Health Care Assistant jobs
Whether you’re just starting your career in healthcare or you’re looking for a new opportunity, working as a Health Care Assistant is extremely rewarding.
What does a Health Care Assistant do?
A Health Care Assistant role involves supporting people with all aspects of their day-to-day living, which may include: taking up new hobbies, meeting friends, getting involved in social activities, going to the gym or looking their best!
No two days will ever be the same, but your responsibilities will include:
- supporting people with their personal care
- assisting people at meal times
- understanding individual health and wellbeing needs
- encouraging and supporting people to take part in social activities, both in and out of the home
- promoting choice, dignity, independence and respect
- completing and maintaining care records.
Our higher-than-average staffing levels give you more time to spend with the people you support.
Training for Health Care Assistants
There are lots of opportunities to learn and develop in your career as a Health Care Assistant, if you wish.
When you start with us, you’ll do a company induction which covers basic training such as health and safety and first aid. If you’re new to care, you’ll complete the Care Certificate. After that, you’ll do a role specific induction in your home with the support of a buddy.
You can also benefit from:
- ABC of Caring in-house training programme
- apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships
- clinical skills training
- formal qualifications such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care
- vocational qualifications such as dementia care and team leading.
FAQs about Health Care Assistant jobs
Want to know more about working as a Health Care Assistant? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about Health Care Assistant jobs.
- What type of work does a Health Care Assistant do?
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A Health Care Assistant or Care Worker supports people with all aspects of their day to day living.
This might include supporting someone to get dressed in the morning, eat their meals, socialise with family and friends, take up new hobbies and access education or work.
Health Care Assistants can work in a care home, in people’s own homes or in the community.
At Exemplar Health Care, you’ll work in one of our specialist care homes. You’ll usually work on the same unit, supporting the same service users, so you’ll get to know them really well.
- What qualifications do I need to be a Health Care Assistant?
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When applying for a Health Care Assistant job, it might be helpful to have a social care qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care.
It will also help to have qualifications that show good English and number skills such as GCSE A-C in English and maths.
However, if you don’t have a qualification, don’t worry – you can do them when you’re in the job.
What’s really important is that you have the right values and behaviours.
At Exemplar Health Care, our values are fun, integrity, responsive, success and team work. Read about what our values mean.
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Do I need previous experience to apply for a Health Care Assistant job?
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When applying for a Health Care Assistant job, it might be useful to have experience in a similar role or with disabled people.
This could be through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
However, it isn’t necessary to have previous experience as a Health Care Assistant or Care Worker.
What’s really important is that you have the right values and behaviours.
At Exemplar Health Care, our values are fun, integrity, responsive, success and team work. Read about what our values mean.
- How much will I earn as a Health Care Assistant?
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As a Health Care Assistant, you can expect to earn at least the National Living Wage.
In 2021, the average salary for a Health Care Assistant was between £16,000 and £18,000 per year.
The average hourly rate for a UK Health Care Assistant was approximately between £8.50 and £9.50.
At Exemplar Health Care, our Health Care Assistants earn up to £9.85 per hour, dependent on experience.
- What career progression opportunities does a Health Care Assistant have?
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There are lots of career progression opportunities for Health Care Assistants.
When you start in the role, you’ll do a thorough induction to learn more about the role and the service users in your home. If you’re new to care, you’ll complete the Care Certificate which covers the minimum standards that everyone working in social care needs to know.
As a Health Care Assistant, you’ll have opportunities to do a vocational qualification such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care or a continuing professional development qualification such as in dementia, end of life or autism care.
At Exemplar Health Care you can do our in-house ABC of Caring training programme (that’s been certificated by the CPD Certification Service).
When you have the right experience, knowledge and skills, you could progress into a Senior Health Care Assistant role, and manage a team on your unit. You can also train to become a Nursing Associate which offers a great progression route into nursing.
Some of our Health Care Assistants become champions in their home, such as a Training Champion, which can lead to progression into our Central Services.
There are lots of Central Services roles such as administration, recruitment, marketing and training.
- Is care work a good job?
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Care work is an extremely rewarding job.
Many people are drawn to care work because they want to give something back.
Most care workers are motivated to make a difference to the lives of the people they support.
As a Health Care Assistant, you’ll have a meaningful impact on others. You’ll get great job satisfaction from seeing the people you support progress and be happy – it’s often the small daily wins that mean the most.
- What hours will I work as a Health Care Assistant?
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The hours you’ll work as a Health Care Assistant can vary depending on your contract.
The typical hours for a full-time Health Care Assistant are 37 – 40 hours a week.
Most full-time Health Care Assistants work three 12-hour shifts each week.
However, there may be opportunities for you to work more of shorter shifts.
You’ll usually be contracted to work either day or night shifts, but sometimes, you might be asked to cover both.
- How can I become a Health Care Assistant?
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There are no set entry requirements to become a Health Care Assistant.
It’s more important to have the right values and good skills such as communication, writing and number skills.
You can get into a Health Care Assistant role through:
- a college course such as Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- an apprenticeship such as a Healthcare Support Worker
- applying for a job online or in your local care home
- volunteering.
Exemplar Health Care is recruiting Health Care Assistants across England.
If you’re interested in working as a Health Care Assistant, use our online job search to find a vacancy near you.
Read the job description and person specification. If you feel that you’re right for the role, fill in the online application and we’ll get back to you shortly.