HCA toolkit
This toolkit is currently under review. Whilst none of the content is inaccurate, the RCN will update it fully in 2011.
WiPP's Health Care Assistants Initiative (HCA) set out to develop a range of core principles to enable general practice to employ, train and develop HCAs. After two years in development, it is now helping to better define and properly integrate the role of the HCA into the general practice team. We have worked in close collaboration with five pilot sites to develop a highly practical Toolkit that is fully tried and tested. It is now actively helping HCAs, general practice employers, PCTs, education providers and patients.
The Health Care Assistant (HCA) toolkit has been developed by the Working in Partnership Programme (WiPP) in collaboration with Staffordshire University.
All the documents within the toolkit are available to download as PDF files [Please see: how to access PDF files]
Unit 1 - The development of the role of the health care assistant
Introducing the role of the HCA and the benefits they can bring to general practice.
Unit 3 - Competences
Providing a library of competences for you to draw upon and a framework for setting up a competency management approach.
Unit 5 - Education and training
Outlining details of training courses and opportunities throughout the country.
Unit 7 - Integration of health care assistants in the general practice workforce
For practical advice and tools to help integrate HCAs.
Unit 9 - Completing the cycle - evaluation
For tools and guidance on evaluation processes.
Unit 2 - The employment of health care assistants in general practice
For details on development, education, training and good employment practice.
Unit 4 - Personal and professional development of health care assistants
For details of continuing professional development (CPD) for health care assistants.
Unit 6 - Career planning and development for health care assistants
For all options open to healthcare assistants when planning their career.
Unit 8 - Quality improvement
For comprehensive information on areas such as clinical governance, new ways of working and patient safety.