L5 Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard

FdSc Assistant Practitioner

Level 4 (120 Credits)

• Work Based Learning One 40 Credits
• Transition to Higher Education 20 Credits
• Essential Sciences for Person Centred Care 40 Credits
• Integrated Holistic Assessment Delivery of Health and Social Care Interventions 20 Credits

Level 5 (120 Credits)

• Work Based Learning Two 40 Credits including End Point Assessment
• Transition to Practice 20 Credits
• Promoting Health Wellbeing and Independence 40 Credits
• Leadership and Management 20 Credits

More Than Just a Job – A Holistic Apprenticeship Experience

Our Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship isn’t just about clinical skills—it’s designed as a comprehensive development journey to help you grow both professionally and personally. The programme features three integrated modules that support your success from day one:

Study Skills Module
Build a strong academic and professional foundation to support your learning and confidence.

This module focuses on:

• Time management and personal organisation
• Academic research and healthcare-related report writing
• Effective communication and presentation techniques
• Using digital tools in a clinical and learning environment

Whether you’re returning to education or learning on the job for the first time, this module sets you up for long-term success.

Apprenticeship Skills Module
Learn how to thrive as an apprentice and valued member of the healthcare workforce.

This module includes:

• Understanding your apprenticeship standard and End-Point Assessment
• Workplace behaviours, responsibilities, and expectations
• Reflective practice and goal setting for personal development
• Embedding British Values, Safeguarding, and Prevent in healthcare practice

You’ll gain insight into how to manage your learning, navigate the healthcare environment, and make the most of your apprenticeship journey.

Project Module
Apply your learning to real-world healthcare scenarios and demonstrate your capability in practice.

This module gives you the chance to:

• Tackle healthcare-based challenges within your current role
• Showcase care planning, patient interaction, and clinical decision-making
• Build a robust portfolio of evidence for your End-Point Assessment
• Work collaboratively while demonstrating initiative and professional judgement

These projects ensure you’re equipped not just for assessment—but for success in a demanding, people-focused industry.

A Smarter Way to Learn and Care

This modular approach gives you more than clinical knowledge—it equips you with the critical thinking, communication, and reflective skills needed to grow and thrive in a modern healthcare setting. It’s a powerful foundation for a long and meaningful career.

Foundation Degree – The award incorporates a mix of innovative and traditional assessment types to monitor progress. Assessments will test attributes relevant for successful performance in the workplace, enabling learners to integrate academic learning and on-the-job training. Assessed tasks are variable and can include interviews, assessments of practice, reflective portfolios, written assignments, literature reviews, case studies and presentations.

End Point Assessment –

Observation with questions, an independent assessor will observe you (the apprentice) in your workplace.  You will complete your day-to-day duties under normal working conditions. This will allow you to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) through naturally occurring evidence. The independent assessor will ask questions after the observation. The observation may be split into discrete sections held on the same working day.

The independent assessor must ask at least 5 questions. Follow-up questions are allowed. The independent assessor must ask questions about KSBs that were not observed to gather assessment evidence. These questions are in addition to the set number of questions for the observation.

Note: Simulation is not permitted during the observation. The observation and responses to questions will be assessed holistically by the independent assessor when they are deciding the grade for the observation of practice.

Professional discussion, both you (the apprentice) and the independent assessor will have a formal two-way conversation. The professional discussion must take place in a suitable venue this can include video conferencing.

The independent assessor must ask at least 7 questions. You can refer to and illustrate your answers with evidence from your portfolio of evidence.

Portfolio of evidence: usually 14 separate pieces of evidence. Evidence must be mapped against the KSBs. Evidence may be used to demonstrate more than one KSB.

Evidence sources may include:

• Expert witness testimonials
• Written report of a case-based discussion
• Written report of supporting an intervention
• Teaching or advice and guidance resource developed by the apprentice
• Clinical supervision reflection (relating to K21 and S21)
• Work-based observation
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Mapping document showing how the evidence provided meets the KSBs

Applicants must be in full-time employment and:

• Be 18 or older.
• Have the right of abode and right to work in the UK to qualify for funding, please use this link to see Government funding rules https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeship-funding-rules-for-employers/annex-a-eligibility-criteria-who-we-fund
• Meet course entry requirements.

To meet the apprenticeship standard apprentices will be required to hold or achieve:

• Minimum of Level 2 English
• Minimum of Level 2 maths
• Complete the 15 standards required by the Care Quality Commission
• A regulated Level 5 Occupational Competence Qualification

Your Foundation – A Springboard to Professional Progression

Completing the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care is just the beginning. This qualification opens doors to a wide range of career-focused degrees and Level 6 apprenticeships—giving you the opportunity to specialise, upskill, and take the next big step in your healthcare journey.

Progress to a Full Degree or Degree Apprenticeship
With your foundation degree in hand, you can apply to join one of many professional programmes, including:

• BSc (Hons) Nursing – Adult*, Child, and Mental Health pathways
• BSc (Hons) Applied Nursing and Social Work (Learning Disability)
• BSc (Hons) Midwifery
• *BA (Hons) Social Work
• *BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
• *BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
• *BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
• *BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science
• BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy and Oncology
• BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice
• BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care Studies – a one-year top-up option for full honours

*Programmes marked with an asterisk (*) typically offer advanced standing, meaning you may be eligible to start in the second year—fast-tracking your journey to a full degree.

Earn While You Learn – Level 6 Degree Apprenticeships
Prefer to stay in work while progressing your studies? You can also continue your development through Level 6 Degree Apprenticeships in areas such as:

• Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA)
• Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship
• Operating Department Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship
• Diagnostic Radiographer Degree Apprenticeship
• Occupational Therapist Degree Apprenticeship

These pathways offer the ideal balance of earning, learning, and building your career in the real world—all while gaining a recognised professional qualification.

Where You Start Isn’t Where You Finish
Whether you want to specialise in clinical practice, explore social care, or lead teams in the health sector, your foundation degree puts you on the path to achieve more—academically and professionally.