Healthcare assistants have a rewarding career in the UK with strong job prospects. Over the past two years, the NHS has hired more than 60,000 new healthcare support workers, proving how important this role has become.

If you’re considering a career in this field but are still unclear on what a healthcare assistant does or how much they earn, this guide will answer all your career-related questions.

What Does A Healthcare Assistant Do?

A Healthcare Assistant (HCA) supports nurses, midwives, and other medical professionals in managing patient care on a day-to-day basis.

An HCA is the first point of contact with patients and performs a range of duties. These duties range from helping patients with basic tasks to ensuring the rooms and medical facilities are organised and hygienic. 

Additionally, a healthcare assistant is trained to perform patient caring tasks such as checking the heart rate, temperature, weight and height. The type of healthcare assistant roles and duties slightly differ depending on the setting you are in. 

The responsibilities of an HCA in a hospital include:

• Wash, bathe and dress the patients.

• Serve meals and feed the patients.

• Assist patients in using the toilet.

• Help patients get in and out of bed.

• Assist patients in moving them around.

In a health centre or a  General Practitioner (GP) setting, an HCA may have to:

• Take patient blood samples.

• Administer vaccines.

• Process lab samples.

• Record ECG’s.

• Assist doctors with minor procedures.

In a community setting or care homes, healthcare assistants will have to:

• Support people with their daily activities.

• Help those who are physically impaired.

• Support with personalised treatment plans.

• Empathise and be gentle with people.

• Encourage mental and physical activity.

• Encourage patients to be more independent and make their own decisions.

• Maintaining and checking the care home equipment.

How To Become A Healthcare Assistant?

To become a healthcare assistant, it is important to have the right healthcare qualifications, experience and skills. But where do you start if you’re new to care? And what helps your application stand out to employers? Let’s look at it in detail.

Qualification and Training

There are no formal qualifications or entry requirements to become a Healthcare Assistant. However, employers want candidates with good literacy and numeracy skills, so they might look for GCSEs or equivalent in English and Maths.

To get into the National Health Service (NHS) or other esteemed organisations, completing an accredited healthcare professional course like a Phlebotomy training in London will help you to stand out against competitors. 

Alternatively, if you prefer to support adults in care homes, gaining an adult care diploma will give you the hands-on experience and knowledge you need for working in care homes.

Experience

While not essential, previous healthcare assistant experience is considered advantageous. This is because employers believe you can bring the transferable skills and knowledge to your new job.

If you do not have any work-related experience, consider volunteering or an apprenticeship. Volunteering shows the employer that you are serious about your profession as a healthcare assistant and willing to commit to it. Once you start working as a Healthcare assistant, your employer will provide you with the Care Certificate as part of your job training.

However, it is best to obtain a clinical skill by completing training such as phlebotomy training from an accredited institute before starting your job. Currently, Lead Academy provides training in 5 locations in the UK, that are London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Swindon.

Skills

To be a healthcare assistant, you need a healthy mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills include clinical tasks like taking vital signs, while soft skills involve communication, empathy, and patience. This combination is essential because the role involves direct interaction with patients and managing administrative duties.

Here are the essential skills you need to become a healthcare assistant:

• Excellent communication skills to foster a positive environment.

• Great attention to detail and the ability to observe changes in patients’ conditions, along with the skill to document medical information accurately.

• Good stamina and physical strength to help and move around patients.

• Ability to work in a team to ensure effective patient care.

• Incredible compassion and patience towards challenging patients with physical or mental health conditions.

How Much Do Healthcare Assistants Earn In The UK?

Healthcare assistants in the UK earn an average of £14.43 per hour. Your earnings depend on various factors, including location, experience level, and the specific type of healthcare setting you work in. For example, healthcare assistants in city centres command higher salaries than those working in a rural healthcare facility.

What Is The Career Progression For A Healthcare Assistant?

The career progression for a healthcare assistant is diverse and plenty. That is because the role of a healthcare assistant is the stepping stone to other health careers. There are many career paths you can pursue. With training, you can become an assistant practitioner in:

• Chiropody or podiatry

• Occupational therapy

• Radiography

• Physiotherapy

You can also train as a nurse, radiographer, dietitian, midwife or social worker.

Final Words

A healthcare assistant is an integral part of the healthcare team. As a healthcare assistant, you will mainly be supporting nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals.

A healthcare assistant performs a range of duties, from helping patients with basic tasks to ensuring the rooms and medical facilities are organized and hygienic. To become a healthcare assistant, you need to have the right qualifications, experience and skills.

Once you become a healthcare assistant, you can choose to progress onto other healthcare roles such as a nurse, radiographer or social worker.