L2 Apprenticeship Standard for Healthcare Support Worker

The apprenticeship standard provides the learner with a high level of the Skills, Knowledge, values and Behaviours required of the Healthcare Support Worker apprentice. On completion of this apprenticeship the learner will become competent to fulfil the role as a Healthcare Support Worker.

The learner will be able to work effectively as part of a team and become aware of who to ask for help and support if they are not sure. The learner will follow the relevant standards, policies and protocols used in their workplace including the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England. 

Healthcare Assistant, Healthcare Support Worker, Nursing Assistant, Nursing Auxiliary working at Hospitals, Community Clinics, Health Centres, Hospices or GP surgeries.

• Monitoring an individual’s conditions (by checking things like blood pressure, temperature or weight)
• Checking on their overall progress, comfort and well-being
• Depending on where they work, may gain skills like Stroke awareness, catering for dementia patients, cardiology-conducting physiological observations, catherization, blood sugar monitoring, tissue viability. The learner may also learn to assist the patients to eat, drink, wash, dress or go to the
• Prepare individuals for healthcare activities carried out by other members of the healthcare team, looking after them before, during and/or after those activities in line with their care
• Carry out non-clinical duties and, depending on where the learner works; this could include things like keeping records, making beds, tidying up the work area, returning or cleaning the equipment used during a clinical
• Be able to address straightforward problems in their day to day work, reporting concerns and changes to the appropriate person in a timely
• Healthcare Support Workers work in a range of healthcare settings and the learner’s team may include workers from both health and social care. The learner will report to a registered healthcare practitioner who will directly or indirectly supervise their work.

The learner’s Knowledge, Skills and Behaviour outcomes will be assessed en-route to the final synoptic End Point Assessment.

• Health Care Support Worker Standard
• Functional skills in maths at Level 1 (consisting of a test, unless a valid exemption can be provided)
• Functional skills in English at Level 1 (consisting of 2 tests, reading and writing and an assessment in speaking and listening, unless a valid exemption can be provided)
• End Point Assessment

The learner will be allocated a qualified Tutor to support the full completion of the qualification and prepare for end point assessment. The tutor will meet with the learner on a regular basis in the workplace to conduct assessments which will be planned with the learner and their manager; assessment will also be conducted through a blended model of e–Learning and face to face delivery. The Tutor will manage the learner’s portfolio of evidence using an online electronic system called OneFile and provide regular updates about progress. The learner can contact their Tutor in between visits to discuss any aspect of the qualification and will have access to their individual learner’s portfolio.

An End Point Assessment will be carried out by staff from an independent End Point Assessment centre approved on the Register of End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO).  

The End Point Assessment will test the entire apprenticeship standard and will be undertaken as follows

• Multiple choice test (60 minutes)
• Practical observation of normal work (90 minutes)
• Evidence portfolio and Interview between (30 minutes to a maximum of 60 minutes)

The End Point Assessment requires apprentices to demonstrate they have achieved the standard.

Before the apprentice is ready to undertake the End Point Assessment by their employer and learning provider, they are required to:

• Achieve Healthcare Support Worker standard
• Achieve Level 1 maths and English Functional Skills
• Complete a portfolio of evidence

The purpose of the end point assessment is to test (in a synoptic way) the skills, knowledge and behaviours of the apprentice as set out in the apprenticeship standard

End Point Assessment provides apprentices with a showcase opportunity to provide oral and documentary evidence of their knowledge, skills and behaviours developed throughout the apprenticeship. Enables the independent assessor to assess the skills and behaviours of the apprentice by observing the apprentice in the course of their normal work. Tests the knowledge acquired by the apprentice throughout the apprenticeship.

The qualification usually takes around 15 months. However, it is possible to complete in 12 months depending on the learner’s existing achievement and individual circumstance. This can be discussed with the Tutor.

The content of the qualification links with the knowledge and skills required for the Adult Care Worker and Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship standards. The learner may be able to enrol on the L3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship standard.