How to become a health care assistant

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There are many different titles for health care assistants, including health care support workers, nursing assistants, clinical support workers and many more. Here we will use the term health care assistants (HCAs).

HCAs are often described as the bedrock of the nursing service. They deliver care in every imaginable setting, and are invariably the people who deliver the majority of hands-on nursing care. HCAs are very much part of the nursing team, and will tell you that they get great job satisfaction from their role. They can be found in hospitals, GP surgeries, community settings, nursing and residential homes, hospices, prisons and many more places of work, and cover every specialty including mental health, learning disabilities and children and young peoples’ services.

The HCA role is defined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2006) as: 'Those who provide a direct service – that is they have a direct influence/effect on care and treatment to patients and members of the public and are supervised by and/or undertake health care duties delegated to them by NMC registrants.'

There is a wealth of information about HCAs available on the NHS Careers site.

As yet there are no specific national requirements for becoming an HCA. Some employers require literacy and numeracy skills.

Where do I start?

Jobs are often advertised in the local press, and many are advertised in the nursing press, such as Nursing Standard. You can search online too, on sites such as RCN Bulletin and NHS jobs.

If you are interested in working in the NHS you could visit:

If you are considering applying for a job as an HCA the RCN has some resources that can help you:

The above RCN guides are for HCAs and APs who may be applying for their first job, or moving to a senior position. The RCN is here to help you get that perfect role.

These publications are also available in hardcopy and can be obtained via RCN Direct.  Please call 0345 772 6100, select option three and quote the six digit publication code.

Training

Once you have been accepted as an HCA, your employer will train you to be competent in the skills required for your job. This training will be different wherever you work, as the knowledge and skills required by an HCA working in a GP surgery for example will be different from those required by an HCA working in a residential home. You should undergo a comprehensive induction training programme to prepare you for your role. To find out more about the type of subjects included in induction training visit the RCN resource First Steps for health care assistants. This resource will also be useful for you to get a feel for the role and an understanding of some of the important topics such as communication skills and confidentiality.

It will also be useful for you to watch the RCN video Accountability and delegation: what you need to know, as this will help you in your preparation for interview and your future role.

Please see our webpages on education and training for further information.

Apprenticeships

Another route could be to contact your local NHS Trust or visit the main hospital and ask if they are running any Apprenticeships in Health. Visit apprenticeships for further information on job roles, salary and current vacancies. By becoming an apprentice you could earn while you learn, as you would undergo training whilst gaining experience in the workplace. More information on apprenticeships is available from NHS Careers, Welsh Government, Department for employment and learning Northern Ireland and Careers Scotland.

Health care assistants are valued and important members of the RCN. There are many reasons to join the RCN, including legal advice and indemnity cover, information, advice and support, counselling and one of the largest nursing libraries in Europe. We have the first national network for HCAs and assistant practitioners, and you simply can’t afford not to be a member. Visit who can join for information on membership benefits.