Purpose

A proposal for supporting apprenticeship
expansion across Adult Social Care to address some of the workforce
shortages and capacity issues facing the sector was presented to
JCOG on 28.3.23.
£166,324 from the Better Care Fund Earmarked Reserve was
agreed to create a temporary Adult Social Care Apprenticeship
Development Lead post and to fund linked initiatives to further
develop and implement the apprenticeship route as a model of good
practice across the sector.
The £166,324 is for the following:
- Apprenticeship Development Lead: £90,194 (two years)
- Apprentice Benefit Scheme – incentives to attract
apprentices: £24,630
- Promotion – Communications, advertising, publicity
materials etc: £5,000
- Events for providers (engagement & support) x 4 minimum:
£4,000
- Recognition/Celebration Event: £1500
- Provider Training – coaches/mentors/assessors:
£25,000
- Apprentice to provide administrative support: £16,000 (18
months)
Offering the apprentice incentive scheme increases the
attractiveness of the apprenticeship route to potential
apprentices.
Providing a coaching/mentor training programme for providers is
essential for them to be able to provide on the job support to
their apprentices and for the longer-term expansion and
sustainability of the apprenticeship route after the end of the
2-year period.
A key element over the 2-year period will be in engaging,
promoting, raising awareness, and developing the apprenticeship
route across the sector. A budget is therefore required for
promotional material, communications, events etc.
Leading by example can be very influential and creating an
apprenticeship role to support the ‘Apprenticeship
Development Lead – Adult Social Care’ is the perfect
way to promote the apprenticeship route whilst also providing
essential administrative support.

Content

To approve the drawdown of £166,324 from
the Better Care Fund Earmarked Reserve. The funding has been agreed
for the following:
- create an ‘Apprenticeship Development Lead – Adult
Social Care’ post for 2 years
- fund an Apprentice Incentive Scheme and Coaching/Mentor training
for social care
providers
- offer an apprenticeship opportunity alongside this e.g., Level 3
Business Administrator
(18 months