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New Middlesex apprenticeship project set to boost social care sector

01/04/2015
A project providing high level apprenticeships for the next generation of adult social care managers is set to be expanded, after Middlesex University received a major new grant from ‘Skills for Care’, the industry’s Skills Council.

A project providing high level apprenticeships for the next generation of adult social care managers is set to be expanded, after Middlesex University received a major new grant from ‘Skills for Care’, the industry’s Skills Council.

The sector is predicted to need at least another half million workers by 2025 and, with talented leaders likely to be in high demand, it was announced in December that Middlesex would develop a range of higher apprenticeships for management level staff.

A Higher Apprenticeship in Care Leadership and Management is now in place (with specialist pathways in dementia care, end of life care or business, quality and service improvement), and the programme will now be expanded following a £50k award targeted at the development of additional specialisms and new partnerships with colleges across the UK, including the opportunity for franchise models.

Middlesex University Work Based Learning expert Ruth Miller has been leading on the project. She said: “Ensuring quality in health and social care is at the top of everyone’s agenda, particularly after recent high profile cases such as Winterbourne View and Mid Staffs, so ensuring the social care sector is run by well qualified staff is crucial.”

“The higher apprenticeship will be the key qualification for social care managers and our specialist pathways lead to great new progression opportunities for managers who want to boost their career. Our experience in work based learning means we’re ideally placed to offer high level qualifications based on projects these professionals carry out in their job role.”

How the new higher apprenticeships work:

*         Participants study ‘on the job’ first taking a level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care Services with one of a number of partner training providers and colleges working with Middlesex

*         This is followed by study with Middlesex University (through online/distance learning in their workplace), including a specialist module and a leadership/management project

*         Professionals can choose to specialise in dementia care, end of life care or business quality and service improvement and will also achieve a University qualification

*         Additional funding from Skills for Care will ensure a wider range of training providers and pathways are available


Middlesex University recently participated in the annual Skills for Care conference supported by Vince Cable  A range of videos discussing the higher apprenticeships agenda, including interviews with Ruth Miller, are available here http://vimeo.com/channels/skills4care/

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