Health and social care: transformative learning through apprenticeships

This chapter highlights the transformative impact of Higher Education Apprenticeships in the health and social care sector. Through a collaboration between local authorities, hospitals, wider care providers, and universities, apprentices gain hands-on experience alongside academic study, earning qualifications while contributing to service user and client interventions and care. This innovative approach not only addresses skills shortages but also enhances the quality of service delivery, demonstrating the vital role Higher Education Apprenticeships play in advancing health and social care and improving outcomes for those who use their services. The apprenticeship curriculum emphasises real-world clinical and practice-focused skills, critical thinking, and compassionate care, preparing apprentices to meet the evolving needs of local communities. In this chapter, we take a case study approach to explore apprentices’ learning experience within the health and social care setting when viewed through the lens of the Iterative Learning Model proposed by Lewis. This model is ideal because, instead of viewing apprenticeship learning as solely the result of either lecturer/practice educator guidance or self-determination by the learner, it acknowledges the combined roles of both parties in a partnership where responsibility is mutually defined. The model articulates several key stages in the acquisition of knowledge and skills within health and social care environments, which are themselves dependent upon development opportunities by which the learner may reinforce knowledge and skills through repeated engagement and application over the length of their apprenticeship.