Apprentice Independent Living Coordinator

Summary

The Apprentice Independent Living Coordinator role is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and compassionate individual to gain experience in health and social care through a paid apprenticeship at Age UK Sheffield. You will work alongside our experienced team to support older people in living independently.

Wage

£14,133.60 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Apprentice rate, reviewed annually in line with national minimum wage for apprentices. Contract: Fixed-term for duration of apprenticeship (typically 15–18 months). Opportunities to progress into permanent employment.

Training course

Lead adult care worker (level 3)

Hours

Flexible working; Monday –Friday between 8.00am – 6.00pm.

36 hours 15 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 14 July 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Key Responsibilities:

As an Apprentice Independent Living Coordinator, with supervision and support, you will:

Assist in managing a small supervised caseload of older people with a range of needs.
Support customers to access practical help and social support to improve independence and wellbeing.
Accompany staff on home visits and appointments in the community.
Help with administrative tasks such as updating case notes and customer records.
Support with benefit checks and assist in gathering information for assessments (full training provided).
Attend relevant team meetings, reflective practice sessions, and learning opportunities.
Build knowledge of local services and how to refer customers appropriately.
Promote choice, dignity, and independence in every interaction.
Ensure personal compliance with all safeguarding, confidentiality, and data protection procedures.
Represent Age UK Sheffield positively in all interactions.

Approach & Values:
You will be:

Compassionate, respectful, and eager to support older people.
A good listener who communicates clearly and with empathy.
Organised, proactive, and willing to learn new skills.
A team player who values inclusion, diversity, and equality.
Committed to personal development and reflective practice.

Supervision, Induction, and Development:

You will receive a full induction including Age UK Sheffield policies and procedures.
You will be allocated a mentor from the Independent Living team.
One day per week will be protected for study with your training provider.
You will participate in regular 1-1 supervision, team meetings, and shadowing opportunities.
You will be encouraged to attend shared learning sessions and reflective practice forums.

Additional Requirements:

A strong interest in working in adult social care or community support.
Studying or willing to enrol on a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (adults).
Appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
A willingness to travel within Sheffield and work across the community (travel support will be provided as appropriate).

Where you'll work

1ST FLOOR
SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE
197 EYRE STREET
SHEFFIELD
S1 3FG

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SHEFFIELD COLLEGE, THE

Your training course

Lead adult care worker (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Support individuals they are working with according to their personal care/support plan
Take the initiative when working outside normal duties and responsibilities
Recognise and access help when not confident or skilled in any aspect of the role that they are undertaking
Implement/facilitate the specialist assessment of social, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals with cognitive, sensory and physical impairments
Contribute to the development and ongoing review of care/support plans for the individuals they support
Provide individuals with information to enable them to exercise choice on how they are supported
Encourage individuals to actively participate in the way their care and support is delivered
Ensure that individuals know what they are agreeing to regarding the way in which they are supported
Lead and support colleagues to understand how to establish informed consent when providing care and support
Guide, mentor and contribute to the development of colleagues in the execution of their duties and responsibilities
Demonstrate dignity in their working role with individuals they support, their families, carers and other professionals
Support others to understand the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion in social care
Exhibit empathy for individuals they support, i.e. understanding and compassion
Exhibit courage in supporting individuals in ways that may challenge their own cultural and belief systems
Demonstrate and promote to other workers excellent communication skills including confirmation of understanding to individuals, their families, carers and professionals
Use and facilitate methods of communication preferred by the individual they support according to the individual’s language, cultural and sensory needs, wishes and preferences
Take the initiative and reduce environmental barriers to communication
Demonstrate and ensure that records and reports are written clearly and concisely
Lead and support others to keep information safe, preserve confidentiality in accordance with agreed ways of working
Support others, to recognise and respond to potential signs of abuse according to agreed ways of working
Work in partnership with external agencies to respond to concerns of abuse
Lead and support others to address conflicts or dilemmas that may arise between an individual’s rights and duty of care
Recognise, report, respond to and record unsafe practices and encourage others to do so
Lead and mentor others where appropriate to promote the wellbeing of the individuals they support
Demonstrate the management of the reduction of infection, including use of best practice in hand hygiene
Promote healthy eating and wellbeing by supporting individuals to have access to fluids, food and nutrition
Carry out fire safety procedures and manage others to do so
Develop risk assessments and use in a person centred way to support individuals safely including moving and assisting people and objects
Manage, monitor, report and respond to changes in the health and wellbeing of the individuals they support
Take the initiative to identify and form professional relationships with other people and organisations
Demonstrate, manage and support self and others to work within safe, clear professional boundaries
Take the initiative to evaluate and improve own skills and knowledge through reflective practice, supervision, feedback and learning opportunities
Demonstrate continuous professional development
Carry out research relevant to individuals’ support needs and share with others
Demonstrate where necessary mentoring and supervision to others in the workplace
Demonstrate good team/partnership working skills
Demonstrate their contribution to robust recruitment and induction processes

Your training plan

Venue: The Sheffield College, City Campus, Granville Road, Sheffield, S2 2RL.

Attendance: Day release.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade A* - C/9-4/or equivalent)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

Flexible working approach. Working alongside experienced Independent Living Coordinators, the apprentice will: - Support older people to access services, benefits and resources that promote independent living. - Learn how to build positive relationships with customers and professionals. - Gain skills in holistic assessment, problem-solving, communication, and person-centred planning. - Be supported through regular supervision, training, and a dedicated study day to complete a Level 3 Health and Social Care qualification.

About this company

We're a local charity working in Sheffield to support older people, their families and carers. We want everyone to be able to love later life.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/sheffield/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

To be discussed and agreed as appropriate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: