Nursing Associate Apprenticeship (Level 5)
| Level | 5 |
| Degree | Nursing Associate Foundation Degree (FdSc) |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Entry point(s) | January/Autumn |
| Campus | High Wycombe |
| Contact | apprenticeships@bnu.ac.uk |
The Nursing Associate programme is suitable for the development of existing healthcare support workers, who have demonstrated the capabilities and commitment to develop towards a nursing role. As the apprentices study flexibly alongside work, they will put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice immediately, and become a key part of the multi-disciplinary workforce that is needed to respond to the future healthcare needs of the public and patients.
The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship is a two-year programme which aims to provide experience in alternative settings to gain wider practice experience through facilitated work-based learning and assessment. Successful apprentices will gain a Level 5 Nursing Associate foundation degree (FdSc) from Buckinghamshire New University.
A central part of the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship involves making use of our state-of-the-art simulation suites – where your apprentices can practise and hone their skills in realistic clinical environments.
Programme aims
- Produce a registered Nursing Associate who meets the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards for pre-registration Nursing Associate programmes (NMC, 2018) and the Standards of proficiency for nursing associates (NMC, 2018).
- Produce a registered Nursing Associate who can provide care for people who may have mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural care needs, across the lifespan and in a range of settings where their needs must be supported and managed.
- Produce a registered Nursing Associate who consistently adheres to the precepts of The Code (NMC, 2018).
The programme matches the University’s philosophy and strategy including outward facing, externality and industrial involvement thus providing students with the necessary qualifications to underpin their knowledge and progress in their chosen careers.
Degree apprenticeships combine study and work-based learning to enable apprentices to gain a full degree. They have been co-designed by employers thus ensuring that apprentices are equipped with the skills employers need and look for in their employees.
An apprentice is a paid employee and does not pay any training costs or student fees.
Programme delivery
Buckinghamshire New University’s blended learning model is designed to be flexible around the needs of apprentices and work load. This includes online, face-to-face and self directed learning which learners have fed back providers greatest flexibility around work, caregiving and other life commitments. This also helps reduce the impact of carbon created through commuting.
Nursing Associates are delivered face to face teaching on campus once per week.
Why choose BNU?
At Buckinghamshire New University, we are dedicated to equipping our graduates with the skills employers demand. We will work with you using our practice-based learning expertise to support your training needs.
Higher and degree apprenticeships are a partnership between industry and higher education institutions set up to help meet the needs of employers. They also provide a flexible way for employees to take advantage of the life-changing opportunities that higher education can offer them.
At BNU, we change lives through employment-focused teaching which enables our students to achieve their ambitions. As a small and personal university, we offer an agile approach to all apprenticeship training needs. You would also gain access to all our support services including Student Hub, Multi Faith Chaplaincy, Disability and Inclusion, Counselling, Library and Alumni Benefits. Our Apprenticeship Hub at BNU strives to deliver a supportive environment for the employer and the apprentice. Tripartite reviews are conduced quarterly to aid apprentice through their apprenticeship journey successfully.
Apprenticeship Eligibility
To be eligible for consideration for any apprenticeship, the apprentice must satisfy the following requirements under the UK government and ESFA funding rules:
- Must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week (please note under programme requirements, contracted hours must equate to 37.5 hours per week)
- Must have the right to live and work in the UK.
- All international applicants must have permission (visa) to stay and work in England for the duration of the apprenticeship programme they are applying for.
- Must have resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 years on the day of starting their programme.
- Must be employed in a role related to the subject matter of their training.
- If you are aged 18 at the start of your programme you must evidence level 2 Maths and English through GCSE grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualifications such as Functional Skills, Key Skills, or Level 2 Numeracy & Literacy.
Programme Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications:
- Successful interview
- Any level 2 qualification (GCSE or vocational)
- Care Certificate (if not evidenced, must be completed during core programme)
Maths & English Requirements:
- For learners aged 19 and above: The requirement forLevel 2 Maths and English is under review, pending confirmation from NMC and the programme academic team.
- For learners aged 18: Evidence of Level 2 Maths & English is required through GCSE grade C/4 orabove, or equivalent qualifications such as Functional Skills, Key Skills, or Level 2 Numeracy & Literacy. If this cannot be evidenced before the programme starts, it must be achieved within the first year.
Initial Assessment:
- All candidates will undergo an initial assessment through BKSB and a proficiency evaluation in literacy and numeracy during the application process.
Additional Requirements:
- A current enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Occupational Health (OH) clearance
- A record of any previous fitness to practise concerns.
Application process
- Your employer will need to contact BNU’s Apprenticeship Hub via email: apprenticeships@bnu.ac.uk or call: 01296 744202
- Your employer will be sent a link to share with interested applicants for our online information sessions lead by a representative of BNU’s Apprenticeship Hub and the programme lead.
- Your employer will then be sent a capture form to complete which will need to be returned to the Apprenticeship Hub.
- Candidates will be sent a direct link to an online application which takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.
- Candidates will be required to upload supporting documents such as prior certification and evidence of Right to Work in the United Kingdom.
- After submitting the application, the Apprenticeship Hub will complete all necessary eligibility checks.
- Successful candidates will be invited to an interview with a member of the academic team and will be asked to fill in an Individual Needs Assessment (INA) document identifying their existing experiences, skills and knowledge which will be discussed in the interview.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
In many instances apprenticeships are fully funded through the government’s Apprenticeship Levy Fund and for those ineligible up to 95% is funded through the government’s Co-Investment Fund.
Nursing Associate Apprenticeship: £15,000
- The apprenticeship levy will be paid by employers in any sector with a pay bill of more than £3 million per year. Those employers will be able to use their apprenticeship levy funds to fund this programme.
- Non-levy paying employers will receive up to 95% funding towards the costs of this apprenticeship through the government’s Co-Investment Fund.
- For more information on funding and the Apprenticeship Levy visit our Apprenticeship Funding page in the find out more section below.
