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Healthcare assistants
Healthcare Assistants are essential to patient care across South West London’s NHS hospitals, working closely with nurses and clinical teams every day to support, comfort, and care for those in need.
Be the Heart of Patient Care as a Healthcare Assistant
As a Healthcare Assistant in the NHS, you'll play a hands-on role in delivering compassionate care and supporting patients with their daily needs. Working alongside nurses and other healthcare professionals, HCAs are a crucial part of our hospital teams across South West London – helping patients feel safe, seen, and supported every step of the way.
Do I need qualifications?
No formal qualifications are needed to become a Healthcare Assistant.
Many of our team members have joined straight from school or college, often without prior healthcare experience or qualifications. Others have embraced this rewarding career path later in life, while some have transitioned to the NHS after working in social care settings, such as care homes.
Will I recieve training?
As a HCA, you'll receive training in essential nursing skills and work towards achieving the Care Certificate – a national qualification.
You may also be offered the chance to study for qualifications through an apprenticeships such as:
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the NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
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the NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
Is there career progression?
With experience and further training, you can progress to a senior healthcare assistant role.
From there, you may choose to train as an assistant practitioner or nursing associate. With the right qualifications or evidence of academic ability, you could also go on to become a nurse, podiatrist, midwife, or occupational therapist.
Hear from Ana de Stefano a Health Care Assistant at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
