Healthcare assistants, which are commonly referred to as support workers, nursing assistants, or nursing auxiliaries, help healthcare professionals with the daily care of patients.
The majority of the patients that healthcare assistants care for are elderly, disabled, or mentally ill. In addition to providing medical care, the duties of a healthcare assistant may include assisting patients with washing, eating, mobility issues (such as turning over in bed or going to the toilet), and housekeeping.
How Much Are Healthcare Assistants Paid?
Healthcare assistants are paid between £13,000 and £18,200 approximately per year, depending on experience.
What Traits Do Successful Healthcare Assistants Possess?
It is to the benefit of both healthcare assistants and their patients if the assistants are friendly, personable, caring, open-minded to other cultures, tactful, empathetic, sensitive, respectful, patient, good-natured, and good-humored.
When and Where Do Healthcare Assistants Work?
As many patients require round-the-clock care, healthcare assistants are often asked to work unusual hours or days. Almost every healthcare assistant work schedule includes some nights, bank holidays, and weekends. Employment opportunities for healthcare assistants exist in hospitals, community centers, and private residences. However, many assistants who work in the private sector must travel between numerous homes each shift.
What Qualifactions and Experience Is Needed to Become a Healthcare Assistant?
Since many employers of healthcare assistants provide training, it is possible to secure a job as an assistant without specific qualifications or previous experience. However, some employers do require their workers to have at least some previous care experience, even if it was unpaid, especially for positions that involve caring for the mentally ill.
Volunteer opportunities are available through the NHS. As healthcare assistants work with children and vulnerable adults, all applicants must pass both a medical check and a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Employers often favor candidates who are willing to work as an apprentice initially or are willing to work toward a related NVQ qualifaction.
An educational background in adult mental health, applied health, applied social care, or assisting professional practice is beneficial, but not necessary. Finally, a healthcare assistant who wishes to work in the private sector must have a valid driving license in order to travel to multiple clients during each shift.