BSc (Hons) - Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship

The BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship programme at the University of Cumbria is a pathway to an exciting and rewarding career. Studying here will provide you with a professional qualification recognised world-wide, and a degree that can open many doors to working within health, wellbeing, social care, third sector and diverse settings. We have a well-established and highly regarded reputation within the North-West of England and beyond that is reflective of our programme team’s passion and enthusiasm for enabling students to become the competent and innovative Occupational Therapy practitioners of the future. Fundamental to the programme is the core philosophy, shared by Occupational Therapists and Occupational Scientists world-wide, of the transformative impact of occupation on health and wellbeing. You will learn the fundamental rights and beliefs of all people to take part in the occupations that they need and value, and to enable such engagement through the practice of Occupational Therapy (RCOT 2019, standard 4.3). 

The BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship programme is aligned to the standards and principles of the HCPC, the RCOT, and the University of Cumbria. The programme aims to develop digitally enabled apprentice graduates who can practice as autonomous Occupational Therapists, assured in their skills and abilities, and confident in their professional identity. The programme gives renewed prominence to leadership, sustainability, and global citizenship including the effective management of resources and promoting the profession to potential commissioners and users of services (Council of Deans of Health, 2023; World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2018). Throughout the programme you will develop skills and knowledge in line with the RCOT Career Development Framework’s (2021) four pillars of practice.  This aims to ensure you can make links between your learning experiences and your own professional and personal development.  You will develop a professional portfolio which is aligned to these four pillars.  The four pillars of practice are: 

• Professional Practice  

• Facilitation of Learning  

• Leadership  

• Evidence, Research and Development 

The following aims are designed to reflect the HCPC, RCOT, academic, and practice placement expectations of learning.  By the end of this programme Apprentice Learners will: 

• Meet the regulatory standards of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the professional standards of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) so that you are eligible to apply for registration and membership with both organisations upon completion of the programme (RCOT 2021, HCPC 2023).
•  Be autonomous, reflective Occupational Therapy practitioners who understand, value, and apply the transformative power of occupation to enable health and well-being in collaboration with individuals, groups, and communities.
•  Display the values, attitudes, and behaviours of safe, legal and ethical practitioners.
• Be articulate and confident in your professional identity, able to confidently articulate the unique value and importance of occupation-focused practice to patients, the public, providers, commissioners, and policy makers.
• Recognise the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice, and practise in a non-discriminatory and inclusive manner, responding to the needs of individuals, groups and communities in the contemporary health and social care environment.
• Demonstrate core professional reasoning skills to evaluate and apply evidence-based theoretical perspectives to the practice of contemporary Occupational Therapy.
• Develop into life-long scholarly practitioners with the knowledge and skills required to value, engage with, and undertake research and continuing professional development activities, to enable proactive contribution to their development and the evidence base for Occupational Therapy practice.
• Be attentive to the influence of professional, social, and political drivers on their responsibility for occupational and social justice as an emerging Occupational Therapy practitioner, demonstrating ability to innovate, influence, and lead sustainable practice development in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Develop leadership, marketing and entrepreneurial skills which enable you to manage and respond to ongoing change in response to current and future working environments.
• Engage with local, national, and global Occupational Therapy communities to enhance professional practice.
•  Be digitally informed and digitally competent practitioners who can embrace advancements in technology in practice with professional curiosity and a solution focussed approach. 

Government funding rules require that an apprentice must: 

• Have the right to live and work in the UK,  

• Be resident in the UK for the last 3 years before the start date of the programme, 

• Be in employment, in a role that allows them to develop the competencies in the apprenticeship standard 

• Be paid at least the legal minimum wage 

• Have a contract of employment covering the full duration of the apprenticeship from start to planned EPA date 

• Have a written and signed agreement for the apprenticeship with their employer.  

The minimum duration period for an apprenticeship set in each Apprenticeship Standard is based on an apprentice working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Where the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours, the apprenticeship's minimum duration must be increased pro-rata. The shortest duration that an apprenticeship can be from start to gateway is 366 days.  

All apprentice learners must be interviewed, assessed, and offered a position by an employer before being admitted to the apprenticeship programme. Although the University may receive direct enquiries and filter these before passing them on to prospective employers, apprentices must apply via an employer. After acceptance by an employer, the University of Cumbria will require a formal application using the APTEM system, which will be assessed according to the programme entry criteria. 

Apprentices must meet the funding eligibility set out in the DfE rules at the time of application. 

Employer selection criteria 

Current DfE funding rules for each cohort will apply.  

Typically 3 A levels or equivalent access qualifications are required (stipulated within the Apprenticeship Standards). 

Individual employers have different application / selection criteria. 

Values based interviews are undertaken. 

Wanting to recruit an apprentice or sponsor an existing employee to complete an apprenticeship? This guide will help you and your business with the steps you need to take to recruit and employ an apprentice and start them on their training course.

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