Healthcare Science Assistant Apprenticeship

Why choose this apprenticeship?

This training builds reliable support staff who contribute to safe patient care, accurate technical data, consistent procedures and efficient use of equipment and consumables. Employers benefit from assistants who understand governance, confidentiality, safety, quality and the importance of working within their competence as part of a wider healthcare science team.

Who is it for?

Healthcare science assistants working in hospitals, general practice and other healthcare settings, including life sciences, physiological sciences, physical sciences, clinical engineering and clinical bioinformatics environments such as outpatient departments, laboratories and engineering workshops.

What is taught?

Apprentices will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to carry out routine technical and scientific procedures safely and accurately.

Topics include:

• Standard operating procedures
• Preparing equipment and environments
• Performing delegated healthcare science tasks and tests
• Recording and storing data
• Stock control
• Health and safety
• Infection prevention
• Safeguarding
• Dignity and consent
• Confidentiality
• Communication
• Team working and professional practice.

Delivery model

• Delivery can be shaped around the employer and apprentice where possible.
• Delivered through a blended delivery model where workplace learning enables apprentices to apply learning directly through routine clinical, technical, scientific or administrative duties under appropriate supervision.

Employer considerations

• Apprentices need planned time away from the job to attend learning sessions.
• Appropriate supervision from an experienced employee.
• Access to routine healthcare science tasks and opportunities to gather evidence from real workplace activity.
• Participation in a skills scan and prior learning which will help to shape the plan.
• Take part in regular reviews helping managers monitor competence, safety, workload, professional behaviours and readiness for the end-point assessment.

What happens next?

Progression to Healthcare Science Associate, healthcare science support roles, assistant practitioner routes or further training in life sciences, physiological sciences, physical sciences, clinical engineering or clinical bioinformatics.

Why choose Gateshead College?

Gateshead College provides employer-shaped health and science training that supports practical workplace application, professional behaviours, safe practice and progression into healthcare science roles. Apprentices are supported by experienced tutors and apprenticeship teams who work with employers to align learning to service needs, governance requirements and measurable workplace outcomes.