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Apprenticeships
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Apprenticeships
We are committed to developing a talented and skilled workforce and actively promote training and development within the organisation.
A clear element to us becoming an ‘Employer of Choice’ is to home grow our workforce of the future. Apprenticeships enable us to do this.
We're committed to supporting local people and our existing workforce through apprenticeship qualifications, as we recognise the huge value this adds to our organisation.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is an integrated work-based training and development programme which develops the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprentice and ultimately leads to a nationally accredited qualification. The apprenticeship consists of both theory and practice, so much of the learning is developed in the workplace with off-the-job training, assessment and pastoral support provided.
The benefit of undertaking an apprenticeship is you can earn whilst you learn and have no training or tuition fees to pay. In addition, you will gain valuable experience in the workplace.
The minimum duration of an apprenticeship is 12 months and varies in term of duration, depending on the qualification and the apprentice’s relevant prior learning and/or work experience.
Opportunities we offer
Apprenticeship opportunities are available to existing staff to help them develop their career and gain valuable skills and qualifications. We offer some opportunities for individuals to start their career with us as an apprentice. Any available entry apprenticeship opportunities will be advertised on our vacancies’ webpage: https://www.mse.nhs.uk/current-vacancies.
Apprenticeships can be studied in a range of occupational areas, including:
- Allied health professions (e.g., operating department practice, physiotherapy, radiography)
- Corporate services (e.g., business administration, finance, HR)
- Digital services
- Healthcare science
- Leadership and management
- Pharmacy
- Nursing and midwifery.
Nursing career pathway
Are you a people person who enjoys helping others? If you have a passion for caring for others, you can train to be a registered nurse through a workbased learning route:
Applying and joining us
You can apply for a role as a Healthcare Assistant.
If your application is successful, you’ll be recruited and complete your six-month probation and NHS Care Certificate.
Functional Skills
If you decide to pursue nurse training, you can discuss applying to study on the 2-year Nursing Associate apprenticeship programme – you’ll need L2 qualifications in both English and maths (GCSE grade A-C / 9-4 or equivalent); if you don’t have these certificate, you’ll be supported to achieve Functional Skills qualifications.
Progression
Once you complete the Nursing Associate apprenticeship, you’ll be able to work as a Band 4 Nursing Associate – taking on more clinical responsibilities than a Healthcare Assistant
You can either step off the training pathway and work as a Nursing Associate or discuss the opportunities to apply for the 2-year Nursing Degree top-up apprenticeship with your line manager.
Completion
Once you finish the Nursing Degree apprenticeship, you’ll be qualified to work as Band 5 Registered Nurse.
Interested? Get in touch!
If you are interested in starting your career in nursing, please contact the Trust’s recruitment team who will advise you about the rolling healthcare assistant recruitment programme: mse.recruitment@nhs.net.
Business administration career pathway
Are you highly organised and enjoy problem solving? If you want to support the work of the NHS without caring directly for patients, you can develop your administrative career through a business-related apprenticeship:
Applying and joining us
You can apply for an entry-level administrative role.
If you’re successful, you’ll be recruited and complete your six-month probation.
Apprenticeship
You can discuss your career development with your line manager and identify a suitable apprenticeship – for example, L3 Business Administrator, L3 Data Technician, L3 Team Leader or Supervisor.
With the support of your line manager, you will complete the apprenticeship programme (typically, 1-2 years duration).
Completion and progression
On completion of the apprenticeship, you can discuss progression opportunities with your manager – by securing a more senior role, you can study higher-level apprenticeships in leadership and management to further develop your professional skills and develop your career.
Interested? Check out our vacancies!
If you are interested in starting a career with us in clinical or non-clinical roles, please visit our vacancies page to review and apply for both entry apprenticeship and substantive roles.
As someone who loves seeing our staff grow, the apprenticeship programme is a fantastic opportunity to have a brighter future within the NHS. Our non-qualified healthcare professionals get offered this amazing opportunity to improve their skills, knowledge and behaviour, so they can provide better care to our patients.
The programme also adapts to the modern lifestyles, as those enrolled can work and study at the same, which makes for a very attractive offer that help us with our retention levels.
Jesus Benitez a Practice Education Facilitator in the Acute medical unit (AMU), Medical Same-Day Emergency Care (MSDEC) & Surgical Same-Day Emergency Care (SSDEC).
Public Sector Apprenticeship Target - Basildon University Hospital
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing training and development opportunities which provide employees with the skills, knowledge and experience they need. We employ both new apprentices to the Trust, as well as offer apprenticeship programmes to our existing staff and are working towards, achieving the 2.3% target of our workforce undertaking an apprenticeship programme, over the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Reporting period: 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
| Number of employees who were working in England on 31 March 2022 | 5203 |
| Number of employees who were working in England on 31 March 2023 | 5752 |
| Number of new employees who started working for you in England between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | 903 |
Number of apprentices who work in England
| Number of apprentices who were working in England on 31 March 2022 | 148 |
| Number of apprentices who were working in England on 31 March 2023 | 131 |
| Number of new apprentices in England between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 (includes both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) | 66 |
| Percentage of apprenticeship starts (both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) as a proportion of employment starts between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | 1.27% |
Public Sector Apprenticeship Target - Broomfield Hospital
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing training and development opportunities which provide employees with the skills, knowledge and experience they need. We employ both new apprentices to the Trust, as well as offer apprenticeship programmes to our existing staff and are working towards, achieving the 2.3% target of our workforce undertaking an apprenticeship programme, over the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Reporting period: 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
| Number of employees who were working in England on 31 March 2022 | 5183 |
| Number of employees who were working in England on 31 March 2023 | 5387 |
| Number of new employees who started working for you in England between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | 828 |
| Number of apprentices who were working in England on 31 March 2022 | 161 |
| Number of apprentices who were working in England on 31 March 2023 | 127 |
| Number of new apprentices in England between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 (includes both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) | 59 |
| Percentage of apprenticeship starts (both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) as a proportion of employment starts between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | 1.14% |
Public Sector Apprenticeship Target - Southend University Hospital
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing training and development opportunities which provide employees with the skills, knowledge and experience they need. We employ both new apprentices to the Trust, as well as offer apprenticeship programmes to our existing staff and are working towards, achieving the 2.3% target of our workforce undertaking an apprenticeship programme, over the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Reporting period: 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2023
| Number of employees who were working in England on 31 March 2022 | 5350 |
| Number of employees who were working in England on 31 March 2023 | 5607 |
| Number of new employees who started working for you in England between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | 856 |
| Number of apprentices who were working in England on 31 March 2022 | 149 |
| Number of apprentices who were working in England on 31 March 2023 | 117 |
| Number of new apprentices in England between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 (includes both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) | 58 |
| Percentage of apprenticeship starts (both new hires and existing employees who started an apprenticeship) as a proportion of employment starts between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | 1.08% |