Page Content
Job profiles
Healthcare assistant
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£13,600 + per year
If you would like to care for people and make a positive difference to their lives, this could be the ideal job for you.
Healthcare assistants help with the day-to-day care of patients, either in hospitals or in patients’ homes. You may not need any qualifications to start work as a healthcare assistant. Once you apply for a job, you will need to pass a medical check and gain Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance.
Some parts of the work could be upsetting or messy. Understanding and respecting your patients is important. You’ll also need to be a friendly and caring person.
WorkDesc
The work
As a healthcare assistant your duties could include:
- helping patients to wash, shower or dress
- serving food or helping people eat
- making and changing beds
- turning patients who are confined to bed to avoid pressure sores
- talking to patients to help them feel less lonely or anxious
- helping patients to move around if they find it difficult
- giving out and collecting bedpans, and helping patients to the toilet
- making sure the ward or patients’ homes are tidy
- keeping supplies and equipment in order
- taking and recording temperature, pulse and breathing.
Your day-to-day work may include using aids and equipment to help lift patients. In hospitals you may also escort patients between departments.
Healthcare assistants are also known as support workers, nursing assistants and nursing auxiliaries.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work on a shift or rota system including nights, bank holidays and weekends. Flexible and part-time hours are often available.
You could work in the community or in a hospital setting. If you work in the community, you are likely to travel throughout the day between patients’ homes.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries can be between £13,600 and £16,700 a year. With experience, this can rise to around £18,500.
Additional allowances may be paid for working unsocial hours, like nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You may not need any qualifications to start work as a healthcare assistant. However, you may need previous experience (paid or voluntary) in a caring role, especially if you plan to work with people who have mental health problems or learning disabilities.
You can get further information on volunteering in the NHS by contacting the voluntary services coordinator or manager at your local NHS Trust. You can also find out about other volunteering opportunities in your area by visiting the do-it website.
Once you apply for a job, you will need to pass a medical check and gain Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance, to make sure that you are a suitable person to work with children or vulnerable adults. See the CRB website for details. Many employers will also want you to be prepared to work toward a relevant NVQ qualification.
To work in the community, you may need a driving licence in order to visit patients at different locations.
You may be able to become a healthcare assistant through an Apprenticeship scheme. You will need to check which schemes are available in your area. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit the Apprenticeships website.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you start work you will receive on the job training from your employer. You may also get external training on things like:
- hygiene
- health and safety
- techniques for lifting and moving patients
- personal care
- measuring and recording temperature, pulse, breathing and weight
- developing communication and interpersonal skills.
Many employers will also encourage you to work towards NVQ levels 2 or 3 in Health, or Health and Social Care.
You could go on to take a foundation degree in a subject such as adult mental health, applied health and social care, or assisting professional practice.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
As a healthcare assistant you would need to have:
- a friendly and caring personality
- the ability to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds
- tact and sensitivity
- an understanding and respectful approach to patients
- the ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
- patience and a sense of humour.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Skills for Health 
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You could work in the NHS, private hospitals, local authority or private residential and nursing homes, in hospices, with private agencies and in the community.
Experience as a healthcare assistant would be a good way to prepare for a range of health related careers, for example in nursing, midwifery and social work. You could also move into specialist support work or assistant practitioner roles in the areas of chiropody/podiatry, occupational therapy, radiography or physiotherapy. See the relevant job profiles on this website for more information.
With around one to two years' experience, an NVQ Level 3 in Health, and support from your employer, you may be able to apply for a secondment to nurse training. On secondment, you would receive a salary whilst studying for a degree or diploma in nursing. After you qualify, your employer may expect you to work with them for a minimum of around two years.
You may find the following links useful for vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
NHS Careers has sections on:
View full Job market information
News
