1. Challenges and opportunities Sue Smith Head of Apprenticeships Skills for Care

2. Challenges  The Higher Apprenticeship (HA) in Care Leadership and Management, level 5, was submitted to the Issuing Authority (IA) on the 3/2/14. The IA issued as compliant with the Specification of Apprenticeship Standard, England 2013 (SASE 2013). NAS has subsequently stated that the framework isn’t compliant with SASE 2013. The IA and Skills for Care challenge NAS’s position and opinion, advice is being sought.  Increasing Apprenticeship opportunities for Personal Assistants (PAs).  How to facilitate an ‘ALL AGE’ offer for Apprenticeships.

3. Actual and perceived barriers to Apprenticeship engagement Actual:  funding changes  major changes to Apprenticeships Perceived:  employing 16 year olds  personal care tasks

4. Key priorities to address the challenges  Intensive & increased engagement with young people, their parents & guardians, teachers and careers intermediaries to increase interest in ASC as a career and Apprenticeships as the preferred way to enter the sector.  Employers to be supported to recruit school leavers.  Resolve the Higher Apprenticeship ‘SASE 2013’ challenge.  Establish and communicate the ASC Traineeship offer and support.  Pursue the Trailblazer opportunity, Skills for Care to provide a facilitating role.  Continue with the development of the HA level 4 hybrid Apprenticeship.  Communicate the funding changes to our employers and encourage them to respond to the funding consultation for SME’s.  Continue the broader activities of the Apprenticeship ambition implementation plan & 60 month activities schedule.