Frequently Asked Questions

• Your employer should be purchasing these direct from the suppliers via the link below:

Direct from our suppliers: https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/healthtechnicalteam/welcome/uniform-kit/

You will need to have this in place prior to your first placement. This should be different from your Healthcare Assistant uniform to help identify your new role as a Apprentice Physiotherapist.

NB Under current Covid19 conditions the placement ID badges are a challenge for us at the moment as they are made in house and all the buildings and equipment are not accessible at the moment. The best we can advise is to ask if the placements or your employer can provide a temporary placement name badge, or students wear their SHU card as it will demonstrate that they are a student of Sheffield Hallam and have their photo ID.

Yes, this is a Professional and Governing Body requirement and does not include hours when back 'On the Job'. Therefore all Apprentices will still have around 1000 hrs of clinical placements.

In relation to placements for physiotherapy apprenticeships. For students who are not from our region (Yorks & Humber or East Midlands) we would expect that their employers work with SHU to source providers in their locality. Placements can be in the student's employing organisation as long as it is not within the student's workplace, e.g. the specific site where the student is working as an employed healthcare assistant/worker. HEE placement tariff payments do not apply.

This is the minimum percentage allowed by the Institute for Apprenticeships. The Physiotherapy program will be much higher than this

Here are some examples of 'off the job':

• Face to Face teaching

• Self Directed / Tutor directed study including:

  • Work Based Tasks (NB this occurs within the protected time back 'on the job' in the work place.

• Clinical Placements

Based on course duration of 4875 hrs over 30 months

(37.5 x 52) = 1950 hrs

1950 hrs Divided by 12 months = 162.5 / month

Multiplied 162.5 by 30 (month duration) = 4875 hrs in total

Off the Job (52% of the 4875hrs)

Broken down into

Face to Face teaching (13% or 620hrs) normally in University. Self Directed Study (5% or 244hrs). This is also teaching based at the university but independent usually involving SHU facilities eg Library, anatomy labs, plinth rooms.

Clinical Placements (23% or 1125hrs).

Work Based Tasks (11% or 536hrs) This is Self-Directed / Tutor directed study (NB this occurs within the protected time back ‘on the job’ and is the negotiated 1 day off Apprentices have per week)

On the Job (48% of the 4875hrs)

Broken down into

Back in their current role (44% or 2145hrs)

Annual leave (must be taken 'on the job' and ideally this should not effect the protected time (work based tasks) however it is suggested this should be negotiated with the organisation. (4% or 217.5hrs based on 29 days A/L).

NB Please note the amount of 'On the Job' increases to 50% when calculating the duration over a 36 month period. This is due to Apprentices having up to 6 months to complete the final End Point Assessment.

Whilst back 'on the job' the Apprentice will negotiate one day per week for self-managed study in order to complete the Work based Tasks (Please refer to the course calender WBT1 etc). This conversation will occur between the Apprentice and the Work Based Mentor. In order to consider service need this is flexible and can be taken anytime and in any combination over the week.

NB This could include the Apprentice performing their job role if it fits with the learning objectives for the tasks, whilst having time to reflect on the Learning that has taken place. This needs protecting so ensure the Apprentice isnt pulled back into their role due to staff shortages.

In order to roll over self managed time into another week there would need to be a negotiation between the Apprentice and the work based mentor to ensure the Apprentice wasn’t disadvantaged. Self-managed study generally has to be completed before the next teaching block to fit into the curriculum. If a scenario occurred where the Apprentice missed self managed study one week before a teaching block only to catch up after, this wouldn’t be appropriate.

Entry requirements

Here is a link to the official SHU web page for the Higher Degree Apprenticeship program

You need a job role to accompany your apprenticeship course

This has to be 30+ hours a week of employment in a relevant job role – and you would need your employer to agree to fund your course, either through government co-funding or the apprenticeship levy. You must also have the right to Abode in the UK.

You normally need qualifications

The usual entry requirements include three GCSE (or equivalent) passes at grade C, 4 or above in maths, English and science – plus one of the following

• 120 UCAS points from A levels (including at least 40 points from a natural science subject such as biology, human biology or physical education), or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (including suitable natural science modules). We don't accept AS levels or General Studies

• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course which must have a strong science bias (not social science) such as Access to science, natural science or applied science. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3 – of which at least 30 credits should be graded at distinction level – and 15 of the level 3 distinction credits must be from biology units

• a previous degree in a related natural science subject

• Open University study in natural sciences, such as a foundation course

We'll also consider the following qualifications on an individual basis

• professional qualifications at level 5 diploma (or above) in a related area

• a level 3 apprenticeship in health and social care

You'll also need

• relevant work experience

• to provide evidence of your understanding of physiotherapy to make sure you're making the right choice of profession – such as visiting physiotherapy departments, attending open events or speaking to physiotherapists about their roles

Yes the mentor can come from outside the organisation although this is only recommended in extra ordinary situations.

Our UK PRN is 10005790

Please use the following link to update:

• The apprentice contact information

• The Workbased mentor information

• The organisation Lead

• Add others to the apprentice mailing list