1. Dr. Sally Gosling Assistant Director, CSP Practice & Development
The apprenticeship agenda: An overview of physiotherapy developments and CSP activity
Dr. Sally Gosling
Assistant Director,
CSP Practice & Development

2. Apprenticeship developments relevant to the physiotherapy workforce
Standards in development:
Physiotherapist (level 6)
Advanced clinical practitioner (level 7)
Standards ready for delivery:
Senior healthcare support worker (level 3)
Assistant practitioner health (level 5)

3. CSP role in the apprenticeship agenda1
Sharing CSP expectations to inform development of the apprenticeship standards and assessment plans, plus their implementation 2
Acting as a ‘critical friend’, seeking to ensure the quality of learning experience/outcomes is upheld 3
Promoting member awareness, understanding and engagement 4
Developing confidence in apprenticeships as a new route into the profession and for post-registration and support worker development 5
Ensuring the CSP’s accreditation processes align with changing needs – to ensure both flexibility and rigour

4. Questions we’re addressing1
Which elements of a degree apprenticeship do we need to accredit? 2
How can we best contribute to thinking on how apprenticeships are defined and delivered? 3
How can we best promote engagement in apprenticeship developments and their implementation? 4
How can we help to maximise the sharing of learning between trailblazer groups? 5
How can we minimise unnecessary difference of approach/duplication of effort in how we exercise our quality assurance and enhancement role?

5. CSP activity to date 1
CSP position statement on apprenticeships – and keeping this under review 2
Encouraging member engagement at each key stage 3
Inputting directly to the physiotherapy trailblazer group and assessment sub-group 4
Pursuing issues of interest and concern (e.g. with the ACP apprenticeship)to optimise workforce development opportunities 5
Working with AHP colleagues and the HCPC on how we exercise our respective quality assurance and enhancement roles

6. Current unknowns How will employers/physiotherapy services engage?
How will HEIs/physiotherapy teams engage?
What interest will there be from prospective apprentices?
How will each of the above align (e.g. in terms of fulfilling priorities/the financial model)?

7. Current CSP particular focuses
How we can best influence current developments to
Optimise the quality of the learning experience and outcomes, and confidence in this quality
Uphold education and professional standards, and therefore the quality of patient care
Enhance opportunities for workforce growth and development, including from a widening participation perspective
Support plans for implementation
Maintain coherence in physiotherapy education while engaging in innovation and enabling diversity

8. Summary points Recognising the opportunities
afforded for the profession’s
development (including workforce
expansion)
Ensuring the responsiveness
of the CSP’s approach to
accreditation, while retaining
rigour
Upholding the quality of patient care
Upholding the quality of learning experience & outcomes
Upholding professional standards
Ensuring responsiveness to changing service needs
Encouraging and advocating for innovation
Ensuring responsiveness to changing workforce needs
Enabling entry to the profession
Increasing diversity,
while maintaining
consistency
Encouraging different
models of collaboration
Seeking to ensure the
profession doesn’t miss out
on workforce development
opportunities
Engaging and linking
with broader policy
contexts
Encouraging debate and collaboration
within the profession

9. Useful resources
CSP position statement; Skills for Health updates; Institute for Apprenticeships information; Education & Skills Funding Agency guidance; NHS Employers guidance; QAA guidance; Hefce policy guide; Council of Deans of Health position statement; Universities UK resources;