Apprenticeships at Moorfields

What is a Moorfields apprenticeship?

In April 2017 the Government introduced a new type of Workplace Apprenticeship Levy Scheme to enable employers to offer develop opportunities for new starters wanting to work in the healthcare sector for the first time, as well as for their existing staff members who want to develop their careers whilst working in full time employment.

What you need to know

• Development diplomas

We refer to apprenticeship programmes as Development Diplomas. They are available to all Moorfields staff as part of their Career Development Journey.

• Nationally recognised qualification

As a Moorfields Eye Hospital employee you have the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification and to increase your skills and knowledge, which will benefit our patients.

• Fully funded

The diploma programmes are fully funded via our Apprenticeship Levy with no cost to yourself. We, as your employer, have put this money aside to ensure all Moorfields staff have the opportunity to develop and continue the great care and service which they deliver within our organisation. 

• 12-36 months

These diplomas are completed over a duration of 12 to 24 months, sometimes up to 36 months depending upon the level you wish to study at.

• Internal and external learning opportunities

We offer a number of different ways you can study, and we partner with external training providers to help us achieve this. Some of our programmes are delivered on-site; others involve attending college or training venues for regular workshops.

• Dedicated coach-assessor

Whichever study option you are offered you will have individual support visits, from a dedicated Coach-Assessor, every 4 to 6 weeks to support you.

Here at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we play an active role in promoting and supporting apprenticeship opportunities in two different ways.  

• If you are new to healthcare and to the NHS, and are looking for a trainee position, we can support your career journey in a paid role, with on-the-job training, supported by a dedicated training programme.
• Our existing staff members are also able to access the same opportunity with our Workplace Diploma Programmes. Using the same Apprenticeship funding, and this enables them to gain an industry recognised qualification whilst remaining in their current role carrying out their usual duties with support from a dedicated workplace coach.

The NHS long term workforce plan sets how we will ensure our future NHS has the workforce it needs. One of the key themes in the plan is to grow the workforce through increasing education and training opportunities  and providing apprenticeships and alternative routes into health care roles will help us care for our patients of the future.

Apprentices who join us as trainees can undertake work in a variety of roles including:

• Business administration and human resources
• Clinical support
• Communications and marketing
• Digital service and IT
• Estates services
• Electrical and engineering
• Finance and accounting
• Healthcare
• Nursing
• Pharmacy Technician

Apprenticeships such as these are key to the NHS long-term workforce plan, which sets out the ambition for 22 percent of all NHS clinical staff to be trained via an apprenticeship by 2031/32. This is nearly a quarter of the NHS workforce will join through the apprenticeship route.

We have welcomed five new apprentices to Moorfields in the past 12 months, who are now working and studying for qualifications in becoming pharmacy technicians, business administrators and an Information Governance officer.

Through this progressive pathway, you can start your career at different entry points depending several factors including:

• Your experience
• Existing qualifications
• Your career pathway
• Your current role
• Exit points depending on your aspirations.

What level of apprenticeships are there?

All apprenticeships include elements of on and off the job training leading to industry recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships also require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentice's ability and competence to do their job.

Please see our current vacancies for apprenticeship opportunities

To find out more, email Enoch Freeman at enoch.freeman@nhs.net