Healthcare assistant
Healthcare assistants look after patients in hospitals or sometimes at a patient's home.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a healthcare assistant, you could:
- help patients shower and get dressed
- help people eat
- use equipment to lift and move patients
- talk to patients and reassure them
- help patients to use the toilet
- make beds, tidy the ward or patients' homes
- take patients' temperature or pulse
- attend meetings with other healthcare professionals
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a client's home, at an adult care home or at a hospice.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Career path and progression
Healthcare assistant roles can be a stepping stone to other health careers.
With training, you could become an assistant practitioner in:
- chiropody or podiatry
- occupational therapy
- radiography
- physiotherapy
With experience you could train new healthcare assistants.
You could also apply to train as a nurse, radiographer, dietitian, midwife or social worker.
Health Careers has information about careers in all areas of health.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to work well with your hands
- excellent verbal communication skills
- customer service skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You could do a college course, which may help you when looking for work.
Courses include:
- preparing for further study in health, social care and social work
- health and social care
- T Level in Health
Most health and social care courses include work placements which is a good way to get experience.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You can get into this job through a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
You could work as a trainee care assistant in a residential home or care home while you complete a qualification.
You'll find it useful to get some paid or voluntary experience in a care setting. This will help when you apply for jobs or training.
You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.
Career tips
When you apply for jobs, you'll need to show an understanding of how NHS values apply in your work.
Professional and industry bodies
You may find it useful to join the Royal College of Nursing to find professional development and training opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a healthcare assistant from Health Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.