Healthcare Assistant
Also advertised as: Care Support Worker, Clinical Support Worker, Healthcare Assistant, Healthcare Support Worker, Nursing Assistant, Theatre Support Worker
Supports nurses and patients with personal care, observations and daily ward or clinic work.
What the job involves
Healthcare assistants provide hands-on patient care under the supervision of registered staff. You help with washing, eating and mobility, take observations, keep records and reassure patients and families. It is the most common way into a clinical career without a degree, and NHS trusts often fund progression.
Typical responsibilities
- Support patients with personal care and mobility
- Take and record observations
- Assist nurses with clinical procedures
- Keep the ward or clinic clean and stocked
- Communicate patient concerns to registered staff
Common employers
- NHS trusts
- Private hospitals
- Hospices
- GP practices
- Care homes
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £25,000 a year
With experience
£26,000 – £30,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift based including nights and weekends
Working environment
Wards, clinics and community settings
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Personal care
- Observation and reporting
- Compassion
- Infection control
- Teamwork
Transferable skills you may already have
- Caring for family members
- Working under pressure
- Customer service
Requirements employers ask for
- Personal care
- Observation and reporting
- Compassion
- Infection control
- Teamwork
- Enhanced DBS check
- Care Certificate completed in post
- Enhanced DBS
Useful but not essential
- Caring for family members
- Working under pressure
- Customer service
- Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
- Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship
Helpful qualifications
- Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
- Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship
Licences and checks
- Enhanced DBS
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Healthcare Support Worker (Level 2)
- Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Level 3)
- Experience route — Build evidence in a related role, then move across using your recorded achievements.
- Apprenticeship route — An apprenticeship lets you earn while you train towards this role.
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Health and social care
- Related subject: Biology
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Healthcare Assistant
next
Nursing Associate
next
Registered Nurse
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Direct route to nursing via apprenticeship
- Employers fund qualifications
- Meaningful daily impact
What people find hard
- Physically and emotionally demanding
- Shift work including nights
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a healthcare assistant?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a healthcare assistant earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £25,000 a year, rising towards £30,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Caring for family members, Working under pressure, Customer service.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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