Level 2 - Sample competences for a health care assistant
| NHS KSF | WIPP Competence/Level | Skills for Health competence suite and competence status | Skills for Health National Occupational Standards/National Workforce Competences | Notes |
| HBW6/1 | The general HCAs are required to: 'undertake tasks related to the assessment of physiological and/or psychological functioning'. Undertake, record and work in accordance with protocols and guidelines for the following tasks for which they have received appropriate training: Measuring visual acuity. |
Diab_HC2 NOS | Measure visual acuity This competence covers the performance of tests of distance visual acuity with and without optical correction. It includes the assessment of visual acuity in patients of different ages including children (of 12 years and above) individuals with communication difficulties, and individuals with a range of refractive error or ocular disease. Before measuring visual acuity, the patient must be prepared for the procedure, as described in Competence HC1. |
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| HWB2/2 | Undertake, record and work in accordance with protocols and guidelines for the following tasks for which they have received appropriate training: Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for the laboratory. | CHS7 NOS | Obtain & test specimens from individuals This workforce competence covers obtaining specimens, testing some specimens in the work area, and forwarding some specimens for laboratory investigation. Specimens include: urine, including via catheter and mid-stream specimens, faeces, sputum, exudates, saliva, breath, aspirates, semen and skin scraping. Users of this competence will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. |
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| HWB6/1 |
Undertake, record and work in accordance with protocols and guidelines for the following tasks for which they have received appropriate training:
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BDS11 NOS | Obtain venous blood samples This workforce competence covers the use of venepuncture/phlebotomy techniques and procedures to obtain venous blood samples from individuals for investigations as part of their care plan, or from potential donors in blood and blood component donor sessions. This workforce competence is not intended to cover the actual collection of blood or blood components within donor sessions. Users of this competence will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. |
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| HWB6/1 |
Undertakes, records and follows protocols and guidelines for the following routine tasks for which they have received appropriate training the measurement of:
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CHS19 NOS | Undertake physiological measurements This workforce competence covers taking and recording physiological measurements as part of the individuals care plan. Measurements include: blood pressure - both by manual and electronic; pulse rates and confirming pulses at a variety of sites e.g. pedal pulses; pulse oximetry; temperature; respiratory rates; peak flow rates; height; weight; body mass index (BMI); girth. These activities could be done in a variety of care settings, including hospitals wards and other departments including out patients, nursing homes, the individuals own home, GP surgeries etc. The recording of such measurements must take into account the individuals overall condition, and the delegation of these measurements to you may change as the individual's condition changes, and sometimes this skill will fall outside of your role and responsibility. Any adverse conditions may result in other members of the care team undertaking these measurements. Users of this competence will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. |
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| Core 3/1 |
Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines, including:
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IPC1 NOS | Minimise the risks of spreading infection by cleaning and maintaining environments in health and social care settings This workforce competence concerns minimising the risks of spreading infection by cleaning and maintaining environments in health and social care settings, including community and domiciliary settings, and ambulance vehicles, but not including specialised settings, such as laboratories, pharmacies, or operating theatres, where more specialised methods may be required. The competence focuses specifically on activities for infection prevention and control, and it should be used alongside relevant health and safety policies, including national and local policies and other relevant workforce competences. Health and social care settings contain a diversity of micro organisms. Areas can become contaminated with blood, other body fluids and skin dispersal during care delivery which can become reservoirs for micro organisms that are harmful to individuals who are susceptible to infection. Extra care must be taken when cleaning the environment to minimise these risks. Users of this competence will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. |
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| HWB6/2 |
Undertakes, records and follows protocols and guidelines for the following routine tasks for which they have received appropriate training:
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HCS_CARD4 NOS | Perform a resting electrocardiogram This standard relates to the performance of an electrocardiogram at rest. It includes connection and disconnection of electrodes and acquisition of data ready for analysis. The procedure may be performed on adult and paediatric inpatients or outpatients. It is expected that an individual assessed for this standard will have completed the relevant training to obtain a certificate of competency. Users of this competence will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. |