Course Summary
This apprenticeship has been designed to be taken by anyone wanting to work as a Healthcare Science Associate within a Clinical Engineering Department. Apprentices working in a Clinical Engineering department will learn fundamental techniques to service, maintain, fault find and calibrate medical equipment. The Apprentice Associate will also develop technical report writing skills in the management of technical data. The Level 4 Healthcare Science Apprenticeship will last a minimum of 24 months and will provide an overarching insight into Clinical Engineering.
The Apprenticeship provides opportunities for those already working within the Clinical Engineering (or Medical Engineering) sector to gain formal qualifications for roles they currently hold, enhancing existing skills and knowledge in Healthcare Science and developing new technical and professional skills. The Level 4 Healthcare Science Apprenticeship is the perfect start to a career in Clinical Engineering.
Course Content
Professional Practice and Person-centred Care
Maintain the highest standards of person centred care, treating every person with compassion, dignity and respect
Convey information to agreed protocols to the public, patients, carers, colleagues, including giving and receiving feedback
Use technology to present information orally
Personal and Professional Development
Critically reflect on your technical/non-technical practice
Health, Safety and Security
Maintain a safe and healthy working environment
Train junior staff in relevant health, safety/security practices, including infection control and participate in risk assessments
Quality
Lead quality management technical audit processes as required
Technical Scientific Services
Perform a range of equipment management skills, e.g. fault-finding/preventative maintenance/calibration/repair
Participate in drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Recognise problems and seek technical solutions to them
Analyse/interpret/record/present accurately Healthcare Science (HCS) technical data
Supervise/teach/assess practical skills to junior team members
Audit/Service Improvement
Participate in audit and/or service improvement programmes
Communicate the outcome of audit, service improvement
Research & Innovation
Undertake appropriate audit/research/innovation activities which support quality improvement in your area of work
Leadership
Plan/assess the work of a team and individuals within it
Lead where appropriate and work effectively within the HCS team
Course Assessment
Assessment
Regular, on-programme assessment in the workplace ever 6-8 weeks which will assess the apprentice’s development of competency and performance to ensure that there is full and sufficient evidence of the apprentice’s readiness to undertake the End Point Assessment. As well as written and practical assessments to be completed during on the job placements and block release at the Avensys main site and Dudley College of Technology.
Assessment Gateway
Achievement of Level 2 English and Level 2 Mathematics qualifications
Achievement of the Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science;
Evidence, usually recorded, for example in a log or portfolio and signed off by the employer or nominated training provider demonstrating that the apprentice has achieved the skills, knowledge and behaviours set out in the Standard;
Evidence that the apprentice has developed an insight into their personal and professional development as shown by the reflective self-assessment following the Multi Source Feedback exercises
End Point Assessment
Element 1 - Vocational Competence Observation
Element 2 - Professional Practice Test
Element 3 - Professional discussion informed by the evidence presented
Employer Benefits
Ensuring staff are well trained and well supported can bring many benefits to individuals, teams, the organisation and most importantly, patients.
Many benefits include a workforce that is confident and competent in the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for their role.
Staff who are competent and confident are better prepared to support patients and other team members in their chosen setting.
Supporting staff with training and education can help to sustain their health and wellbeing at work and support them in remaining resilient when providing care in difficult and emotionally demanding situations.
Materials
You will require access to a laptop/computer and have Wi-Fi
Qualifications
The AHCS will require the Level 4 Diploma in HCS as an underpinning qualification for the HCS Associate apprenticeship. Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this prior to taking the end-point assessment.
Progression
On completion of this Level 4 programme you can progress onto Higher level qualifications such as a Degree in Engineering.
Entry Requirements
You will be required to be working in a relevant setting and have a DBS check.
You will have completed a relevant Level 2 or Level 3 qualification such as the Level 2 Healthcare Science Assistant.
You will be expected to have a sound level of mathematics and a good level of written English. Evidence of GCSE Grade A-C in maths and English, of Functional Skills Level 2 equivalent is a requirement for entry onto this course, you will need to provide evidence prior to enrolment.
Prior learning, and experience will be taken into consideration on an individual basis, diagnostic tests will be carried out prior to enrolment, initial assessment results of 1.7 are required for enrollment onto this course.
