Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) 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 

Pay

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

Frameworks

See Apprenticeship Opportunities for Healthcare Support Workers on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website.

Training

Developed jointly by Skills for Care, Health Education England, and Skills for Health, the Care Certificate outlines minimum standards that should be covered if you are 'new to care' and should form part of a robust induction programme. 

Competences

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.

Your responsibilities as a level 2 HCA

• 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  

Where it could lead...

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