Apprentice Course Information

This programme takes a multidisciplinary approach to social care work, drawing from psychology, sociology, social policy, legal studies and the creative arts to learn how to best respond to the experiences of all stakeholders in the social care work setting. The programme is committed to fostering diversity in the field of social care and believe that a diverse group of social care workers better reflects and serves our communities. 

Work-integrated learning experiences strive to deepen understanding of the changing social care landscape by applying care practice skills, such as advocacy and communication skills, digital, creative and recreational approaches to practice, and health and wellbeing programmes for practice to address client needs and challenges in dynamic care environments, including de-escalation skills.

Furthermore, the integration of reflective practice, design-based problem-solving, including methods and tools that facilitate service user co-design and co-participation,  foster an inclusive, empathic insight into the needs of people across various care settings and diverse backgrounds with an emphasis on hearing the voices of supported persons/care groups throughout the course.

Through an innovative, evidence-informed lens, this programme aims to integrate theory and practice with an emphasis on ethical and evidence informed practice. A student-centred approach is used drawing on various teaching and assessment methods, enabling students to develop a professional insight into the various roles of a Social Care Worker, needs of various care populations, and contexts, CORU standards of proficiency and their own supervised practice.

An apprenticeship is a structured programme of education and training that blends learning in the workplace with formal instruction in an educational setting. This dual approach integrates practical, employer-based experience with academic learning to create a skilled and educated employee, in this case, a qualified Social Care worker. 

Participants benefit from an ‘earn while you learn’ model, which includes a formal contract of employment. Small class sizes at university ensure focused attention, and a variety of teaching methods—such as small group activities, role-plays, student presentations, and report writing—allow apprentices to put their knowledge into practice.