How do I become a Health Care Assistant?

To become a Health Care Assistant at Exemplar Health Care, it’s important to know the steps to take to ensure a smooth application. Health Care Assistants are integral to Exemplar Health Care. They support people with all aspects of their day-to-day lives, and are the perfect role if you truly want to make a difference.

What is a Health Care Assistant? 

Health Care Assistants (also referred to as Care Assistants, Care Workers or Support Workers) support those in need with a range of activities. 

A Health Care Assistant empowers people to live their best lives. They do this by supporting and assisting them with daily activities, ensuring that they make every day better for those living with complex needs. 

Being a Health Care Assistant is an extremely rewarding role. In it, you’ll provide person-centred care to support your service users to maximise their independence and live their best lives.

What do Health Care Assistants at Exemplar Health Care do? 

As a Health Care Assistant with Exemplar Health Care, you’ll provide person-centred care to support our service users to maximise their independence and live their best lives. 

Your role may include supporting service users to take up new hobbies, meet friends and family, get involved in social activities, go to the gym or just to look their best for a day out, all whilst providing a safe and comfortable environment for them to be in. 

You’ll be working in a team of up to 6 Health Care Assistants supporting 10 service users. This allows you to give more time to those in need as the work will be balanced evenly and fairly, enabling you to provide a high-quality service. 

No two days are the same at Exemplar Health Care. By working in a friendly team you’ll see first-hand the difference you make every day to our service users and their lives. 

What qualifications do you need to become a Health Care Assistant?

Whilst a relevant qualification or training such as a diploma, NVQ or BTEC is desirable, you don’t need to have any qualifications to be a Health Care Assistant with us. 

Some experience within a similar working environment will always be desirable. However, it is not mandatory as we can support and train you at any stage of your Health Care Assistant journey. 

GCSEs in English and Maths will be useful for the role and a good understanding of numeracy and literacy is always helpful when working with nurses and other healthcare professionals. 

What skills do you need to be a Health Care Assistant at Exemplar Health Care? 

Although few qualifications are needed to become a Health Care Assistant, a range of skills is required to ensure that you can carry out your job as successfully as possible. 

First and foremost, just like every employee here at Exemplar Health Care, our Health Care Assistants all live and breathe our values of fun, integrity, responsiveness, success and teamwork.

If your values match ours, then we’re off to a great start. 

To be a Health Care Assistant you must show a commitment to caring, be an excellent team player and be able to understand the thinking behind person-centred care. Working in a care home with Exemplar Health Care can be a challenging, but very rewarding environment, so the ability to think on your feet and remain focused and calm in difficult situations is also important in our Health Care Assistant roles. 

Some other vital skills to be a successful Health Care Assistant include: 

•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills to allow you to communicate with other staff and service users as well as allowing you to feel confident in filling out care plans and other important documents. 
•    Time management and organisational skills that ensure that you are ready to complete your work when required to. 
•    A willingness to learn and improve, a can-do attitude is required by all at Exemplar Health Care. 
•    Approachable and a great team player to make sure everyone working with you feels comfortable. 
•    Friendly, compassionate and kind. This will take you far at Exemplar Health Care. 

For full understanding of the skills and knowledge required, read our Job Brochure.

What are the day to day activities of a Health Care Assistant at Exemplar Health Care?

As a Health Care Assistant with Exemplar Health Care, you’ll support the service users in your home to live a fulfilling life by providing the highest standards of care. 

No two days are the same - however, as a general guide, your days could involve the following: 

•    Supporting people to take part in activities that are meaningful to them; as well as group activities and parties in the home. This can include things such as cooking, meeting friends or gardening. 
•    Help with personal care including; getting in and out of bed, getting washed or getting dressed. Ensuring they feel their best every day. 
•    Providing companionship and being a friend to talk to. 
•    Helping with meal times and getting around the home. 
•    Outlining and completing care plans.
•    Working in a team you’ll provide advice, support and guidance to your service users as well as your colleagues if needs be. Team work makes the dream work! 

Our approach to care involves supporting people in every aspect of their lives, ensuring that they don’t feel alone in what they do. You can make a difference every day and ensure our service users feel comfortable and at ease, living the most fulfilling life possible. 

Who will I support at Exemplar Health Care?

Exemplar Health Care supports adults living with a range of complex and high acuity needs.

Our homes tend to specialise in supporting people with specific conditions and disabilities such as brain injuries, neuro-disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities. We also have several learning disability services.

Read about the specialisms of our care homes on our care home webpages.

As a Health Care Assistant with Exemplar Health Care, you’ll be empowered to really make a difference.

In this role, you’ll work with the same team and service users to ensure continuity of care.

Our homes are relatively small in size, which means that you’ll have sufficient time to make a real difference to the lives of those in your care.

What are the career development opportunities for Health Care Assistants at Exemplar Health Care?

There are lots of opportunities to learn and develop in your career as a Health Care Assistant, if you wish. 

If your application is successful, you’ll do a four day welcome induction. This covers mandatory and statutory training including moving and handling, safeguarding and person-centred care. This induction also includes our Exemplar Positive Behaviour Support training.

After that, you’ll continue your induction in your home with the support of a buddy.

Throughout your employment, you’ll have regular one-to-ones and Performance Development Reviews with your Manager to review your progress and discuss your career aspirations.

There are lots of opportunities to continue your learning as a Health Care Assistant including:

•    Mandatory and statutory training (MAST) to refresh skills and knowledge
•    Apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships
•    Specialist clinical skills development such as tracheostomy care
•    In-house, CPD certificated ABC of Caring programme

Alongside this, you have the opportunity to progress into further roles. These can include a Senior Health Care Assistant and Central Services roles including recruitment and training. 

How can I apply for a Health Care Assistant job at Exemplar Health Care?

Visit our online job search to find a Health Care Assistant role at Exemplar Health Care.

Good luck with your application.

We look forward to hearing from you!