T Levels
T Levels are employer-designed technical qualifications that combine classroom learning with industry placements. For adult social care, they provide an important pathway for young people to gain practical experience, develop workplace skills and progress into employment, apprenticeships or further study within health and social care professions.
T Levels are two-year Level 3 technical qualifications for 16 to 19 year olds, equivalent to three A Levels. They combine classroom learning with an industry placement of at least 45 days and are designed with employers to prepare young people for skilled employment, apprenticeships or further study.
T Levels are becoming an increasingly important workforce pipeline into health and social care careers. The current Health T Level can lead to roles such as care worker, healthcare assistant and other support roles, while a dedicated Social Care T Level is being developed, including an adult social care occupational specialism.
For adult social care employers, T Levels provide:
- Early access to young talent
- Industry placements that allow employers to showcase careers in care
- A route into apprenticeships and employment
- A way of building future workforce pipelines
T Levels overlap strongly with several other workforce Initiatives:
- T Levels can lead directly into adult social care apprenticeships
- Prior learning from a T Level may accelerate progression into an apprenticeship
- T Levels are one of the education and training opportunities that support young people aged 18-21 into employment and careers, although the Youth Guarantee sources do not specifically identify T Levels
Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs)
- Many LSIPs identify health and social care workforce needs and help shape local provision of technical education, including programmes such as T Levels
Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care
- T Levels support the strategy's objectives around attracting young people into the sector, developing skills and creating clearer career pathways
- T Levels can act as a pre-employment route into entry-level roles that are recognised within the Care Workforce Pathway
Oxfordshire perspective
T Levels are particularly relevant in Oxfordshire because Activate Learning at the City of Oxford College already offer the Health T Level, including substantial industry placements with NHS partners and progression routes into health and care careers.
