Training and educational opportunities

There are many resources available to help guide you through the training and development opportunities available for health care assistants. Below is a selection you might not have come across.

Online resources

• DirectGov: information on vocational qualifications.
• NHS Careers: information for healthcare assistants/auxiliary nurses on working as a HCA, training and development, secondment opportunities, and job vacancies.
• NHS Careers: information on apprenticeships.
• OFQUAL: explaining the Qualifications and Quality Framework

RCN resources

• Royal College of Nursing (2009) Your Professional Development: Unleashing Your Potential: A Guide for Health Care Assistants (HCAs) and Assistant Practitioners (APs). London: RCN.
• Royal College of Nursing (2011) First Steps for Health Care assistants. London: RCN
• Royal College of Nursing (2011) Accountability and Delegation: What You Need to Know. London: RCN   

The RCN Learning Zone has information on how to build a professional portfolio and you can compile your own portfolio and CV at My Portfolio.

Books

• Ingram, P. and Lavery, I., editors (2009) Clinical Skills for Healthcare Assistants. Chichester: Blackwell

Journal articles

• Education for healthcare assistants working in acute NHS hospitals. Webb, S. Nursing Standard. 2011. 15 Jun. 25(41). p41-6. Examination of the training and education opportunities available in acute NHS Trusts for health care assistants, including national vocational qualifications (NVQs) and higher education courses. New HCA roles are described, and the need for national training standards for this workforce is highlighted. 56 refs.
• A grounding for good practice. Nicklinson, C. Nursing Standard. 2010. 15 Sep. 25(2). p64. Training for healthcare assistants (HCAs) working for BMI Healthcare based on the Skills for Health competencies. The BMI generic competencies for HCAs are listed and feedback from an HCA who attended the 1st foundation programme is included.
• Extra training brings added value. Weekes, D. Nursing Standard. 2009. 17 Jun. 23(41). p62-3.  
  Career Development supplement. Opportunities for Assistant practitioner training for healthcare assistants. The qualifications required and career prospects are discussed.
• RCN urges compulsory training for every healthcare support worker. Sprinks, J. Nursing Standard. 2009. 9 Dec. 24(14). p12-3. The RCN's call for mandatory training for healthcare support workers (HCSWs) to provide a national minimum skills standard. The HCSW career framework is outlined, and the regulatory requirements being developed in Wales and Scotland are examined.
• Professional development for care home nurses and HCAs. Nazarko, L. Nursing and Residential Care. 2011. Jan. 13(1). p8-11. How staff working in care homes can update their skills and qualifications. A list of useful websites providing further information on funding, study days and online learning is also included. 17 refs.
• Skills fit for work. Eaton, A. Nursing Standard. 2011. 16 Feb. 25(24). p62-3. Career Development supplement. Development of a new qualifications and credit framework (QCF) for health and social care by Skills for Health, which aims to make vocational qualifications available to a wider range of learners and to be more relevant to students and employers.