Career pathways and development

We are an inclusive Trust with a focus on giving all staff access to high quality education programmes, learning,development and careers information and advice and guidance.

Frequently asked questions:

An apprenticeship combines practical training in a job with study. An apprentice gains technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career, all while being paid in a job. An Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership between an Employer and a Training Provider. It involves a mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training, and the opportunity to practice new skills.

Doing an apprenticeship is a big commitment, you will be juggling education alongside a job. It takes time and hard work, but it’s worth it.

The benefits of completing an apprenticeship include:

  • Fully funded apprenticeship
  • Earn while you learn
  • Recognition for your work
  • Gain job specific skills
  • Further your career potential
  • Widen participation to Career opportunities and progression 
  • Learn and gain support from your colleagues and tutors

All the skills you gain from an apprenticeship will help you in your future career.

Our Trust offer most of our apprenticeships to colleagues to help support them to achieve the best career development opportunities available. The best way to get onto one of our apprenticeship programmes is to secure a job within our Trust.

All our colleagues are eligible for an apprenticeship as long as they meet the Apprenticeship Funding Rules and choose an apprenticeship that is relevant to either their existing role or apply for a developmental post which is linked to an Apprenticeship. You will need approval and support of your line manager and must have completed all the statutory and mandatory training.

For those people who join us as new recruits to start their apprenticeship, they do so on a fixed term contract (dependent on apprenticeship length).

Depending on the level and type of apprenticeship, as well as the Training Provider will determine where your apprenticeship will take place.

Apprenticeships at Levels 2 – 3 take place within Trust premises, while Level 4 upwards tend to involve mandatory classroom attendance whether this be virtual or in person.

Get in touch

For further information about our Apprenticeship programmes, email: Apprenticeships@sabp.nhs.uk

How do we support career development?

Our Trust offers careers guidance to our colleagues about career opportunities and personal development planning through attending one-to-one sessions, explaining what is important and how a colleague can reach their ambitions through the training options available.

We recognise that some colleagues’ career pathways are straightforward like climbing a ladder, while others take a more complex pathway enabling different experiences to be gained along the way. We will help you make the right choices for you.

Functional skills, also known as ‘Skills for Life’, are the fundamental applied skills in English, Maths and Digital which help people gain the most from life, learning and working.

We are aware that some of our colleagues will join us without having gained English and Maths qualifications at GCSE/O-Level Grade C/4 and above. We can support colleagues to achieve Level 2 Functional Skills programmes in English and Maths if required.

Find out more information on the career pathways we have on offer in each profession at our Trust. 

Our Trust is always looking to the future when it comes to the Career Development of our colleagues. We are committed to our investment in apprenticeships, expanding the range of apprenticeships we offer, and supporting our apprentices to get the most out of their experiences.

Apprenticeships are a key part of government policy and the NHS Long Term Plan in creating employment opportunities for the future health and care workforce. They also support our widening access and participation agenda to help with the recruitment of staff.

We are using apprenticeships to help us build career pathways for the health and social care sector. All employee occupation groups can benefit, whether they work in clinical or non-clinical roles.

Training and Education

Our Education department coordinates both medical and non-medical training across the Trust.

Our team can help you with Continuous Professional Development, statutory and mandatory training, leadership and management training, apprenticeships, functional skills and a wide range of courses from external providers.

We are committed to supporting the continuous development of our workforce, helping you to develop and thrive in your career and to provide safe, effective care for the people who use our services.

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