Clinical Healthcare apprenticeship
Clinical Healthcare Apprenticeship
Healthcare Assistant covers a range of occupations including nursing assistants, clinical support workers, nursing auxiliaries and therapy assistants.
A Healthcare Assistant provides personal care duties for patients and vital assistance to healthcare professionals in diagnosing, treating and caring for patients. Healthcare Assistants can work in therapy, and assist physiotherapists, radiographers, podiatrists, speech therapists, dieticians and occupational therapists.
These are rewarding support roles with a direct impact on patient experience and offer an ideal entry route to a wide range of NHS careers.
Many clinical support workers assist healthcare professionals in the delivery of patient care, taking on some of the more routine tasks such as welcoming and preparing patients, explaining treatment and updating patient records.
Read more about the different roles of clinical support staff
A great stepping-stone to progressing up the NHS career ladder, you could be supported to progress into further training, such as a foundation degree to become an assistant practitioner or a senior healthcare assistant. You could also go further and with the right qualifications/evidence of academic ability, as a healthcare professional such as a nurse, podiatrist, midwife or occupational therapist.
Visit the Health Careers website to explore more about the role of healthcare professionals.
Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 | Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3
You can apply through the National Apprenticeship Service website or via the NHS Jobs Website.
What type of roles are available
Many clinical support workers assist healthcare professionals in the delivery of patient care. They work with an individual practitioner or a team, taking on some of the more routine tasks such as welcoming and preparing patients, explaining treatment and updating patient records.
Roles include:
- dietetic assistant
- healthcare assistant
- maternity support worker
- occupational therapy support worker
- orthotic technician
- physiotherapy assistant
- podiatry assistant
- prosthetic technician
- radiography assistant and imaging support assistant
- speech and language therapy assistant
You can read more about the different roles by clicking here
Career progression
This can be a great stepping-stone to progressing up the NHS career ladder. You could be supported to progress into further training, such as a foundation degree to become an assistant practitioner or a senior healthcare assistant. You could also go further and with the right qualifications/evidence of academic ability, as a healthcare professional such as a nurse, podiatrist, midwife or occupational therapist.
Visit the Health Careers website to explore more about the role and where it can lead to.
The qualification
Healthcare support workers (HCSWs) work as part of a team providing high-quality and compassionate care to individuals. You will carry out well-defined routine clinical duties like monitoring an individual’s conditions (by checking things like blood pressure, temperature or weight), and checking on their overall progress, comfort and wellbeing.
Depending on where you work, you may also help them to eat, drink, wash, dress or go to the toilet. You 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. You will also carry out non-clinical duties and, depending on where you work, this could include things like keeping records, making beds, tidying up your work area, returning or cleaning the equipment used during a clinical activity. You will be able to address straightforward problems in your 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 your team may include workers from both health and social care. You will report to a registered healthcare practitioner who will directly or indirectly supervise your work.
We offer two qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3
Healthcare Support Worker Level 2
Further information on the qualification can be found at: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/healthcare-support-worker/
Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3
Further Information on the qualification can be found at: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/senior-healthcare-support-worker/
How to apply
You can apply through the National Apprenticeship Service website or via the NHS Jobs Website. Applications are then shortlisted against the set criteria on the relevant person specification. Please note you must be 18 to apply for Clinical Apprenticeships.
What happens after I apply?
Your application form will be submitted for short-listing process, which involves assessing whether you meet the criteria required on the person specification for the role.
Candidates who meet the criteria will be invited to attend an interview.
