We are pleased to provide information about our two nursing apprenticeship routes.
This includes:
- Nursing Apprenticeship Degree Pathway – duration, typically 3.5 years
- Nursing Associate Apprenticeship – duration, typically 2 years
Nursing Apprenticeship Degree Pathway
CUH has put into place a Nursing Apprenticeship Pathway working with Anglia Ruskin University this offers development opportunities to existing Healthcare Support Workers and also for external candidates interested in becoming a Registered Nurse.
It provides valuable Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) experience whilst studying part-time to achieve a degree, professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) and guaranteed employment as a Registered Nurse. It provides a balance of practical skills, high-level knowledge and experience to enable you to provide quality compassionate care to our patients.
You would work and train in one of the one of the largest and busiest hospitals in the country; we are a leading clinical and academic centre with a national and international reputation for excellence. You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; built on teamwork, energy and commitment to our patients.
The Nursing Apprenticeship degree pathway offers:
- Permanent employment as a HCSW-Nursing Apprentice
- Access to the BSc Nursing degree programme
- University course fees paid by CUH
- Paid leave for academic study and practice placement
- Support throughout your employment and training
If you decide to apply for this opportunity, and are successful at interview, you would join CUH as a Healthcare Support Worker-Nursing Apprentice working full-time in the HCSW role until commencement of the Nursing Apprenticeship. University cohorts commence January and September every year.
You will earn, learn and have no university debt.
Upon qualification you will be promoted to a Registered Nurse (Band 5) post within CUH upon gaining professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).
Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Pathway in summary:
You work full time as a Healthcare Support Worker until commencement of your university place; this could be January or September after you have gained experience as a HCSW, achieved the national Care Certificate and met the educational requirements required by Anglia Ruskin University.
The Apprenticeship is in two parts:
Part 1 you undertake a level 5, Higher Apprenticeship-Assistant Practitioner: programme. This is 20 months duration, working as a HCSW for 30 hours per week and you are a university student for 7.5 hours per week. This enables you to learn how to competently practice fundamental health care skills. Successful completion of part 1 will offer you a seamless transition into the final part of the BSc (Hons) Nursing Degree Apprenticeship).
Part 2 you undertake a Level 6, BSc (Hons) Nursing Degree Apprenticeship: 24 months duration, working as a HCSW for 15 hours per week and as a student apprentice nurse for 22.5 hours per week. You will also have a number of full time block release placements during this period to broaden your experience and knowledge. The emphasis on this part of the programme is applying theory to practice and vice versa.
Find out more about this apprenticeship
We encourage you to contact us if you want to know more about this great opportunity:
Please contact: cuh.nursingapprenticeship@nhs.net
To apply: CUH recruit monthly to these roles, for application information please visit:
More information is also available on our Twitter page.
Ruth May Chief Nursing Officer for England
In February 2020 CUH celebrated the completion of some of the first nursing apprentices in England to register with the NMC and be promoted to Registered Nurse through this route. We were joined at this event by Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England.
The NHS is providing world class care for more patients than ever before, and to carry on doing that we need 50,000 more nurses.
Boosting the number of nursing apprentices is one important way we can achieve that goal, as we deliver on our NHS Long Term Plan, so we want local health service employers to ramp up the number of opportunities they offer to people in their areas. The success that Lauren and Emma have enjoyed demonstrates how the flexibility of nursing apprenticeships means that whether you’re fresh out of school or have worked in the NHS for years, everyone has a chance to take an extra step on the career ladder.
During the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, there has never been a better time to become a nurse, so I would encourage anyone looking for an exciting and rewarding career to become a nurse apprentice.
Lorraine Szeremeta - Chief Nurse
The Nursing Apprenticeship opportunity is a brilliant initiative that we at CUH are extremely proud to support.
An amazing opportunity, not only does it provide ‘earn as you learn’ development opportunities for our existing Healthcare Support Worker workforce, it assists in staff retention and stabilising our future Nursing workforce.
Our successful, robust, Nursing Apprenticeship Pathway enables individuals to work, and learn, alongside our extremely dedicated CUH team and ARU colleagues to deliver ‘outstanding care’ to our patients.
Nursing Apprenticeships - Celebration Event 2020
We are pleased to share a short video that showcases the experiences of our staff on the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship.
Nursing Apprenticeships | Celebration Event 2020
Link: https://youtu.be/2xERGELTyWA
2020 was the Year of the Nurse and Midwife
Kristina explains why she wanted to become a nurse - "Wanting to be there for people when they are at their most vulnerable".
Hear about our staff experiences of this pathway
“It gives people a chance to develop and become a nurse over a longer period without the added financial pressure” Lauren – Apprentice Nursing graduate at CUH
“It has been a lifelong goal and I’d advise others interested to follow their dreams.” Emma – Apprentice Nursing graduate who trained as a mature student at CUH
“I joined CUH as a Healthcare Assistant. I came to this job to gain experience in nursing and later found out about the nursing apprentice scheme. I thought this route best suited me because I am able to live at home while I am both studying and working” Maddy – Nursing Apprentice
“The idea of putting theory into practice really appealed to me. Everyone is so supportive. CUH is a great place to learn – Molly – Healthcare Support Worker & Nursing Apprentice