If you are an employer and have a workforce need or individuals within your workforce that are interested in starting a Nursing Associate Apprenticeship, please read below for an overview of:
- What is a Nursing Associate?
- What is the TeamLeeds Nursing Apprenticeship programme?
- How does the Team Leeds Approach benefit you and your organisation apprentices?
- Timescales and what to do next if you are interested and/or have an employee who is interested in the programme.
What is a Nursing Associate?
- A Nursing Associate (NA) is a role that bridges the gap between healthcare assistants (HCAs)/clinical support workers (CSWs) and registered nurses (RNs). The Nursing Associate apprenticeship programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and NA’s are registered with this governing body, Nursing Associates – The Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Nursing Associates are trained professionals who can support registered nurses in delivering care, taking on more responsibility than HCAs but not as much as fully qualified nurses. Examples of clinical tasks a Nursing Associate can perform include taking blood samples, dressing wounds, administering some medication and monitoring long-term conditions. For more information, see Nursing associates
What is the TeamLeeds Nursing Apprenticeship programme?
Health and Care partners across the city are working with University of Leeds to run a #teamleeds Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme. The programme is built on the evaluation and insights of the city’s current collaborative apprenticeship approach in occupational therapy and aims to enable private, independent and voluntary sector organisations to have access to a programme that aims to increase the capacity for apprenticeships within the system and diversify the learning experiences and career choices for the apprentices.
* When we refer to Private, Independent, Voluntary Organisations we are generally referring to all those organisations that are not large NHS providers. In Leeds this diverse sector currently represents over 50 per cent of our workforce, Leeds Health and Wellbeing Workforce Indicators 2025 – Leeds Health and Care Academy
What are the criteria to apply?
To be part of the Team Leeds Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme, organisations must be a private, independent or voluntary organisation*. The apprentice on the programme must work within the Leeds Health and Care sector and be in role that aligns to the nursing associate training (with time allocated within their contracted hours for the training) in an environment where there is a registered nurse that can support their supervision. More information on the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship criteria to apply can be found on the University of Leeds website, Nursing Associate (Apprenticeship) FD | University of Leeds
How does the Team Leeds Approach benefit you and your apprentice?
FUTURE WORKFORCE IMPACT POSTER
- The programme will support the apprentices to broaden their skills and knowledge; build a diverse network; develop adaptability and flexibility; gain a holistic perspective of care; identify career interests and pathways. This approach has multiple proven benefits including promotion of collaboration and teamwork.
- You will receive advice regarding funding to support the apprenticeship training. There will also be an opportunity to host placements for apprentices from other organisations as part of the placement circuit.
- A governance document and potential model for social care has been created for NHSE, please see here.
- Skills for Care have developed an employers guide to the deployment of Nursing Associates in social care settings, please see here.
Timescales and what to do next if you are interested or have an employee who is interested in the programme
The programme start is scheduled for February 2026 and will last 2 years. The recruitment deadline for candidates has now closed. To find out more about future Team Leeds Nursing Apprenticeship cohorts, please contact lhca@nhs.net
#Team Leeds Nursing Associate poster