Nursing Support Workers (NSWs) may include Healthcare Assistants (HCAs), Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) or Maternity support workers (MSWs). They are an essential part of a health or social care team, providing high quality and compassionate care to individuals.

They carry out well-defined routine clinical duties and essential fundamentals of care. HCSWs work in a range of healthcare settings and work with others from both health and social care, reporting to a registered healthcare practitioner.

The role

Duties and responsibilities will vary slightly depending on the role, sector or industry, but a general outline of the role can be found here. 

• Health Interventions
• Promoting health
• Promoting exercise and physical activity
• Promoting healthy nutrition and fluids intake
• Dementia
• Basic life support
• Physiological measurements
• Observation
• Infection prevention and control   
• Moving and handling
• Understanding medications
• Bladder and bowel care  

• Conflict resolution 
• Digital and social communication
• Personal and people development
• Health, safety and security 
• Duty of care
• Safeguarding
• Equality and diversity
• Record Keeping
• Statutory and mandatory training
• Reflective practice 
• Managing stress 

In the NHS, Nursing Support Workers are usually paid at Band 2 of the Agenda for Change pay scales.

In the Independent Health and Social Care sector (previously referred to as the private sector) pay is not standardised and can vary widely. For the latest average salary see the Care Worker Profile on the National Careers Service website.

• entry requirements
• essential/desirable skills,
• personal characteristics and
• training and development,

see the Healthcare Asisstant profile on NHS Health Careers website.

See the Core Skills Training Framework on the Skills for Health website.

You can also see the Apprenticeship Opportunities for Healthcare Support Workers on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website.

Training as a Nursing Support Worker will include basic nursing skills and you'll work towards the Care Certificate, developed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Health Education England and launched in 2015. 

You may also be offered the chance to study for qualifications through an apprenticeships such as the:

• NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
• NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support

RCN First Steps can help you if you’re new to your role or looking to boost your knowledge, Mapped to a range of National Occupational Standards, it covers the key aspects of assisting nursing practice.

See also the National Minimum Training Standards on the Skills for Care website.

• You will be able to work effectively as part of a team.
• You will always act within the limits of your competence, knowing who to ask for help and support if you are not sure.
• You will work within agreed ways of working, following the relevant standards, policies and protocols used in your workplace including the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England.
• First Steps 
• Understanding the Code of Conduct for HCSWs 
• Accountability and Delegation  

How to become a Nursing Support Worker

If you have no experience in healthcare, you may still be able to apply for jobs and receive training once in post.

You could also explore volunteering to get experience. See this case study of an individual who went from Volunteer to Healthcare Assistant from the RCN Career Pathways resource.

Our page Become a Healthcare Assistant or Healthcare Support worker includes case studies of individuals working in nursing support worker roles within NHS surgical wards, NHS oncology and haematology wards, and GP practices.

How to move sideways as a Nursing Support Worker

Career progression as a Nursing Support Worker allows you to explore different specialties, build new competencies, and find the clinical area that suits you best.

Whether you’re interested in surgical wards, medical wards, community care, mental health, outpatients, paediatrics, maternity, primary care, or urgent care, moving sideways can help you gain fresh perspectives, strengthen your confidence, and open future progression pathways, all while staying within the scope of your current role.

If you are working in the NHS you might want to explore roles in the Independent Health and Social Care sector, such as nursing homes, care homes, private hospitals, private clinics, or GP practices to name a few. Alternatively, if you are currently working in the independent health and social care sector, you may want to move into NHS hospitals or NHS services.

How the RCN Careers Service can help you

The RCN Careers Service can support you with your next career move. For example we offer:

• online advice, samples and templates for CVs, covering letters and applications
• A CV/application checking service and
• Interview coaching. 

We also offer career coaching which could:

• offer you a safe space to reflect on your career (where you are now and where you want to be)
• help you identify your values, interests, strengths, or transferable skills
• help you narrow down which area or setting you want to work in
• help you explore the pros and cons of possible career decisions
• help you create an action plan

Useful links

• RCN Career Resources for Nursing Support Workers
• UK wide information for HCAs and APs
• RCN Nursing Support Workers Facebook Group

Where it could lead...

After a period of working and gaining experience, you may be able to work towards a Senior Healthcare Assistant post.