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Wellbeing Coach Programme
The Wellbeing Coach Programme equips learners with the essential knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to support their role.
Programme Overview
The Wellbeing Coach Programme is delivered using the Level 3 Community Health and Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship standard, to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to support the health and wellbeing of employees and those who interact with an organisation. It offers a structured, non clinical qualification pathway for new and existing staff who provide wellbeing and support across a range of settings.
The Buttercups apprenticeship is accredited by the Personalised Care Institute (PCI) and provides a nationally recognised, apprenticeship funded programme which aligns with the NHS England 10-year Health Plan, particularly in supporting the shifts from hospital to community and sickness to prevention, whilst supporting their personalised care agenda.
Apprentices work with individuals and communities to tackle the root causes of poor health, reduce health inequalities and support prevention and early intervention.
Suitability and Eligibility
This programme is suitable for individuals working as Wellbeing Coaches, as well as those with comparable roles or similar responsibilities. Any role which involves behaviour change and lifestyle support, mental health awareness and early intervention, service navigation, and signposting could benefit from this programme.
Learners may be employed in a wide range of settings, including:
- Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
- NHS Trusts
- Corporate Organisations and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
In addition to Wellbeing Coaches, typical job titles include:
- Employee Wellbeing Practitioner
- Employee Wellbeing Coordinator
- Workplace Wellbeing Specialist
- Mental Health Champion
To be eligible, learners must:
- Be working as a wellbeing coach or in a comparable role
- Be aged 16 or over
- Be employed for at least 21 hours per week with capacity to complete off-the-job training, including online tutorials and workshops the job training
- Meet minimum English and maths requirements (GCSE Grade C/4 or equivalent), confirmed via online screening assessment
- Complete a declaration of good character or health
Programme Delivery
The Wellbeing Coach Programme can be completed entirely from the workplace using a blended, flexible model designed to fit around service needs. Apprentices engage with eLearning, virtual classrooms, videos, peer networking and self directed study through the Buttercups b Hive online learning platform.
Programme Content
The programme comprises nine modules which are mapped to the Community Health and Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship learning outcomes.
Programme purpose, structure, expectations, roles and responsibilities, e-portfolio and learning methods.
Role responsibilities, professional conduct, ethical practice, managing caseloads, recognising risk and working within boundaries.
Confidentiality, consent, safeguarding, inclusion, diversity and effective community engagement.
Health and wellbeing concepts, health inequalities, measurement of population health and barriers to good health.
Communication strategies, promoting healthy behaviours, using information and resources, and personalised approaches.
Behaviour change theories, tools and techniques, person-centred consultations, and the role of social prescribing.
Community structures and assets, community-based approaches and engaging communities in accessible ways.
Commissioning, designing, delivering and evaluating health and wellbeing services.
Readiness checks, evidence requirements and preparing for End Point Assessment.
Additional Information
The typical duration for a full-time employee is 15 months in total, which includes 12 months of training delivery followed by a 3-month window to complete an end-point assessment (EPA) which is delivered by an external organisation.
The funding band for this apprenticeship is £7,000.
From April 2026, all candidates aged between 16 and 24 at the point of enrolment will receive 100% funding from the government. SMEs and organisations with an annual wage bill of less than £3 million per year will pay 5% of the funding band as an ‘employer contribution’ for apprentices aged 25 and over, which is a maximum of £350 per apprentice.
Large organisations with a wage bill above £3 million per year will fund the cost of the programme (up to the maximum funding band) through the levy apprenticeship.
At the end of the on-programme phase, apprentices progress through Gateway to end-point assessment (EPA) against the Community Health and Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship standard. EPA typically includes demonstration of practice scenarios, multiple choice questions and a professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
This assessment confirms that apprentices can apply their knowledge, skills and behaviours safely and effectively in their Wellbeing Coach role.
Apprentices build a strong foundation in person-centred practice, communication and behaviour change so they can work alongside people as equal partners in managing their own health and wellbeing. They develop confidence in assessing needs, cocreating personalised plans, and connecting individuals to appropriate community-based services and resources.
The programme develops transferable skills that can be used across the NHS, local government, VCSE and independent sectors, supporting long-term career progression. Apprentices attain a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification in Community Health and Wellbeing, with accreditation from the Personalised Care Institute.
This apprenticeship builds a skilled and confident social prescribing workforce who can address health inequalities and deliver prevention and early intervention at neighbourhood level. Learners gain advanced engagement and behaviour change skills, helping them to support people with complex needs and improve outcomes through personalised care.
Employers benefit from staff who understand service navigation, social prescribing models, evaluation and audit, enabling them to demonstrate impact and make better use of local assets and resources. The programme also strengthens safe and consistent practice through robust coverage of safeguarding, risk management, professional boundaries and relevant legal and ethical responsibilities.
Following completion, learners can progress into roles such as Senior Health and Wellbeing Coach, Social Prescribing Link Worker, Health and Wellbeing Mentor or project and service lead positions. The programme also provides a foundation for further study and careers in areas such as social prescribing, community health and, for some, routes towards social work.