Apprenticeships

Whether starting out in the NHS or a qualified professional, an apprenticeship offers you a clear pathway for career progression, offering vocational education and gaining experience, all whilst working in a paid role. Alongside on-the-job training, you will spend at least six hours of your working week completing off-the-job learning which allows you to develop skills, knowledge and achieve a nationally recognised qualification.

• Assistant practitioner (Health) Level 5
• Clinical associate in psychology Level 7
• Senior healthcare support worker Level 3 (mental health, adult, children and young people)
• Senior healthcare support worker Level 3 with AHP focus route

• Business administration Level 3 and 4
• Healthcare assistant practitioner higher apprenticeship (HAP) with speech and language therapy degree apprenticeship or occupational therapy degree apprenticeship additional pathways
• Nursing degree apprenticeship (top up) BSc 2+2 model
• Occupational therapy degree apprenticeships
• Pharmaceutical apprenticeships
• Physiotherapy degree apprenticeships
• Podiatry degree apprenticeships
• Speech & language therapy degree apprenticeships

Our apprentice roles are advertised on via our current vacancies, or you can view all apprenticeships at www.jobs.nhs.uk. You can choose an apprenticeship which is relevant to your role.

If there isn’t an apprenticeship role available, keep checking NHS jobs or for more information email epunft.apprenticeships@nhs.net

Can’t find what you need? Our system partners also provide apprenticeship opportunities, all of which are open to you:

• Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust: Apprenticeship opportunities (mse.nhs.uk)
• North East London Foundation Trust: Apprenticeship - NELFT
• East Suffolk and North East Essex Foundation Trust: Apprenticeships - East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (esneft.nhs.uk)

We offer a number of development pathways both clinical and non-clinical. The clinical pathways include a fully supported pathway to nursing and occupational therapy (OT) and excitingly we are currently developing pathways for further allied health professionals such as speech and language therapy (SLT) and physiotherapy.

What do I need to apply?

To access EPUT apprenticeships, you must:

• Spend at least 50% of your working hours in the England
• Have the right to live and work in England
• Have a full-time permanent contract of employment for at least the duration of the apprenticeship
• Work at least 30 hours per week.

Find the full criteria here.

For more information and enquiries about any of the below education opportunities please contact: Heidi Cox, Heidi.cox1@nhs.net

• Assistant Practitioner higher apprenticeship (HAP) is a two year foundation degree which is a standalone Level 5 qualification for support staff with generic health and social care modules and the option to specialise in occupational therapy or speech and language therapy with a profession specific module.
• A two-year top up apprenticeship for applicants who have achieved the above HAP Level 5 leading to a speech and language therapy degree
• A two-year top up apprenticeship for applicants who have achieved the above HAP Level 5 leading to an occupational therapy degree.
• Occupational therapy degree apprenticeships.
• Podiatry degree apprenticeships.
• Physiotherapy degree apprenticeships.

Find out more about the different Allied Health Professions here.

This apprenticeship is typically 18 months long excluding EPA.

Clinical associates in psychology fill an identified skills gap between assistant psychologist and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered practitioner psychologists. They are able to practice autonomously with appropriate support, working within their scope of practice, under the supervision of an appropriately registered HCPC practitioner psychologist.

For more information about the programme visit the Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) Programme webpage. 

The Assistant Practitioner (Health) Apprenticeship with integrated Foundation degree programme is delivered in house within EPUT by the EPUT Education team and validated by University of Essex.

The apprenticeship lasts approximately 24 months. This qualification is suitable for those who are wishing to progress within nursing or allied health professions and is also a gateway to becoming a registered health professional. The apprentice will have a structured plan of study with both academic and occupational competency requirements and will be required to attend weekly formal delivery days and evidence a commitment to learning.

Requirements to apply are:

• English & Maths (GCSE C Grade or above, grade 4–9, or alternatively Functional Skills Level 2), all must be proven with certificates, which if not already held, can be completed prior to commencement on programme.
• If the Maths and English requirements are not held these can be completed within EPUT
• Applicants must already hold a Level 3 in Healthcare or equivalent. Recognition of prior learning will be considered on an individual basis
• All candidates must be supported by their managers approval
• All candidates will be required to attend an interview/assessment day prior to the beginning of the course.

If interested, please contact:

Denise Whickman, Workforce Development Team denise.whickman@nhs.uk
Michael Pursar, Administration Assistant michael.purser@nhs.net

EPUT has a range of development pathways for current and aspiring leaders to enable a staff to fulfil their potential and continue their professional development. Each pathway is tailored to the needs of our staff, with high quality training delivered by a range of experts from across the Trust.

The Trust offers a bands 1-5 leadership development pathway and a management development programme (MDP) for bands 4 and above, along with the locally delivered Leadership academy Mary Seacole leadership programme for bands 6 and above. Complimenting these pathways are a number of other training courses and modules, also delivered by a range of experts from across the Trust.

Find out more about the different leadership programmes here.

​The Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship is suitable for those who wish to progress and develop in either the nursing or allied health professional route (AHP). The programme is normally 24 months long plus EPA.

A senior healthcare support worker will provide clinical, therapeutic or diagnostic care under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered healthcare professional. For this standard, one of the following occupational options will be completed. This apprenticeship has four differing pathways within EPUT: mental health, adult nursing support, children and young people support and allied health profession therapy support. 

Requirements to apply are:

• English & Maths (GCSE C Grade or above, grade 4–9, or alternatively Functional Skills Level 2), all must be proven with certificates, which if not already held, can be completed prior to commencement on programme.
• If the Maths and English requirements are not held these can be completed within EPUT
• Completed care certificate
• All candidates must be supported by their managers approval
• All candidates will be required to attend an interview/assessment day prior to the beginning of the course.

If interested, please contact:

Denise Whickman, Workforce Development Team denise.whickman@nhs.uk
Michael Pursar, Administration Assistant michael.purser@nhs.net

The Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker with AHP focus route follows the same programme and specifications as the Trusts Level 3 Senior Health Care Support worker programme with AHP specific modules added.

Requirements to apply are:

• English & Maths (GCSE C Grade or above, grade 4–9, or alternatively Functional Skills Level 2), all must be proven with certificates, which if not already held, can be completed prior to commencement on programme.
• If the Maths and English requirements are not held these can be completed within EPUT
• Completed care certificate
• All candidates must be supported by their managers approval
• All candidates will be required to attend an interview/assessment day prior to the beginning of the course.

If interested, please contact: Heidi.cox1@nhs.net