The First Steps resource is endorsed by Skills for Health

Shortlisted for excellence in the production of learning content - not for profit sector 2011

Welcome to first steps for health care assistants

Access the First steps resource (link opens in a new window).

This resource has been developed in order to support you either as a health care assistant (HCA) individually, or within your workplace induction programme, to learn in your own time at your own pace the most important factors that will get you started on your career as an HCA.

First steps (link opens in a new window) is planned around the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework, and also links to a range of National Occupational Standards that can be printed off in the form of an assessment checklist. You can make use of these to demonstrate your competence by working through them with your nursing colleagues.

Please read “getting started” first. You will see there are traffic lights to help you see where you have already been and remind you if you need to go back over any section. When you leave the site you will be asked to complete a short evaluation of the resource. We really need to hear from you as we want to make sure that first steps meets your needs, and what you would like us to provide in future versions.

Please take the time to look at the references section to see how the RCN can help you to continue with your learning and development.

If you are not a member of the RCN, we hope you will consider joining to make the most of the wealth of opportunities available to you – including advice and support from nursing professionals, protection from the largest in-house team of nursing-specialist lawyers of any union in the UK, and access to the largest nursing library in the world. 

We hope you find First steps (link opens in a new window) useful, and enjoy using it. Do show it to your friends and colleagues, and let your employers know about it too.

We welcome your feedback about this online induction resource and invite you to share your views about your learning experience on our short feedback questionnaire. By completing the questionnaire you will be entered into a draw to win £50 of shopping vouchers. It will only take a few minutes of your time. You can also contact us via email on hca@rcn.org.uk.