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New to care? Become a Healthcare Support Worker with us

If you're considering a career shift or stepping into the healthcare field, our two programmes to become a healthcare support worker are right for you! Explore our New to Care Programme or explore NHS Professional's Care Support Worker Programme below.

Our New to Care Programme

This role requires you to have current right to work in the UK, it is not eligible for sponsorship.

Embark on a healthcare career with our new to care programme. No prior healthcare experience? No problem! Dive into four weeks of training, combining study days and on-the-job training as a trainee healthcare s upport worker (HCSW). 

We will continue to support you to complete your Care Certificate (a nationally recognised qualification in care) within 12 weeks and help settle you into the role.  

It’s important that you’re a caring and kind person with a genuine desire to help and support patients and their families. If this sounds like you, then you already have the attributes that make a great healthcare support worker.  

As a healthcare support worker, you’ll be a hugely valuable support to our nursing teams providing care to our patients. Every day will be different and you’ll work alongside the rest of the team carrying out a wide range of tasks such as:  

  • Washing and dressing patients  
  • Serving meals and feeding patients  
  • Helping patients to move around  
  • Making beds  
  • Talking to patients and their families  
  • Monitoring patient’s conditions  

Full time hours are required for the first four weeks while you are a trainee; it will be from Monday to Friday and will involve some early and late shifts. 

On completion of the four weeks training and experience, flexible working opportunities can be discussed, with part time posts available from a minimum of 22.5 hours. All posts are within our inpatient areas and require you to work a range of shifts, including early, late, weekends, and night shifts. Long days are available in some areas.  

Here is a breakdown of the programme :

Trainee HCSW: Week 1 is training/induction. In the first week, you will receive corporate induction, be introduced to the role of HCSW, commence Care Certificate and complete mandatory training. Trainee HCSW: Week 2-4 is work experience. During work experience you will do 4 shifts (7.5 hours each, Monday to Friday between 08:00 - 20:00) per week gaining work experience and local induction with a designated buddy in the clinical team. You will also get 1 day in the classroom to continue to the completion of the Care Certificate. Substantive HCSW post: Week 5 is a substantive post. You’ll be employed into a permanent substantive HCSW post within a team. This means you will be expected to fulfil your duties as a HCSW but will continue to be supported by the clinical team. Substantive HCSW post: Week 5-12 is completion of the Care Certificate. You will be supported by your team to complete the Care Certificate and attend two further Care Certificate training days. This is a nationally recognised certificate in the NHS. Substantive HCSW post: 0-12 months is ongoing support. You will receive ongoing pastoral support and have the opportunity to engage with career conversations to fuel your development.

As a trainee HCSW, you will be paid at Band 2 wages. From day one you can gain access to our full staff benefits package, alongside a generous annual leave allowance and NHS pension. Upon completion of the programme, you will have access to a range of opportunities including registered nursing associate apprenticeships and enhanced pay for certain shifts.  

Register now

Applications for the first cohort have now closed, the advert for the next cohort intake will go live in summer time.

Please email the careers for further information on whcnhs.hwhctcareers@nhs.net.  

Join NHSP's Care Support Worker Programme

Care, earn and learn with NHS Professional's Care Support Worker Development Programme. If you have no previous experience in healthcare, but a desire to work in care and develop in your career, then the programme is the ideal pathway for you. The programme is:

  • Hosted by NHS Professionals
  • Offers a choice of mental health, physical health, hospital and community-based locations
  • Provides a guaranteed 30 hours work per week on the same ward
  • Paid at Band 2 £22,383 pro rata
  • You will work towards your Care Certificate qualification
  • On completion of your qualification, you will receive guaranteed employment as a Healthcare Support Worker

Apply on the NHS Professional's website