Quality Lead Review
at HCRG Care Group
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Healthcare
Preston
Review Submitted: May 2025
Overall Rating
4.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I am the governance lead for a children and young peoples service (health visiting and school nursing). I am the lead for quality delivery of the service and patient safety which includes reporting, analysing data for themes and trends and lead on quality improvement of the service.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I found the apprenticeship tough at times because it was a very different learning style to what I am used to. I have done level 5,6 and 7 level learning at university and am used to knowing exactly what I have needed to do and apprenticeship learning is very much drip feeding work gradually which I can see would work really well for some learners but it wasn't my learning style. That said the content was great and I completed with a distinction.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
The apprenticeship was an Operation/ Departmental Manager Apprenticeship led internally by our training and learning enterprise at HCRG Care Group and supported by Pearson's from an EPA perspective. I already have a wealth of experience in leadership with many courses attended but did not have any formal management qualifications so thought this apprenticeship would fit well. The apprenticeship consolidated a lot of my knowledge but also brought in formally some aspects that I had less experience in namely budget planning.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme was well structured but as I have said in my previous answer the drip feeding of tasks didn't really work for me as I need to be able to see the full extent of what is expected of me from the start. It was well supported internally within HCRG Care Group with regular meetings and I was able to manage my own time to factor in the apprenticeship against my full time role.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I received a huge amount of support from my employer HCRG Care Group and due to the fact that there are a large number of colleagues undertaking apprenticeships all the time there is a good understanding for off the job protected time.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The training provider was internal to HCRG Care Group with allocated supervisors that were available at any tie to offer support.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I have deepened my knowledge in some aspects of the role I am in namely around the financial aspects of the business.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
We have many professional networking events in work and as that is part of my role I have no issue with this aspect.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend HCRG Care Group to a friend?
Yes
Why?
HCRG Care Group delivers NHS contracts to communities nationally. Unlike the NHS which I have previously worked in for many years, there is much less bureaucracy allowing devolved autonomy and the ability to 'get things done' in a much more time and cost effective way. The national networking with other HCRG Care Group business units is amazing and is the norm. I wouldn't want to work for any one else.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to HCRG Care Group?
I would say that this is an amazing place to work and do not be afraid of what people perceive as privatised care because that is not what we are. We deliver safe and effective care, free at the point of contact and deliver NHS contracts. The only difference and it's a big one is the ability to make real change without having to jump through many hoops and the financial side is stable.
