult, MH, C&YP or LD. Please note intake options are dependent on demand. Please visit the course webpage/materials for modules per nursing route.
Placements
Placements are required.
Assessments
Assessed throughout the programme by assignments, observations, evaluations and End Point Assessment.
Key Candidate Entry Requirements
• Employed 37.5 hours or more per week for the duration of the apprenticeship (if employed less than 37.5 hours but no lower than 30 hours, you are still able to apply, however as this will reduce the remaining working hours for undertaking working duties a meeting will be arranged to discuss suitability).
• English and Maths at GCSE grade C/4/Functional Skills Level 2/Equivalent or above are required at application stage due to the nature and level of the programme. An initial diagnostic assessment will also be completed by the Training Provider at application stage. If the candidate does not have the required certificates for either Maths and/or English, please contact the Training Hub Apprenticeship Team for options.
• Also, evidence of Level 3 or higher academic study is preferred. Alternatively, sufficient practical experience will be considered on an individual basis (usually minimum1 year as HCA plus study at level 2 or above such as NVQ/Care Certificate). If candidate is a NA/AP then Nursing Associate/Assistant Practitioner Certificate and Transcript are required. NA/AP applications will complete a Record of Prior Learning (RPEL) process to determine map their prior learning to the suitable joining point/starting part in the programme.
• Recent Enhanced DBS and OH clearances (Employer’s responsibility)
Full requirements and details are found on the university course webpage.
Key Employer Entry Requirements
• Ensure Learner has the support and opportunities to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship.
• The Practice will need 2 Practice Assessors (must be Registered Nurses within the relevant nursing field), an educational audit and a partnership agreement with the HEI/NMC (Practices will be supported through these if not already in place).
Full requirements and details are found on the university course webpage.
Listed as an Approved Provider on HEE and NHS Procurement
Higher Procurement - National Nursing & Midwifery
Application Timescale
It takes on average 4 – 5 months to complete all application stages for this programme.
If recruiting to this position, additional time will be required for recruitment and advertising stages.
Training Provider Deadlines Include:
• For October 2024 intakes onwards, Open University have 2 additional requirements at application. Applications are subject to the usual application process plus the Training Hub and Employer collaboratively meeting the following:
1) a minimum of 5 learners per cohort per programme (this is the total of applications from Primary Care and Social Care Employers within Lancashire and South Cumbria, not per employer)
2) AND there is sufficient support in place to source placements and provide ongoing operational support
• For October intakes: applications need to have started before March.
• For February intakes: applications need to have started before October.
Additional Training Hub Support
Primary Care Employees:
• Have access to all resources provided by the L&SCPC Training Hub such as Digital training, Health and Wellbeing support and events.
• Training and Resources; Visit our
GPN webpage for more information on Nursing in Primary Care; plus training, support and resources for qualified professionals (some training is available for trainees)
• Clinical CPD opportunities will also be available via Locality Training Hub.
• Audit and Assessor Support: Local GPEFs
• Placement Support: Once on programme, the Placement manager will provide more details and is able to assist with queries.
Social Care Employees:
• Have access to all resources provided by the L&SCSC Training Hub such as training, Health and Wellbeing support and events.
Pathway
On successful completion of this apprenticeship, examples of further apprenticeship options include; Enhanced Clinical Practitioner, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Coaching Professional, Chartered Manager, Senior Leader.
HASO Apprenticeship pathway tool is available
hereCareer progression does not have to be linear. Entry criteria may differ per provider and varied routes may be available depending on the individuals prior learning and experience.
Information Last Updated
06/03/24
Programme Resources
If you would like to know anything further about the programme itself, please contact: Nick Papadopoullos, Senior Partnership Development Manager (Health) at The Open University on [email protected]
How to Apply
If you would like to discuss or apply for an apprenticeship either for yourself, a member of staff or a vacancy for a new recruit, please complete the appropriate Training Hub Expression of Interest Form from the following options. This allows the apprenticeship team to complete basic pre-checks and to ensure the advice and guidance provided to you is tailored to your service. When relevant, application instructions (including tuition fee and funding instructions) will be sent.
Primary Care Online Expression of Interest Form. If you would like to discuss anything first, please email [email protected] or call Olivia on 07735161775
Social Care Online Expression of Interest Form. If you would like to discuss anything first, please email [email protected] or call Dawn on 07796 060023
If you are interested in applying for the next intake (February 2025) for either Nursing or Nursing Associate Apprenticeships via OU, please complete this dedicated Primary Care and Social Care expression of interest form ASAP but before 6th September 2024.
