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Healthcare support workers (HCSWs) work as part of a team providing high quality and compassionate care to individuals.

They will carry out well-defined routine clinical duties like monitoring an individual’s conditions (by checking things like blood pressure, temperature or weight) or checking on their overall progress, comfort and wellbeing. Depending on where they work, they may also help individuals to eat, drink, wash, dress or go to the toilet.

They will prepare individuals for healthcare activities carried out by other members of the healthcare team, looking after them before, during and/or after those activities in line with their care plan.

They will also carry out non-clinical duties and, depending on where they work, this could include tasks like keeping records, making beds, tidying up the work area, and returning or cleaning the equipment used during a clinical activity. They will be able to address straightforward problems in their day-to-day work, reporting concerns and changes to the appropriate person in a timely manner.

HCSWs work in a range of healthcare settings and the team may include workers from both health and social care. They will report to a registered healthcare practitioner who will directly or indirectly supervise their work.

There are no entry requirements but you may wish to run your own selection process.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Communication
• Health intervention
• Person-centred care and support
• Dementia, cognitive issues and mental health
• Basic life support
• Physiological measurements
• Personal and people development
• Health, safety and security
• Duty of care
• Safeguarding
• Infection prevention and control
• Moving and handling
• Equality and diversity

• Treat people with dignity, respecting each individual’s diversity, beliefs, culture, values, needs, privacy and preferences
• Show respect and empathy for those they work with
• Have the courage to challenge areas of concern and work to best practice
• Be adaptable, reliable and consistent
• Show discretion
• Show resilience and self-awareness.

Care Certificate

Before going forward for end-point assessment, the apprentice must have completed:

• The 15 standards required by the Care Quality Commission [as set out in the Care Certificate]
• Level 1 Maths and English
• An evidence portfolio documenting their knowledge and skills development as well as their approach to the workplace (values and behaviours). Evidence must be gathered following completion of their programme of training and development and during the three months leading up to the planned date of the end-point assessment.

Before going forward for end-point assessment, the apprentice must have attempted Level 2 Maths and English.

The end-point assessment will consist of the following:

• 60-minute multiple choice test
• 90-minute observation of practice
• Evidence portfolio
• 30-60 minute interview

Your apprentice will not need to attend College. All support will be in the workplace.

You will need to provide your apprentice with any PPE required legally and to help them to undertake their role safely.

Your apprentice will be able to move on to an advanced apprenticeship as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker and then higher level apprenticeships in the same sector.

• Healthcare Support Worker
• Healthcare Assistant
• Nursing Assistant
• Nursing Auxiliary

You may already have someone in your organisation or someone has come to you direct asking for an apprenticeship, but if you don’t we have a free recruitment service to help you hire the best candidate for your organisation from our talent pool and external advertising through social media and the national apprenticeship services website

If you are an employer and you would like to know more, please email businessenquiries@derby-college.ac.uk or call 01332 387421