Apprenticeships provide routes into a variety of careers in the NHS and are excellent opportunities to earn, gain work experience and to achieve nationally recognised qualifications at the same time:
What is available at Gateshead Health
- Business Administration & Human Resources
- Clinical Support
- Construction/Estate Services
- IT and Digital
- Health and Social Care
- Healthcare Sciences
- Leadership and Management
- Nursing
- Pharmacy Support
For further information contact [email protected]
Nursing Apprenticeships
The Trust currently provides two Nursing Apprenticeship programmes which provide career development for our nursing and healthcare assistant workforce, illustrating our commitment to being the best employer, and developing the talents of our staff.
The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship
The Nursing Associate is a relatively new role in nursing teams that was introduced with the intention of addressing the skills gaps between Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses. The Nursing Associate role supports registered nurse in the delivery of hands-on person-centred care to patients, allowing the RN to focus on more complex clinical and leadership roles.
The Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) Foundation Degree is a two-year higher apprenticeship which combines opportunities to develop skills and knowledge within the workplace and university. This is a full – time training programme open to healthcare assistants/healthcare support workers working at our Trust. As this is an apprenticeship you must be employed in the Trust, and in a full-time substantive post.
Minimum entry requirements are Mathematics and English at GCSE C/4 or Functional Skills level 2, and you must have completed a Care Certificate / Level 2 apprenticeship in care. You must have had substantial experience working in a healthcare assistant/healthcare support worker role.
During the apprenticeship the TNA will develop and maintain knowledge, skills and competence related to the role of the Nursing Associate, working primarily on a ‘base ward’ but will also be required to gain some exposure to the four fields of nursing during the programme.
On successful completion of the apprenticeship, TNAs will be eligible to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Register for Nursing Associates.
The TNA apprenticeship provides a career development pathway for our healthcare assistants. It allows our staff to enter this new profession, supporting staff satisfaction, motivation and retention.
For those qualified Nursing Associates who wish to progress to be a Registered Nurse there are opportunities to apply for a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, details of which can be seen below.
The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship
The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) is a Nursing Science (Adult) BSc 18-month programme, delivered in partnership with Northumbria University. A Foundation Degree in a health-related subject and substantial healthcare work experience are two of the pre-requites to access the apprenticeship and as such provides an excellent opportunity for band 4 Nursing Associates and Assistant Practitioners to further develop their career to become registered nurses.
Throughout this full-time apprenticeship students work 22.5 hours per week in practice and 15 hours studying theory. They rotate across a number of clinical placements across the Trust to meet the requirements of the programme and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. On successful completion they will be eligible for entry to the NMC as Registered Nurses.