Healthcare assistant

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

Entry requirements:

College

You could do a college course, which may help you when looking for work. Courses include:

• level 2 Diploma In Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work
• level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
• level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care
• T Level in Health

Most health and social care courses include work placements which is a good way to get experience.

Entry requirements:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as a healthcare support worker.

Entry requirements:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Work

You could work as a trainee care assistant in a residential home or care home while you complete a qualification.

Volunteering

You'll find it useful to get some paid or voluntary experience in care. This will help when you apply for jobs or training.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT .

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to work well with your hands
• excellent verbal communication skills
• customer service skills
• active listening skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• a desire to help people
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to read English
• knowledge of English language
• concentration skills
• knowledge of psychology
• physical fitness and endurance
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• business management skills

What you'll do:

Healthcare assistants look after patients in hospitals or sometimes at a patient's home.

In this role you could:

• help patients shower and get dressed
• help people eat
• make beds
• use equipment to lift and move patients
• talk to patients and reassure them
• help patients to use the toilet
• tidy the ward or patients' homes
• take patients' temperature or pulse
• attend meetings with other healthcare professionals

Location : You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a client's home, at an adult care home or at a hospice.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform.

Salary:

Starter : £22,000
Experienced : £28,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on a rota

Career Path:

Healthcare assistant roles can be a stepping stone to other health careers.

With training, you could become an assistant practitioner in chiropody or podiatry, occupational therapy, radiography or physiotherapy.

With experience you could train new healthcare assistants.

You could also apply to train as a nurse, radiographer, dietitian, midwife or social worker.

Health Careers has information about careers in all areas of health.