Lead practitioner in Adult Care Higher Apprenticeship Standard

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 of 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 standard also covers Lead Personal Assistants who can work at this senior level but they may only work directly for one individual who needs support and/or care services, usually within their own home Care - is caring consistently and enough about individuals to make a positive difference to their lives; Compassion - is delivering care and support with kindness, consideration, dignity, empathy and respect; Courage - is doing the right thing for people and speaking up if the individual they support is at risk; Communication - good communication is central to successful caring relationships and effective team working; Competence - is applying knowledge and skills to provide high quality care and support; Commitment - to improving the experience of people who need care and support ensuring it is person centred.

The topics you will cover whilst training include:

• Tasks and responsibilities - Statutory frameworks, standards, guidance and Codes of Practice which underpin practice in relation to the safe delivery of services; Theories underpinning own practice and competence relevant to the job role; Principles of assessment and outcome based practice; Principles of risk management
• Dignity and humans Rights - How to contribute to, promote and maintain a culture which ensures dignity is at the centre of practice
• Communication - Effective communication and solutions to overcoming barriers; Legal and ethical frameworks in relation to confidentiality and sharing information; Range of technologies to enhance communication
• Safeguarding - Legislation, national and local solutions for the safeguarding of adults and children including reporting requirements
• Health and wellbeing - Models of monitoring, reporting and responding to changes in health and wellbeing; Range of holistic solutions to promote and maintain health and wellbeing using person centred approaches; Importance of effective partnerships, inter-agency, joint and integrated working
• Professional development - Goals and aspirations that support own professional development and how to access available opportunities

Your progress is continually monitored throughout the course. Assessments are arranged when necessary and these take place on-the-job.

Assessments against the Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care will include: observations of your performance; responses to written and/or spoken questions to show your knowledge and understanding; e-portfolio of supporting evidence containing testimonies, reflective accounts, assignments, work products such as activity planning sheets, completed risk assessments, continual professional development evidence. Along with supporting you in readiness for your end point assessment.

This Standard also has an End Point Assessment which includes:

• Observation of practice
• Professional Discussion

While you are on an apprenticeship your employer pays you a salary and supports you whilst you undertake your training.