At ACL Essex, we believe that highquality care starts with passionate, welltrained staff. As the largest provider of adult education in Essex and part of Essex County Council, we work in close partnership with health and social care providers to strengthen leadership and professional development across the sector.
Our flexible, high-impact apprenticeships are designed specifically for staff already working in health and social care roles, making it easy for you to upskill your team without disrupting day-to-day operations. Whether you’re nurturing new talent or developing experienced care workers into confident leaders, our programmes are tailored to meet the real-world needs of health and social care employers.
Whether you’re investing in your current team or planning for the future, ACL Essex is here to help you grow a skilled, motivated health and social care workforce that delivers meaningful, lasting impact for patients, clients and families.
Apprenticeships
Grow your organisation’s skills, strengthen leadership capability, and retain top talent with government supported apprenticeship training.
Work-Based Training
Flexible, accredited training programmes tailored to your needs — without requiring apprenticeship funding or levy payments.
Funding and Support
We simplify the funding process, helping you navigate available options, including accessing our Levy Transfer Service for fully funded training.
At ACL Essex, we support health and social care providers in developing skilled, confident staff through high-quality apprenticeship programmes. Our training helps strengthen care teams and improve outcomes for the people and communities you support.
Designed for Care Professionals
Our programmes are ideal for current staff — from care assistants to team leaders — helping to develop practical skills, enhance leadership, and prepare your workforce for the evolving demands of the care sector.
Flexible Learning That Fits Around Care
We understand the challenges of shift work and busy care environments. That’s why our flexible delivery model combines in-person workshops with online learning, making it easier for staff to learn while they work. Our cohort-based approach also encourages shared learning and peer support across care settings.
Investing in Quality Care
Apprenticeships aren’t just for new recruits. Supporting your existing team to upskill boosts morale, improves retention, and builds a sustainable pipeline of qualified professionals ready to deliver high-quality care now and in the future.
Our Programmes
Level 2 Adult Care Worker
Develop the foundational skills and values needed to provide compassionate, person-centred care.
Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker
Designed for experienced care workers ready to step into leadership roles, this apprenticeship strengthens frontline supervision and care quality
Level 4 Lead Practitioner in Adult Care
Develops specialists who can lead on best practice, support complex care delivery, and drive continuous improvement.
Level 5 Leader in Adult Care
Ideal for senior professionals managing care services, this apprenticeship builds strategic leadership and operational management capabilities.
Proud to be an Ofsted ‘Good’ provider.
Rated December 2023.
Level 2 Adult Care
Worker Duration
12 - 18 months
Start Dates
Flexible, year-round
Study Modes
Online live teaching & workplace-based learning
Cost
£4,000 (levy-funded) / £200 (non-levyfunded with 95% government support)
and ensure consistent, high-quality care delivery across services.
Why Choose This Programme?
This apprenticeship is the perfect starting point for individuals entering the adult care sector. It equips learners with the foundational skills and values needed to provide compassionate, person-centred care. For employers, it’s a cost-effective way to build a reliable, skilled workforce from the ground up. By investing in this programme, care providers can reduce recruitment costs, improve staff retention,
Programme Highlights:
Understand the principles of personcentred care, support individuals with physical, emotional, and social needs, promote health, safety, and wellbeing in care settings, communicate effectively with individuals and colleagues, apply safeguarding and infection prevention procedures and support daily living tasks with empathy and respect.
Level 3 Lead Adult
Care Worker
Duration
12 - 18 months
Start Dates
Flexible, year-round
Study Modes
Online live teaching & workplace-based learning
Cost
£4,000 (levy-funded) / £200 (non-levyfunded with 95% government support)
Why Choose This Programme?
Designed for experienced care workers ready to step into leadership roles, this apprenticeship strengthens frontline supervision and care quality. Learners gain the confidence to lead shifts, mentor colleagues, and manage more complex care needs. For employers, this means stronger team coordination, improved service standards, and a clear progression pathway that motivates staff and supports long-term workforce planning.
Programme Highlights
Lead and support teams in delivering care, monitor and promote individual wellbeing, support individuals with complex needs, champion dignity, choice, and independence, implement safeguarding and risk management procedures and promote professional development and reflective practice.
Level 4 Lead Practitioner in Adult Care
Duration
18–24 months (Cohort-based)
Start Dates
This apprenticeship is offered four times per year
Study Modes
Online live teaching & classroom-based learning
Cost
£7,000 (levy-funded) / £350 (non-levyfunded with 95% government support)
Why Choose This Programme?
This programme develops specialists who can lead on best practice, support complex care delivery, and drive continuous improvement. Apprentices learn to mentor others, analyse service effectiveness, and champion inclusive, evidence-based care. For employers, this creates in-house expertise, reduces reliance on external
consultants, and fosters a culture of reflective practice and innovation— ultimately enhancing care outcomes and regulatory compliance.
Programme Highlights
Lead on person-centred and evidencebased care, support individuals with complex physical or mental health needs, mentor and coach colleagues to improve practice, analyse and improve care delivery using data and feedback, promote equality, inclusion, and safeguarding and work in partnership with families and professionals.
Level 5 Leader in Adult Care
Duration
18–24 months (Cohort-based)
Start Dates
This apprenticeship is offered four times per year
Study Modes
Online live teaching & classroom-based learning
Cost
£7,000 (levy-funded) / £350 (non-levyfunded with 95% government support)
Why Choose This Programme?
Ideal for senior professionals managing care services, this apprenticeship builds strategic leadership and operational management capabilities. Learners are equipped to lead teams, manage resources, and ensure services meet CQC standards. For employers, it strengthens internal leadership, supports succession planning, and ensures services are led by confident, capable managers who
can drive quality, compliance, and staff engagement.
Programme Highlights
Lead and manage care services in line with CQC standards, develop and implement policies and procedures, manage teams, budgets, and resources effectively, drive quality improvement and innovation, lead safeguarding and risk management strategies and build partnerships with stakeholders and regulators.
Work-Based Training
At ACL Essex, we offer a wide range of professional development programmes beyond apprenticeships to help care providers build skills, boost confidence, and enhance the quality of care. These short courses and qualifications are ideal for upskilling staff in specific areas such as dementia care, safeguarding, communication, and leadership. While these programmes are not funded
through the Apprenticeship Levy, many are eligible for support through the Essex County Council Nightingale Bursary—a dedicated fund designed to make training more accessible for adult social care settings. Our team will guide you through the application process, helping you unlock funding and ensure your staff can access high-quality training with minimal cost to your organisation.
Key Programmes
Level 2
Awareness of Mental Health Problems, Preparing to Work in Adult Care, Principles of Dementia Care, Principles of End of Life Care, Care and Management of Diabetes, Understanding Autism, Customer Service for Health and Social Care, Safe Handing of Medication, Behaviour that Challenges, Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties, Housekeeping and Team Leading.
Level 3
Principles of Dementia Care, Principles of End of Life Care, Understanding Autism, Diabetes Care and Management
Level 4
Diploma in Adult Care
Level 5
Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care
Funding & Support
Funding Your Apprenticeship and Training Programmes
Our dedicated team work with you to find the right funding streams and ensures your investment in training delivers maximum impact. The Nightingale bursary offers development opportunities and training for those currently working or looking to enter the health and social care sector. It supports training initiatives for early years settings, with the goal of enhancing the range and quality of services offered in our communities.
Apprenticeship Levy
For Employers with Payroll Over £3m:
• 0.5% of payroll allocated into an apprenticeship account.
• 100% funding available for eligible apprenticeship training.
Benefits
• Fully funded workforce training.
• Tailored training solutions to meet business goals.
Non-Levy Paying Employers
For Employers with Payroll Under £3m:
• 95% government-funded apprenticeship training.
• Only a 5% employer contribution required.
Levy Transfer Service
ACL Essex can connect non-levy paying employers with levy-paying businesses willing to transfer unused funds, covering 100% of training costs.
How We Can Help:
• Simplify the funding process.
• Maximise available support.
• Ensure training solutions are accessible and aligned with your organisation’s needs.
The Nightingale Care Bursary
What is the Nightingale Bursary?
The Nightingale Bursary is a fully funded training programme launched by Essex County Council and delivered through ACL Essex. It provides free access to health and social care qualifications for:
• New entrants to the care sector.
• Existing staff seeking to upskill.
• Employers looking to train their teams.
This initiative is part of a broader campaign
to boost recruitment and retention in the care sector across Essex
Who Can Benefit?
The bursary is available to:
• Individuals starting a career in health and social care.
• Current care workers aiming to progress or specialise.
• Employers seeking to develop their workforce.
• Personal assistants and unpaid carers.
Financial Support
• All courses are fully funded—no cost to
learners or employers.
• Flexible learning options to suit different schedules and commitments.
• Work-based learning and apprenticeships available for hands-on experience.
Training Opportunities
ACL Essex provides a wide range of qualifications under the Nightingale Bursary, including:
• Level 2–5 Diplomas in Adult Care.
• Level 2 Diploma in Housekeeping
• Apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 5.
• Specialist courses including Dementia care, medication management, autism and customer service.
• “Get into” programmes for those exploring health and social care careers
How to Apply
To apply or learn more:
• Visit the ACL Essex Nightingale Bursary page.
• Call: 0345 603 7635.
• Email us or complete the contact form on the ACL Essex website.
Scan the QR code to watch the video
I’ve got all 3 of our team leaders on the level 4 and without the bursary we just couldn’t have afforded it at this time.
