Details
Job Title: Healthcare Assistant
Employer: Topmost Clinical Care
Location: Calne, England
Salary: £11.00-£12.00 per hour
Terms of employment: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent, Zero hours contract
Start date: Starts as soon as possible
Job Summary
We seek a dedicated Healthcare Assistant to join our team in providing compassionate care to individuals in various healthcare settings. The ideal candidate will have a passion for helping others and possess the necessary skills to support healthcare professionals in delivering high-quality care. Making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need of care is paramount to us!
Responsibilities
- Assist in the implementation of care plans under the supervision of healthcare professionals
- Provide personal care to patients in a respectful and dignified manner
- Support residents in a care home environment with daily activities
- Communicate effectively with patients, families, and colleagues
- Drive to different locations as required for home care visits
- Utilize IT systems for documentation and record-keeping
Necessary Skills
- Proficient in the English language, both written and verbal
- Ability to follow and implement care plans effectively
- Experience working in a care home or similar healthcare setting
- Strong communication skills to interact with patients and colleagues
- Valid driving licence for home care visits
- Basic IT skills for documentation purposes
Benefits
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Referral program
- UK visa sponsorship
Schedule
- 10-hour shift
- 12-hour shift
- 8-hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- Night shift
- Overtime
- Weekend availability
Supplemental Pay
- Bonus scheme
- Loyalty bonus
- Performance bonus
Ability to commute/relocate
- Leeds: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Requirements
Languages: English
Education: GCSE or equivalent
Experience: Care home: 1 year. Home care: 1 year
License/Certification: Driving Licence
Work Location: In person
How to Apply
Online through the company website.
Topmost Clinical Care is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace.
All qualified candidates will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other factor prohibited by law or contract.
What is a Healthcare Assistant?
Healthcare assistants work in medical settings such as GP practices, hospitals, `and NHS. You could work for the NHS or a private organization. Your exact duties will depend on the environment you’re working in.
A healthcare assistant working in an in-patient ward in a hospital has different responsibilities than someone who works at a GP practice. Regardless of where you work, you’ll support patients’ overall care.
It’s easy to confuse the role of a healthcare assistant with that of a care assistant. While there are overlapping responsibilities, a healthcare assistant is a distinct career path from a care assistant.
The main difference is that care assistants usually work in care settings rather than medical environments. This includes working in social care environments such as residential care homes or providing care services in people’s homes.
What Does a Healthcare Assistant Do?
Healthcare assistants take on various tasks to support medical staff and care for patients daily, maintaining their dignity and keeping them as comfortable as possible.
These include personal care tasks such as assistance with washing, dressing, and going to the toilet. You might also assist patients with eating and drinking.
You may also need to physically support patients, such as helping them get in and out of bed or move around. You must maintain robust documentation and record-keeping to ensure clear communication with colleagues.
Skills of a Healthcare Assistant
- Communication skills: This is vital because healthcare assistants work closely with colleagues and patients. Communicating with patients is essential because you must always treat them with care and dignity.
- Compassion: Healthcare assistants spend much of their time supporting people who are unwell and might not be able to do things for themselves. Therefore, a caring and compassionate attitude is essential.
- Patience: The patients you work with might do things slower than usual, so patience and empathy are crucial.
- Physical strength: You need to support and help patients move around physically. Most days, you also spend a lot of time standing up, so you need good physical strength to cope.
- Being a team player: The demands of a healthcare environment are constantly changing, and you need to be a good team player to support your colleagues effectively. Similarly, you need to be able to use your initiative when appropriate to support your team effectively.
- Willingness to work actively: Being a healthcare assistant involves direct patient contact. You must be comfortable with this and willing to provide active support.
Qualifications of a Healthcare Assistant
You don’t need formal qualifications before working as a healthcare assistant. However, good basic literacy and numeracy skills are helpful.
Once you’ve been hired as a new healthcare assistant, you need to complete the Care Certificate. This compulsory work-based training program equips you with the skills you need to work as a healthcare assistant.
Reasons to Become a Healthcare Assistant
Helping clients and their families
As a Health Care Assistant, you will help clients to be as independent as possible. Families will rely on you to care for their loved ones and provide the kind of diligent support they may be unable to give themselves.
As you care for your clients, you will also give their families peace of mind.
Be a valued member of the healthcare team.
Health Care Assistants provide clients with the most direct personal care and support in continuing care settings.
Other healthcare team members, such as nurses and therapists, will rely on you to be the “eyes and ears” of care and report any changes that might affect the client’s health and safety.
Working within a high-demand field
There is a strong demand for Healthcare Assistants in urban centers and rural communities, and they are also in high demand across the country.
The aging population and need for continuing care are expected to drive demand for healthcare assistants, and it has been suggested that the need for community care workers could double in the next decade.
Building a solid career foundation
Training as a healthcare assistant is an outstanding achievement, and many find long and fulfilling careers in the field. After a few years of working, you may move on to another role in healthcare.
Some healthcare assistants use their experience as a stepping-stone to further their training as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN). In addition, you can build a strong foundation of skills that will serve you well in any future healthcare role.
It is also a great way to try patient-centered care and make some savings before investing in a multi-year college or university degree in nursing or a related field.
Competitive wage
Because of the high demand for workers, those in the healthcare industry are among the highest-paid. Even in entry-level healthcare jobs, the earning and growth potential is better than in many other fields.
As a full-time or part-time employee, you would have access to a comprehensive benefits package and a benefit pension plan. Most graduates start with casual or part-time employment and gradually work up to full-time status.
Job flexibility and diversity
As a healthcare assistant, you may work full-time or part-time hours or on a call-in (casual) basis. You can apply for permanent, temporary, or casual positions.
Shift schedules may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. If you’re ready to take the first step toward becoming a Health Care Assistant, find a recognized HCA training program near you.
What are the Job Prospects for Healthcare Assistants?
Working as a healthcare assistant gives you plenty of opportunities to develop your career. This role gives you transferable skills that you can use in other fields, including in different positions within healthcare.
Once you’ve completed the basic training, most employers offer further training to help you develop your skills. The nature of this depends on your work environment; you can ask about what opportunities for progression are available at the interview stage.
It might include learning additional skills like measuring patients’ vital signs or catheterization in a hospital setting. This career is an excellent step if you want to eventually work as a nurse.
Taking a nursing apprenticeship or training as a nursing associate while working as a healthcare assistant is usually possible. Gaining experience as a healthcare assistant allows you to progress into other healthcare roles, such as paramedics, pharmacy workers, or physiotherapists.
