Student Nursing Associate Apprenticeship in Salford

Main area: Apprenticeships

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 3

Contract: 25 months (End Date: 30th April 2028. A 25 month fixed term training contract.)

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shift working pattern over a seven day week)

Job ref: 311-H856-25

Employer: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type: NHS

Site: Across Pennine Care NHS FT

Town: Ashton-under-Lyne

Salary: £24,937 - £26,598 per annum, pro rata

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 23/11/2025 23:59

Interview date: 04/12/2025

If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our #PennineCarePeople.

Looking to start your career in Nursing? We provide resources to help you apply and prepare for your SNA interview. Please complete this short form to access these support materials.

The Apprenticeship programme leads to a Foundation Degree as a Nursing Associate, with tuition fees fully funded. This programme combines academic learning with hands‑on experience across physical, psychological, and public health care—from pre‑conception to end of life. All successful clinical candidates will be employed on a fixed‑term contract for 25 months.

What qualifications do you need for this Apprenticeship role?

• GCSEs Grade C or above in Maths and English Language OR New GCSE Grade 4–9 in Maths and English Language OR Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English (not Entry Level 2)

Important: Educational certificates must be shown at interview. Transcripts or provisional statements of results will not be accepted. If you have already achieved a Level 4 qualification, you must provide copies of certificates at interview.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed after 27th November 2025. In person assessment centre expected to be on or around 4th and 5th December.

Main duties of the job

The Nursing Associate role bridges the gap between a support worker and a Registered Nurse, creating a skilled workforce for future healthcare. The programme includes multiple clinical placements, such as:

• Adult, Mental Health, Child, and Learning Disability Care at home, close to home, and within hospital settings

The programme starts on 9 March 2026. SNAs will rotate through placements within Pennine Care and may need to undertake placements in neighbouring organisations to gain experience in areas such as adult physical health. Academic learning will be delivered by the University of Salford.

Time commitment: 80% clinical work, 20% academic study (one day per week, block release, or a mix of both). You must demonstrate the ability to study at Diploma level and commit to completing a Foundation Degree Apprenticeship. Healthcare experience is an advantage but not essential. Intermediate IT skills are required.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop. Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Eligibility for Non-UK Nationals

If you are a Non-UK National applicant, you must meet the eligibility criteria and settlement requirements for apprenticeship course funding. Your settlement status will need to be verified by the apprenticeship provider before you can formally enrol. The training provider will require evidence of:

• Visa duration – your visa must cover the entire length of the course.
• Residency – you must have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to enrolment.

GCSEs Grade C or above in Maths and English Language / New GCSE Grade 4-9 in Maths and English Language or Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English or Equivalent (not entry level 2).

Commit to completing the Foundation Degree Apprenticeship programme.

Holds NVQ level 2 in Care or care certificate.

Completion of an HCA development programme or Evidence of recent work‑based learning or self‑directed learning.

Qualifications and Credit Framework Level 3 in Care or equivalent in terms of both academic attainment and previous care experience.

Experience

• Essential induction training and experience – care certificate or equivalent in a previous organisation.
• Previous experience of working within a health / care setting.

Knowledge

• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development.
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
• Evidence of time management skills and ability to prioritise.
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional.
• Understanding of the promotion of health and well being (Making Every Contact Count).
• Understanding of evidence based practice.
• Understanding of basic physiology, e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance nutritional requirements etc.
• Evidence of involvement in support / development of less experienced staff.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrable ability to study at Level 5 Diploma of Higher Education Level.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate with members of the public and health and care providers.
• Caring and compassionate.
• Courteous, respectful and helpful at all times.
• Ability to deal with nonroutine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact.
• Ability to move between sites working across health and social care as required by the needs of the development programme.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities.

Sponsorship Information

We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and requirements on the government website.

After You Apply

Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.

If You're Offered the Role

If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email.

Pre-Employment Checks

To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre‑employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards. These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will be used to validate employment history and references. If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

Once Checks Are Complete

The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve. If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.

Please note: We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly. We may close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, please apply as soon as possible.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Ready to take the next step? Apply now and join our team of #PennineCarePeople.