Level 4 Apprenticeship – Lead Practitioner in Adult Care

The Lead Practitioner in Adult Care will guide and inspire team members to make positive differences to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, psychological or intellectual challenges. They will have achieved a level of self-development to be recognised as a lead practitioner within the care team, contributing to, promoting and sustaining a values-based culture at an operational level. 

A Lead Practitioner has a greater depth of knowledge and expertise in particular conditions being experienced by the user of services. They will have specialist skills and knowledge in their area of responsibilities which will allow them to lead in areas such as care needs assessment, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and enablement, telecare and assistive technology. They will be a coach and mentor to others and will have a role in assessing performance and quality of care delivery.

Lead Practitioners in Adult Care may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, a person’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings. As well as covering Lead Practitioners in Adult Care, this apprenticeship standard also covers Lead Personal Assistants who can work at this senior level but who may only work directly for one individual who needs support and/or care services, usually within their own home.

The apprenticeship involves 20% off-the-job training, a Diploma, Level 2 Maths and English, and an end-point assessment. 

The apprentice should be:

• Employed for more than 30 hours a week with a contract
• Working in a supervisory role
• Aged over 18

• Time to complete the course – 20% off-the-job training
• Paid time to attend College for Functional Skills
• Training
• Support

• Professional attitude
• Good time management
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good level of English and Maths
• A commitment to completing the course and pursuing a career in management within the care sector

• Diploma at Level 4
• Level 2 Maths and English
• End-point assessment (external exams)

• Observations
• Products of work
• Professional discussions
• Assignments
• Questions

Yes – if they need to complete their Functional Skills.  This could be on a once-a-week or block-week basis.

They need a laptop for access to their e-portfolio.

They could advance to a Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification.

Examples of job roles include Dementia Lead, Re-ablement Worker, Physiotherapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Public Health Associate Worker, Keeping in Contact Worker, Community Care/Support Officer, Social Care Assessor, Care Assessment Officer, Social Services Officer, Brokerage Worker, Rehabilitation and Reablement Assistant, Independence Support Assistant, Reablement Support Worker/Officer, Telecare Assistant and Assistive Technology Co-ordinator/Officer.

You may already have someone in your organisation or someone has come to you direct asking for an apprenticeship, but if you don’t we have a free recruitment service to help you hire the best candidate for your organisation from our talent pool and external advertising through social media and the national apprenticeship services website

If you are an employer and you would like to know more, please email businessenquiries@derby-college.ac.uk or call 01332 387421