Health and Social Care

The NHS & Social Care Academy:
Cheshire & Merseyside Strategic Health Authority

Cadet Scheme

Background
The NHS and Social Care Academy was set up in January 2003 and was born from an idea of the local HR Directors. The Academy, a Strategic Health Authority (SHA) funded project, aims to work with interested parties to coordinate a number of pre recruitment training programmes across the region.

The Cadet scheme is aimed at 16-24 year olds in Merseyside and 16-19 year olds in Cheshire (as determined by LSC funding) and falls in line with the Widening Access streams of work. There is an open entry requirement which facilitates engagement of young people who do not already have the academic qualifications to pursue a career in the NHS or social care sector.

To date the Academy, working in partnership with 9 local FE colleges, has on programme 348 healthcare cadets across Cheshire & Merseyside. The cadetship is a two year programme which combines academic study and work placements together under the AMA/FMA framework

The Cadet Programme:
12 week Induction - Cadets are college based for 5 days a week studying the relevant Technical Certificate along with key skills. The Academy provides input one day a week and invites guest speakers from the NHS or Social Care sector to talk to the cadets to give them an overview of some of the different roles and specialities within the sector.

The cadets also undertake Mandatory training during this period covering topics such as:

• Health & Safety
• Communication
• Basic Life Support
• Moving & Handling awareness sessions

The cadets always have an enhanced CRB check, Occupational Health Check and Clothier before they begin placement.

If they are successful during this 12 week period they will progress onto the cadetship and for the remaining 40 weeks of the first year will spend 3 days in college and 2 days in placement. The role of the Academy Coordinator is to support the cadet, the college the organisations in general and the placements in particular. The Academy Assessors undertake all assessment on placement as the Cadets work towards an NVQ (Level 2) in Care along with Key skills. Each cadet receives a training allowance of £50 per week in their first year along with a travel pass and Academy Uniform & badge.

In the second year the Cadets attend college only one day per week and the remaining 4 days they are in placement. During this year they work towards an NVQ Level 3, continue to study key skills and receive an £80 per week training allowance. If they are successful and wish to go onto pre-registration training they are guaranteed an interview with a Higher Education Institution.