Success stories
Reaping the rewards
HICA Specialised Care Homes, a not-for-profit independent care provider, manage homes for older people.
They also manage homes for people with learning disabilities and a homecare service in the Humberside area. HICA offers Apprenticeships in Care and Catering to its 1,200 staff.
What makes Apprenticeships such a great idea?
HICA believe Apprenticeships help to increase the skill level in the caring profession. HICA’s Joan Chappell explains: ‘By encouraging our employees to take Apprenticeships we are looking after their interests and our own. We are gaining qualified staff who are helping to up-skill the caring profession, which improves the standard of care to our clients.’
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What works for HICA?
A learning provider helped them to integrate the requirements of the Apprenticeship into everyday working patterns. HICA are concentrating on encouraging existing staff to opt into Apprenticeships and obtain qualifications. Joan Chappell of HICA believes Apprenticeships bring twofold benefits to HICA. First, they increase the number of qualified staff and thereby improve the standard of care to patients. And second, they help HICA meet the criteria set out in the Care Standards Act, which states that 50 per cent of staff should be qualified.
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“At a time when there is a perceived "brain drain," Apprenticeships are invaluable in supporting the work of the manufacturing industry.”
Geoff Matthews HONDA UK