The main responsibilities for an AP or HCSW in a teaching role are to ensure that healthcare assistants achieve outstanding progress throughout the course. This is accomplished by careful planning, teaching and class management. They will be involved in the designing and delivering of teaching materials and use of appropriate teaching and assessment methods. They are also responsible for making sure that teaching plans are regularly reviewed and refreshed.
The teaching consists of independent learning and taught workshop sessions that are devised to challenge thinking, foster debate and develop the ability of students to engage in critical discussion and rationale thinking and of course, to be fun!
Teachers need to be aware of and make provision for HCAs who have different learning styles and needs. All students need support as and when needed via face to face meeting, telephone or emails. Throughout the course students will undertake workplace activities and competencies which need to be signed off by their workplace mentor. They will liaise with the mentors to ensure understanding of their responsibilities.
Teachers contribute to setting assignments, marking all activities and ensuring all students are given feedback every step of the way. Once the portfolios have been completed, they will check that the student has achieved the learning outcomes, aims and objectives of the course and award before the portfolios are submitted for internal and external verification. During this period, teachers will liaise with examination bodies to arrange inspection dates, and once the students have their achievement confirmed by the awarding body it is their responsibility to ensure the certificates are sent to the students.