Healthcare assistants, also known as nursing assistants and nursing auxiliaries, support other health care professionals with the day-to-day duties surrounding patient care. They can work with a range of patients including:

• older people
• pregnant or post-natal women
• those suffering long-term sickness
• people recovering from surgery
• children
• adults with mental health issues  
• people with learning difficulties.

Healthcare assistants can work in hospitals and the community, assisting patients with tasks they cannot manage on their own. Some assistants visit and support patients in their own homes.

Their duties are likely to include:

• helping patients to wash and keep clean
• helping patients to eat and dress
• toileting
• making beds
• measuring and recording temperature, pulse and respiration
• taking and testing urine samples
• talking with patients
• supporting patients with mobility problems.

In hospitals, assistants may escort patients between departments, assist with treatments or examinations, keep the ward tidy, check and sort supplies and help with paperwork.

Healthcare assistants working with patients who have mental health problems or learning disabilities may be involved in creating opportunities to increase the patients self-confidence. Activities can include going on shopping trips or outings to leisure facilities with patients.

Hours and Environment

Healthcare assistants usually work 37.5 hours a week, including nights, bank holidays and weekends on a shift or rota system. Flexible and part-time hours are often available.

As a healthcare assistant you can work in the community or in hospitals, alone or with another healthcare assistant or registered nurse. If you are based in the community, travel between clients is likely so a driving licence would be useful.

Skills and Interests

To be a healthcare assistant, you should:

• be friendly and outgoing, able to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds
• be tactful and sensitive, particularly when helping patients with personal care
• not be embarrassed or squeamish about personal or unpleasant tasks
• treat patients with respect
• be physically able to lift and support patients or use a hoist 
• be gentle, as many patients will be frail
• be able to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
• be reliable and patient with a sense of humour.

Entry

You do not need to have any formal academic qualifications to work as a healthcare assistant. Relevant experience in a caring role, perhaps with your own family or through voluntary work, will be useful when applying for work. Previous experience is likely to be essential if you plan to work with people who have mental health issues or learning disabilities.

You need to be in good physical and mental health to work in this role. Many employers conduct a criminal records bureau check.

You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Training

As a healthcare assistant you will receive on-the-job training from your employer, which may be supported by day release courses on specific issues. You will be trained in areas such as:

• hygiene
• health and safety
• lifting and moving techniques
• personal care
• measuring and recording temperature, pulse, respiration and weight
• adapting and developing communication and interpersonal skills.

If you are working as a healthcare assistant based in the community, you may be expected to take part in a 12 week induction programme provided by your employer. This is based on national standards set up by Skills for Care and Development; check Further Information for details. You will need to meet six national minimum standards of care including:

• principles of care
• understanding your role as a care worker
• safety
• communication skills
• recognising and responding to abuse and neglect
• developing as a care worker.

As a healthcare assistant, you may be encouraged to work towards NVQ/SVQ levels 2 or 3 in Health, or Health and Social Care. If you wish to progress your career and move into nursing, an NVQ/SVQ Level 3 will usually satisfy the entry requirements for a Diploma in Nursing; check the nursing job profiles for details.

You can also work towards a foundation degree in subjects such as adult mental health, applied health and social care, and assisting professional practice.

Opportunities

As a healthcare assistant you can work within the NHS, private hospitals, local authority or private residential/nursing homes, in hospices, with private agencies, and in the community.

Experience as a healthcare assistant can help you move into a range of other healthcare roles, including:

• nursing
• midwifery 
• social work
• support work in areas such as chiropody/podiatry, occupational therapy, radiography or physiotherapy.

Check the relevant job profiles for more information.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

The starting salary for a healthcare assistant in the NHS is usually around £12,200 a year.
With experience and qualifications this can rise to around £17,000.
Maternity care assistants, and other specialist assistants, can earn up to £19,700.

Additional allowances may be paid for working unsocial hours.

Further information

Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155 Albion Court
5 Albion Place
Leeds
LS1 6JL
Tel: 0113 245 1716 Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD1 4NY
Tel: 01382 207101 7th Floor, Millennium House
19-25 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7AQ
Tel: 028 9041 7600 Tel: 08000 150 850
Email: learning@nhscareers.nhs.uk PO Box 376
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655 South Gate House
Wood Street
Cardiff
CF10 1EW
Tel: 029 2022 6257