Healthcare assistants (HCAs) make sure the patient experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. It can also be a steppingstone into many other NHS roles. You will work under the guidance of a healthcare professional such as a nurse and your job will vary depending on where you are based.
For example, in a GP surgery, you may:
- do new patient or NHS health checks
- process lab samples
- take blood samples
- do health promotion or health education work
- assist with the monitoring and management of long-term conditions
- take ECGs
- undertake wound care
There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. They may ask for a healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ.
With experience and further training, you could become a senior healthcare assistant, assistant practitioner or nursing associate. With the appropriate qualifications/evidence of academic ability, you could also undertake a registered nurse degree programme.
Funded by NHSE/I SDF monies the Training Hub commission a number of role specific ambassadors. These ambassadors provide additional leadership, support and expertise in their field and scope of practice helping with the delivery of our workforce programmes.
Your HCA Ambassadors are Penny Massey and Sue Read.
The ambassadors can be contacted via the primarycare.
Healthcare Assistant Apprenticeships
The Training Hub can support a number of Black Country practices to upskill their existing reception and administrative staff to become Healthcare Assistants. This is designed to create a more flexible workforce to meet increasing demands. The apprentices can become full time HCAs or perform a ‘dual role’ of HCA-administrator.
The training will be undertaken via a level 2 or 3 health and social care apprenticeship. Course fees will be funded, as well as a financial contribution towards backfill.
As funding is limited, practices must complete a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) form. For further information, please email primarycare.
Frequently asked questions
Each apprenticeship will last for at least one year, with 20% of the apprentice’s time (one day per week) being spent in study, either at college or via personal study (e.g. online training.) Assessment can be carried out at the practice to minimise travel time and disruption.
The practice is responsible for paying the apprentice’s salary. As the candidates for this scheme are existing members of staff, there is no additional cost to practices.
For non-levy paying organisations, the government funds 95% of training costs with the employer funding 5% (£350), which will be covered by the ICB. Practices which are subject to the levy can use their levy allowance to fund the apprenticeship and still apply for backfill from the ICB.
Candidates should apply for a Level 2 or Level 3 Health and Social Care course, depending on their experience and each practice’s needs. Each course will enable the apprentice to achieve a Level 2 or Level 3 NVQ diploma. They must apply directly with their chosen college.
Start dates are flexible and can be adjusted to your practice’s needs in discussion with the college.
Upon completion of the apprenticeship, the candidates will be able to perform the duties of an HCA. The course includes, but is not limited to,
new patient assessments
- health checks for patients with Long Term Conditions
- health promotion (such as smoking cessation, diet, and exercise advice)
- communication with patients
- duty of care
- safeguarding
- infection Prevention and Control
- candidates will be expected to adhere to the 15 standards of the Care Certificate
Additional top-up training will be available to enable candidates to undertake clinical duties, including:
- phlebotomy
- wound care
- immunisations (for eligible level 3 candidates)
The total amount (fees and backfill) will be paid directly to practices upon receipt of a signed MOU. The practice must then pay the training provider for the course fees.
