Our Level 5 Coaching Professional – the Apprenticeship Experience
This programme builds confident, skilled coaches who are ready to support individuals, teams, and systems to grow, adapt, and thrive. Blending theory, structured learning and applied coaching practice, it prepares learners to coach at practitioner level and embed coaching in real-world contexts such as health, social care, voluntary sector and education settings to enable behaviour change, wellbeing, and leadership.
Onboarding
The onboarding process plays a crucial role in setting the foundation for a successful apprenticeship. This process focuses on preparing you for both the academic and practical elements of your training, ensuring you understand the programme structure, expectations, and available support. Once you have confirmed you want to join our apprenticeship programme, we’ll support you through the onboarding process. At the outset, this involves completion of an Eligibility Form and Application Form (including ID checks).
You will then meet with one of the programme tutors to complete a Skills Assessment. This includes evaluating your existing knowledge, skills, and any prior qualifications to tailor your learning plan appropriately. We will also gather information about any additional learning needs, language support, or accessibility requirements to ensure you receive appropriate guidance and support.
You’ll be informed about safeguarding, equality and diversity, British values, and how to access support as well as information about Off The Job Training and an introduction to our learning platform.
Your responsibilities as a student:
- Submit content to the e-portfolio when required
- Preparation and planning
- Attendance for all sessions
- Completion of tasks in agreed timeframe
- 20% off-the-job training
- Taking responsibility for your own development
- Communicating support needs
- Maintain a learning record
- Keep open communication lines with your manager and Tutor
Learning Activities
Developing Knowledge, Skills and Confidence – our programmes include the following types of experiential learning activities:
Interactive Learning Methods:
- Experiential Workshops – Hands-on sessions exploring core concepts/tools.
- Live Webinars – Focused sessions with opportunities for discussion.
- Coaching Practice – Real-time practice with feedback and observed hours
Encouraging Reflective Practice:
- Weekly Goals / Learning Logs- Track progress & reflect on growth.
- Group Supervision – Led by an experienced supervisor.
- Skills Supervision – Feedback and coaching to sharpen applied skills.
- Caseload Reviews – Reflect on practical work & learning
Flexible, Applied Learning:
- Video-Based Learning – On-demand content for anytime learning.
- Evaluation Projects – Apply learning to real workplace challenges.
- Action Learning Sets – Peer-led sessions to problem-solve in context.
Assessment and Portfolio Support:
- Mock Exams & EPA Prep – Structured support for final assessments.
- Portfolio Development – Guided help to showcase growth and competencies.
- Gateway Review – Ensuring readiness for final assessment
Off the Job Training
Each Apprenticeship Standard requires you to undertake Off The Job Training (OTJT). There is a minimum number of hours required for OTJT which varies by apprenticeship (details will be provided when you apply). The OTJT can include training that is delivered at your normal workplace, but must not be delivered as part of your normal working duties.
Off-the-job training is structured learning during working hours that directly enhances workplace performance. This isn’t ‘time off’ – its time dedicated to building skills that benefit both the apprentice and the business.
This will include learning through work-based projects and training activities that align with real business tasks. We provide a mix of online modules, and ensure learning is not separate from work but integrated into it. Our approach means that apprentices can apply their new skills in their roles immediately.
We encourage apprentices to align their learning with business goals, use coaching techniques in their teams, share insights and best practices with colleagues and take ownership of their development.
Activities included in Off The Job Training
- Attending lectures
- Attending relevant on-site or off-site training courses
- Completing assignments
- Conferences
- Coursework
- Distance learning
- Industry visits
- Job coaching
- Meetings with other Apprentices
- Observing or shadowing colleagues
- Receiving mentoring
- Research including reading journal articles
- Self-reflection and evaluation
- Self-study
- Simulation exercises
- Teaching or learning the theory related to your role
- Training
- Virtual learning
- Visiting other departments to learn about other roles in a manner that connects to aspects of the programme
Gateway to Completion and Apprenticeship Assessment
Once you reach the end of your training, your employer (supported by TPC Health Apprenticeships) will decide if you’re ready to take your Apprenticeship Assessment – this process is known as the “Gateway to Completion”. You will participate in a Gateway to Completion review. You, your employer and TPC Health Apprenticeships will hold a meeting to agree that you have gained the required level of knowledge, skills and behaviours. Reports and evidence of on-programme achievements are required. This review confirms you are ready, based on consistent performance and progress against the required occupational standard.
A key part of preparation involves developing a portfolio of evidence – a carefully compiled collection that shows how the apprentice applies their knowledge and skills in practice, demonstrating professional judgment and critical thinking. All Apprentices must be independently assessed at the end of their programme – this is known as the Apprenticeship Assessment (formally known as the End Point Assessment or EPA). This is a crucial stage in every apprenticeship – a final opportunity for the apprentice to demonstrate how they’ve developed the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for their role.
To ensure that the EPA is truly independent and assist separately to the learning that has taken place while on programme, this element is completed by an independent assessor from an Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation. Although this Assessment is delivered independently of our training, our programme is fully designed to ensure apprentices are well-prepared and confident when they reach this point.
The Assessment itself includes a multiple-choice knowledge test, a live observation by an independent assessor, and a structured interview supported by the portfolio. These elements ensure the apprentice meets the national standard and is equipped to progress confidently in their role. You must complete and pass achieve your Apprenticeship Assessment before your Apprenticeship certificate can be issued.
Pastoral Care
Throughout your programme, we will support you in many different ways. As well as your Tutor you will be assigned a Programme support advisor who will touch base with you and see how you are progressing and ensure you are keeping on track.
Our experienced Apprenticeship Team will be on hand throughout the programme to provide support as needed including:
- Regular progress review meetings
- Training and guidance on our learning system
- Support with completing your portfolio
- Guidance and support in preparing and being ready for the final Apprenticeship Assessment
- Responding to queries and questions as needed
You’ll have regular visits with your Tutor. These will consist of your Tutor discussing with you what skills, knowledge and behaviours you are developing as part of your programme and which of these areas require further development.
There will be planned activities such as observations, professional discussions and an opportunity for you to present evidence for you to be assessed by your Tutor. You will also participate in three-way feedback sessions between you, your manager/mentor and Tutor to review your overall progression towards completing your programme and to document off-the-job training that has taken place
If you have any learning needs, disabilities or circumstances that may affect your training, your Tutor will always be happy to discuss your learning journey, including the additional support options which are available to you.