Are you interested in playing a pivotal role in assessing and arranging ongoing healthcare services funded solely by the NHS? A level 5 Associate Continuing Healthcare Practitioner apprenticeship may be the perfect fit for you. This career path entails evaluating individuals’ complex health and social care needs, guiding them through the assessment process, and ensuring that they receive the necessary care and support. It’s a dynamic role that requires good communication skills, a detailed knowledge of healthcare services, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Level 5 Associate Continuing Healthcare Practitioner entry requirements and jobs
Associate healthcare practitioner apprenticeship prepares you for a rewarding career path within a wide range of organizations overseeing health and social care services across England. In this crucial role you will be the initial point of contact for individuals, caregivers, and families, you will provide essential support and guidance, especially during transitions from children’s care to adult continuing healthcare services. This role may also require flexibility, this includes shifts during evenings and weekends.
The entry requirements may vary among employers, however, apprentices are expected to have a level 3 Maths and English qualifications. Individual employers also typically expect apprentices to have at least two years prior experience in a care capacity within a health or social care provider organization, or within a continuing healthcare team. This role offers an excellent opportunity for those seeking a career in the dynamic field of healthcare and social services.
Key Responsibilities for Associate Continuing Healthcare Practitioner
Associate continuing healthcare practitioners manage a caseload of eligible individuals, planning and reviewing complex health and social care packages to ensure ongoing suitability as well as screening and assessing individuals for continuing healthcare packages, in line with the national frameworks and relevant legislations.
Their role heavily relies on autonomy, exercising judgment, and working collaboratively with healthcare professionals, with occasional supervision from registered health or social care experts like nurses or social workers. Furthermore, they might take on leadership and supervisory duties for junior team members.
Associate Continuing Healthcare Practitioner Occupational Duties
Carrying out these duties in your job role will satisfy an array of core competencies, these include:
- Undertake management and review of individual’s care packages, ensuring it continues to meet their agreed health and social care needs.
- Contribute to planning an individual’s care plan ensuring it meets their agreed health and social care needs.
- Contribute to continuing healthcare assessment of individuals health and social care needs using the mandated tools as outlined in the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.
- Supervise staff assigned according to organisational policies and procedures.
- Manage the continuing healthcare referral process ensuring referrals into the service are in line with the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.
- Collate and analyse evidence and assessment documentation from health and social care teams involved in caring for the needs of the individuals to enable a lawful eligibility decision to be made.
These occupational duties, paired with occupational brief and assessment plan help understand these and the other Associate Continuing Healthcare Practitioner competencies better and help prepare you for the end point assessment.
Associate Continuing Healthcare Practitioner Knowledge, Skills, and behaviours
All of the KSBs need to be met by apprentices in order for them to pass their end point assessment and obtain their qualifications.
Although only some of them are listed below it is important for apprentice to read and understand these KSBs in order to achieve them:
Knowledge
- Understands the structures and functions of the human body.
- Understand how to support people going through the continuing healthcare process.
- Understand commonly encountered mental, physical, behavioural and cognitive health conditions, medication usage and treatments and and how ill health impacts on the individual and their family.
- The principles of infection control.
- Knows how and when to plan and facilitate referal, discharge or transition of care between professionals, settings or services and what makes up an appropriate care package.
Skills
- Utilise report writing skills to formulate clear and evidence based multidisciplinary team recommendations.
- Protect health through applying the principles of infection prevention and control.
- Communicate and provide information in an accessible way that is sensitive and appropriate, using a range of skills and strategies with colleagues and people at all stages of life and with a range of mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural challenges recognising common barriers to communication.
- In a range of settings, recognise where people could be at risk, including from neglect, and take appropriate action to report potential risk for assessment.
- Commission safe, effective and person-centred health and social care packages for people who have co-morbidities and complex care needs, under the supervision of a clinical professional.
Behaviours
- Act in a non-discriminatory fashion, treating people with dignity and respecting individual’s diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences.
- Be caring, sensitive and compassionate, nurturing the potential in others.
- Have the courage to speak up and challenge areas of concern or any discriminatory behaviour, providing honest, accurate and constructive feedback.
- Communicate in ways that are sensitive and appropriate, considering emotional, psychological, cognitive, language, social and other circumstances.
- Be competent, reliable and committed, using reflection to constantly improve and work to evidence based best practice always working within limits of own competence, experience and training.
Apprentices are assessed during their end point assessment on whether they have met these KSBs and competencies. It is crucial to meet these standards to pass.
Conclusion
In summary, the Associate Continuing Healthcare Practitioner role presents a compelling opportunity for those interested in shaping the healthcare sector. This dynamic career involves assessing and coordinating ongoing healthcare services funded by the NHS, requiring a strong understanding of healthcare services, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. To embark on this journey, meeting entry requirements and achieving key competencies is crucial, as it forms the foundation for a successful career in healthcare and social services. This role offers professional growth and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need of continuing healthcare services.
