Level 6 Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship standard: Enhanced Clinical Practitioner (Level 6, non‑degree)
Gain the knowledge, professional skills and practical training needed to work at an advanced level within your specialist field while delivering exceptional, person-centred patient care.
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How to apply
How this apprenticeship is delivered
How Buttercups Training will support you and your team
Ready to get started with the Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship
Apply now to register your interest and begin the application process.
Apprenticeship overview
The Level 6 Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship will provide you with the confidence to operate with increased autonomy, advanced clinical reasoning and confident decision making.
Applying evidence-based practice to improve outcomes across your service area, you'll develop the leadership behaviours needed to influence multidisciplinary teams, drive quality improvement and contribute to service development.
With the opportunity to specialise in an area aligned to your clinical field, you'll return to the workplace equipped to manage complex cases and enhance the overall patient experience through professionally-grounded, compassionate practice.
Who is the programme for?
This apprenticeship is ideal for experienced healthcare professionals who are ready to enhance their clinical practice, take on greater responsibility in patient care and develop their leadership skills. Typical learners include those working in roles such as nursing, allied health or specialist clinical services who want to expand their scope of practice and contribute more confidently to service improvement and multidisciplinary teamwork.
Applicants must be registered as a healthcare professional with a recognised UK health regulator, specifically the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and must also be currently employed in a clinical setting.
How this apprenticeship is delivered
We offer blended learning, combining online activities, videos, self‑directed study and live virtual classrooms. Online learning is hosted on the Buttercups b-Hive platform.
Apprenticeship information
- Duration
- Typically 15 months for a full-time learner, but this may be reduced by up to 3 months if learners have prior experience identified at the Skills Scan.
- Start Dates
- Monthly
- Application deadline
- 6 weeks before start date
- Study modes
- Blended learning (online activities, videos, self‑directed study and live virtual classrooms via the b‑Hive)
- Cost
- 95% government funded for non-levy payers.£7,000levy fundedFreefor Learners
Apprenticeship standard
Enhanced Clinical Practitioner (Level 6, non‑degree)
Download more information
Course structure
Communication Skills as an Enhanced Clinical Practitioner
Communication skills and methods
Meeting needs of individuals
Professionalism
Introduction to problem solving and decision making
Working practices
Critical Thinking and Professional Judgements When Making Decisions
Critical thinking skills e.g., arguments, assumptions, bias
Decision-making skills including collaborative and interpersonal
Professional judgements
Coaching
Problem solving
Teaching learning and assessment theories
Feedback models
Research and Leadership Skills of an Enhanced Clinical Practitioner
Leading yourself and a team
Risk management
Audit and quality improvement
Regulation
Data collection and analysis
Project management skills
Preparing and delivering teaching and learning sessions
The Theory of Diagnostics, Screening and Testing
Leading yourself and a team
Risk management
Audit and quality improvement
Regulation
Data collection and analysis
Project management skills
Preparing and delivering teaching and learning sessions
Clinical Skills Development
Pharmacy Technician Pathway - learners select one specialism related to their scope of practice:
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Diabetes
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Mental Health
Nursing Pathway - learners will study:
Focused assessment and pattern recognition
Pathophysiology driven reasoning
Justified diagnostic ordering
Boundary recognition
Effective referral
Preparing for Gateway
Gateway requirements
Preparing a proposal
Professional discussion skills
End Point Assessment requirements
Entry requirements
For learners
To join this apprenticeship, you must meet the eligibility criteria set out by the apprenticeship standard and Buttercups Training. These requirements ensure that you have the appropriate professional registration, workplace context and foundational knowledge needed to successfully complete the programme.
Applicants must:
Have the right to work and abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years. Additional eligibility rules apply to EEA nationals and non-UK nationals
Be registered as a healthcare professional with a recognised UK health regulator, specifically the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and must also be currently employed in a clinical setting
Hold a contract of employment for a minimum of 21 hours per week
Be working in a suitable clinical environment
Be working alongside a healthcare professional registered with one of the UK statutory healthcare regulators, e.g. GPhC, GMC, NMC
Meet the pre-screening criteria in relation to health and character, current ability and current level of maths and English language knowledge
Not be in full-time education or enrolled onto another government-funded programme
Not hold an equivalent qualification at the same level
Not hold a Level 7 qualification or above, unless it is ‘materially different’ from the apprenticeship. Queries in relation to prior qualifications will be individually assessed by our specialist tutors
English & maths
Functional Skills in maths and English are optional for apprentices aged 19+ but encouraged if the learner does not currently hold Level 2 or equivalent.
Employer responsibilities
Employers must meet specific criteria to support an apprentice on this programme. These requirements ensure that the learner has access to the appropriate supervision, clinical environment and protected training time needed to fulfil apprenticeship and government standards.
Employers must:
Have a workplace in England
Provide a clinical experienced, registered healthcare professional who is regulated by one of the UK statutory healthcare regulatory bodies, e.g. GPhC, GMC, NMC, to oversee and support the apprentices’ training in the role of a workplace training supervisor
Provide off-the-job (OTJ) training during the apprentices’ normal paid working hours:
This will be approximately 343 hours over the apprenticeship, which is the equivalent to 6 hours a week
Additional time must be given if the learner needs to undertake additional maths and/or English training, such as Functional Skills
Provide a workplace environment that allows the learner to:
Work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team
Be involved in clinical interventions within their scope of practice
Engage with patients, their families or carers in providing strategies to manage their health and wellbeing
How to apply
To apply for this programme, please follow the link below.,