What is an apprenticeship?
Please click here for the 'What is an Apprenticeship?' page.
Where are apprenticeships advertised?
They are advertised on NHS Jobs and the Careers Wales Matching Service and these are filtered through to the Job Centre.
What is the salary of an entry level apprentice?
For the first 12 months, no matter of age, all apprentices will be paid £6.88 per hour. If the qualification is for more than 12 months, the rate rises to £7.38 per hour for 16-24 year olds and £7.83 per hour for 25s and over. The second year rise will remain in place for the remainder of the contract.
Will I qualify for the NHS Pension?
Yes, you are automatically enrolled onto the scheme, unless you decide to opt out at the point of enrolment.
What hours will I work?
This will be dependent on the post advertised, but you will need to work a minimum of 16 hours, but no more than 37.5.
Where will I be based?
As an entry level apprentice, this will be dependent on the location of department advertising the role. If services are delivered through multiple sites, you will be assigned where the role is most needed.
How long does an apprenticeship take to complete?
Apprenticeships take a minimum of twelve months to complete. The length of time will be dependent on the qualification undertaken.
How do I achieve an apprenticeship?
Enrolment will commence during your first week. You will then have monthly assessor visits as you work towards your qualification through ongoing work-based learning, evidenced by a portfolio and continual assessments.
Will an apprenticeship lead to a real job?
When departments take on an apprentice, the post has been created from an existing vacancy. Departments are encouraged to advertise that job as you come to the end of your apprentice contract. If you have met the requirements of the department and the qualification there should be an opportunity for you to apply for that job through a normal recruitment process.
What is an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification)?
NVQs are competency-based qualifications - this means they offer proof that you can do a job. NVQs are available in lots of different jobs, from administration to facilities. Many employers allow their staff to study for NVQs in work time. They're available in levels 1 to 5 so you can start at a level suitable for you and work your way up. National Vocational Qualifications are recognised throughout the UK and are achieved by recording what you do at work. They includes on-the-job training.
What are QCFs (Qualifications & Credits Framework)?
You are employed to do a job and the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is the new framework for creating and accrediting qualifications. Qualifications that use the QCF rules are made up of units. This provides flexible ways to get a qualification. Each unit has a credit value which tells you how many credits are awarded when a unit is completed. The credit value also gives an indication of how long it will normally take you to prepare for a unit or qualification. One credit will usually take you 10 hours of learning. Units build up to qualifications. There are three different types of qualification in the QCF: Award, Certificate and Diploma. You can achieve an Award with 1 to 12 credits; for a Certificate you will need 13 – 36 credits and for a Diploma you will need at least 37 credits. Units and qualifications are each given a level according to their difficulty, from entry level to level 8. The title of a qualification will tell you its size and level. If a qualification includes a unit that you have already been awarded, you can use the unit you have already taken towards that qualification. Units awarded by different awarding organisations can be combined to build up qualifications.