Occupational therapists provide practical support to help people overcome barriers caused by illness, trauma, disability, ageing or accidents that are preventing them from having an independent life.
An apprenticeship combines practical training in a job with study. An apprentice gains technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills you need for your immediate job and future career, all while being paid in a job.
Our Trust offers pre-registration training route via Apprenticeships for this profession, enabling you to achieve your Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registration. Depending on your existing qualifications, you could be eligible for the Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship.
Below is an example of the Occupational Therapist Career Pathway, listed in pay bands.
| Band 2 | Band 3 | Band 4 | Band 5 | Band 6 | Band 7 | Band 8b |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Support Worker | Senior Healthcare Support Worker | Occupational Therapy Assistant | Occupational Therapist | Specialist Occupational Therapist | Lead or Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist | Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy |
Workplace settings for Occupational Therapists:
- Community Teams - Learning Disabilities
- Community Mental Health Teams
- Older People Services – Inpatient Wards
- Perinatal services
- Acute services for older people and working age adults
- Early Intervention and Psychosis
Below are examples of the different apprenticeships levels that are available to progress in our Occupational Therapist Career Pathway. Depending on your qualifications and experience, you may be able to join higher level apprenticeships.
Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker
Who is it for?
If you are new to working in care you may find this apprenticeship helpful. It is aimed at those working in services supporting registered practitioners deliver Mental Health and other healthcare services. This Apprenticeship can also give employees recognition of their current skills.
Entry Criteria:
- Be employed by Surrey and Borders Partnership and be working in one of teams providing Care to people who use you our services.
- Have completed the Care Certificate
- Your Employment Contract must last for the duration of the Apprenticeship programme
- You have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to enrolling to qualify for the Apprenticeship Levy Funding.
- Our Training Provider: We have partnered with Dynamic Training to deliver this apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Duration: 12 months plus End Point Assessment
Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker
Who is it for?
Senior Healthcare Support Workers help registered practitioners deliver healthcare services to people. As an experienced support worker, you carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner.
Entry Criteria:
- Be employed by Surrey and Borders Partnership and be working in one of teams providing Care to people using our services.
- Have completed the Care Certificate
- Your Employment Contract must last for the duration of the Apprenticeship programme
- You have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to enrolling to qualify for the Apprenticeship Levy Funding.
- To enrol onto this Apprenticeship, you must be working in a care setting already and have some experience. This qualification supports career progression.
Our Training Provider: We have partnered with Dynamic Training to deliver this apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Duration: 24 months plus End Point Assessment
Level 2 Adult Care Worker
Who is it for?
If you are new to working in care you may find this apprenticeship helpful. It is for those working in a Social Care environment such as a Learning Disabilities Care Home or My Time Service without Nursing.
Entry Criteria: An ideal entry into the occupation and supports progression within the sector. For this Apprenticeship, you do not require previous experience, however, you will need to complete the Care Certificate programme first and be working in one of our Care Teams.
- Be employed by Surrey and Borders Partnership and be working in one of teams providing Care to people who use you our services.
- Have completed the Care Certificate
- Your Employment Contract must last for the duration of the Apprenticeship programme
- You have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to enrolling to qualify for the Apprenticeship Levy Funding.
Our Training Provider: We have partnered with Dynamic Training to deliver this apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Duration: 12 months plus End Point Assessment
Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker
Who is it for?
Lead Adult Care Workers are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible enabling them the have control and choice in their lives.
Entry Criteria
- Be employed by Surrey and Borders Partnership and be working in one of teams providing Care to people who use you our services.
- Have completed the Care Certificate
- Your Employment Contract must last for the duration of the Apprenticeship programme
- You have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to enrolling to qualify for the Apprenticeship Levy Funding.
Our Training Provider: We have partnered with Dynamic Training to deliver this apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Duration: 24 months plus End Point Assessment
Level 4 Lead practitioner in adult care
Who is it for?
This Apprenticeship is for colleagues who wish to expand their level of interest in Adult Care. Colleagues who might be interested in this programme may be in one of the following roles: Occupational Therapy Assistant, Assistant Physiotherapist, Assistant Speech and Language Therapist.
Entry Criteria:
- You must be working at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in a care setting and have worked as a role of a Senior Support Worker or equivalent.
Functional Skills: Prior to starting this programme, you will be supported to gain Level 2 English and maths Functional Skills if you do not have GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4.
Our Training Provider: We have partnered with Dynamic Training to deliver this apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Duration: 15 months plus 3 months for End Point Assessment
Level 6 Occupational Therapy (Integrated Degree) Apprenticeship
Who is for?
Employees who wish to train as Occupational Therapists.
The title Occupational Therapist is protected, so you must complete a registered, accredited degree-level course to practise as an Occupational Therapist. Occupational Therapist are approved by the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. The Trust has partnered with Canterbury Christ Church University to deliver the Occupational Therapist Apprenticeship programme and our staff on programme complete placements for this programme with our Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board Partners Surrey and Borders Partnership offers an Occupational Therapist Degree Apprenticeship as well as a Career pathway for Occupational Therapists from Health Care Support Worker (Band 2) to Occupational Therapist (Band 5) and beyond.
Entry Criteria:
- Applicants should have at least one year’s relevant experience in health and social care in a paid or voluntary position, in addition to meeting the entry requirements of the Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship programme.
We recommend the following steps are taken to apply for this Apprenticeship:
- Apply as a Health Care Assistant/Support Worker and complete the Care Certificate at the Trust. This will give you experience, skills and experience.
- Ensure you have completed GCSE English and Maths at Grade C-A* or Grades 4-9. If you have not gained these qualifications, we offer Functional Skills training enabling staff to work towards Level 2 English and Maths Functional skills qualifications.
- You will need two or three A-Levels or an equivalent qualification. If you do not have a Level 3 qualification, and you are eligible for Apprenticeship Levy Funding, the Trust will support you to complete a Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Diploma (24 months) via an Apprenticeship.
- Once you have followed these steps, and you are eligible for Apprenticeship Levy Funding, you can apply for the Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship (3 years and 3 months), and benefit from a fully-funded Degree Apprenticeship programme.
Useful Links:
- Health Careers – Occupational Therapist
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Careers Site
- HCPC-approved education and training programmes.