When experienced health and social care manager Joe Smart signed up for a Level 5 apprenticeship shortly before his 50th birthday, he saw it as little more than a tick-box exercise.
But Joe, who manages three day services in York for United Response, was pleasantly surprised by the impact the Level 5 Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship has had on his day-to-day work.
He started the programme with Realise at the start of 2025 and is due to receive his results in the coming days.
Joe has several years of leadership experience under his belt with United Response, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs.
“I was ready to progress my career but it was clear most jobs at the higher level required the Level 5 qualification,” said Joe, aged 49, speaking during National Apprenticeship Week.
“I have good experience in management and certainly didn’t relish starting an apprenticeship at all. I just saw it has a CV-booster, to be honest.
“But I have been really pleasantly surprised by the whole experience and have actually learnt a lot. It’s certainly been beneficial.”
Stable management is vital for high-quality care but there is a current shortage of qualified leaders. According to Skills for Care, vacancy rates are above 10%,with 32% of managers nearing retirement.
The Level 5 Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship offers a clear pathway into senior positions.
Previously a manager at Pizza Hut, Joe started with United Response in 2008 as a support worker and has worked his way up to service manager.
Today he manages the day services operation at the Creative Hub @ Burnholme, which offers activities and support for individuals, often featuring arts, crafts, sports, baking, music and dance and social opportunities.
Joe said: “The apprenticeship helped me to understand why I do some of the things I do as a manager. It taught me the theories and methods of coaching and appraisals, which I also found useful.
“The tutoring from Realise was excellent. They acknowledged my existing experience and ensured we weren’t just going over topics that I already knew.
“I have been able to link my learnings with the things I do in my day-to-day work. It’s enabled me to be more self-reflective and to think about the things I could do better moving forward.
“The qualification is not necessarily going to dramatically change my management style, but it means I can do my job with more confidence. It’s reaffirmed that what I was doing was right – and helped me to understand why certain things are done in a particular way.
“I am very hopeful that the qualification will open up new opportunities and help me progress within United Response.”
The Level 5 Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship is an 18-month programme which covers all aspects of management, including strategies to support others, governance and regulatory processes, partnership working and quality improvement.
Realise works with large care operators including MHA, Anchor, Harbour and Springfield, offering an array of apprenticeships, from the Level 2 to Level 5.