1. Physiotherapy Apprenticeships Update March 21st 2018
Dr. Sally Gosling Assistant Director, Practice & Development Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

2. Aims:

3. Physiotherapy degree apprenticeship – The CSP’s role
Sharing our expectations to inform development of the apprenticeship standards and assessment plans
Acting as a ‘critical friend’, seeking to ensure the quality of the learning experience/outcomes is upheld
Promoting awareness, understanding and engagement
Developing confidence in the degree apprenticeship as a new route into the profession

4. Physiotherapy degree apprenticeship – CSP activity to date
CSP position statement on apprenticeships – and keeping this under review
Inputting directly to the physiotherapy trailblazer group and assessment sub-group
Encouraging member engagement at each key stage
Working with AHP colleagues and the HCPC on how we exercise our respective quality assurance and enhancement roles

5. Physiotherapy degree apprenticeship – Next steps
Assessment plan due to be submitted by next Institute for Apprenticeship (IfA) deadline (11th April)
First apprenticeship starts likely to be in 2019 (duration typically 4 years)
Tariff banding due to be confirmed by IfA (with the scope to appeal)
Seeking confirmation on whether qualifications at level 6 or 7 can underpin the degree apprenticeship (subject to agreement by the Department for Education)
Seeking clarification from the IfA on External Quality Assurance (EQA) role requirements

6. Level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) Apprenticeship – Key information
Trailblazer group set up early 2017
AHP input directly via the trailblazer group chair
Apprenticeship underpinned by an MSc in ACP
Assessment plan accepted by the IfA with major conditions
Assessment plan resubmission involved significant re-writing of End Point Assessment (including the grading criteria)
Tariff banding confirmed as £12k

7. ACP Apprenticeship – Next steps
HEE supporting Council of Deans of Health in assisting HEIs with their readiness to deliver the apprenticeship – including through ‘re-engineering’ their ACP MSc provision
HEE ACP framework recognises L7 apprenticeships as one of several routes to practitioners achieving ACP status
Alignment between the ACP standard and the apprenticeship, in terms of the capabilities expressed

8. How do we ensure the ACP apprenticeship …
Enhances opportunities for physiotherapy workforce development?
Employers’ investment in physiotherapy workforce development?
Is underpinned by level 7 education (ACP) provision that is responsive to and inclusive of physiotherapy workforce development needs?

9. Other apprenticeships relevant to the physiotherapy workforce
Level 3 support worker (AHP strand)
Level 5 assistant practitioner
Level 7 university professional

10. Addressing implementation issues
CSP short-life working group
Planned development of CSP guidance and resources, plus stronger signposting to resources available from other organisations
Key issues to address; e.g.
Supernumerary/learning on the job issues
Terms and conditions (including remuneration)
Models of collaboration

11. Next steps and current unknowns
How will employers engage?
How will HEIs engage?
What interest will there be from prospective apprentices?
How will each of the above align?

12. Useful links and resources
CSP (2016) the CSP Position Statement on Apprenticeships. statement-apprenticeships CSP (2018) CSP evidence to the Education Select Committee, Apprenticeships Inquiry. Department for Education (2018) Apprenticeship funding: how it works work Skills for Funding Agency (2017) Apprenticeship funding: rules and guidance for employers NAL.pdf Skills for Health. Level 3 Senior Health care Support Worker Skills for Health Level 5 Assistant Practitioner - science Standards for Level 6 and 7