Health Care Assistant Training
Health Care Assistants
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) provides health care services to the population of Norwich and Norfolk. All staff in the hospital work as part of a team following hospital policies and procedures but this is especially true of our Health Care Assistants. Health care Assistants work alongside Registered Nurses supporting the delivery of nursing care to patients.
The role of the Health Care Assistant in the NNUH is very important in supporting the efficient running of the wards and the welfare of our patients and their families. We have Health Care Assistants working in all areas of the hospital including wards, outpatient departments and operating theatres.
There are opportunities to gain new skills and experiences in many fields of Health care and to develop and gain further training- leading to qualifications.
The NNUH is a friendly caring hospital that offers the opportunity to be part of community that is passionate about providing the best care for our patients
So what’s the job really like?
- The main focus of your role will be on patients, helping them through difficult times, making sure they feel safe and well cared for.
- Our patients need care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so we need staff who can work a range of shifts including weekends, evenings and bank holidays.
- All nursing staff will assist patients with personal care and maintain their hygiene with dignity and respect which will include helping patients with washing and going to the toilet.
- Once trained, all nursing staff will be able to recognise emergency situations… and ACT on them!
- All nursing staff will encounter stressful situations while at work so they need to be able to cope well under pressure.
- All nursing staff are required to undertake training days on a regular basis to make sure they have the knowledge and skills needed to deliver the best care to our patients.
- We look after some very ill patients, some of whom will, unfortunately, not make a full recovery. All nurses will, at some time, look after patients in the last days or hours of their life.
What kind of training and development can I expect?
All new Health Care Assistants joining the Trust will undertake a two week induction programme which will be a mixture of classroom sessions and practice placement experience.
This is the first stage of the National Care Certificate which all new Health Care assistants must complete within 12 weeks of the start of employment.
The Care Certificate is an induction programme that sets out the learning outcomes, competencies and standards of behavior that are expected to ensure that you will deliver caring, compassionate and high quality care.
You will be supervised by Registered Nurses and experienced Health Care Assistants until you are assessed as competent in each standard.
This is the first stage of an exciting career pathway for HCA’s. There are opportunities to undertake the level 2 Diploma in Clinical Health Care Support; the Trainee Nursing Associate programme and pathways into Registered Nurse Education.
How can I apply for this role?
If this sounds like the kind of career you can see yourself in, please apply for one of our Health Care Assistant vacancies on NHS jobs or on the hospital website via “working for us”.
You must meet the essential criteria in the person specification. This includes ensuring that you have the correct qualification level of Maths and English. Please ensure that you fill in all aspects of the application form including what is asked from your supporting statement. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
If your application is shortlisted, you will be asked to attend an assessment where you will come to the hospital for a face to face interview. You may also be asked to take part in a range of activities, such as a numeracy test, to assess your suitability for a role as a Health Care Assistant in the hospital.
For further information please visit our recruitment pages