Healthcare assistant role, duties and responsibilities
A healthcare assistant, also known as a HCA, works across many care settings, including:
- Hospital
- Community
- Care home
- General practice (GP)
Depending on the care setting a healthcare assistant chooses to work in, can determine their HCA role, duties and responsibilities.
What is a healthcare assistant?
A healthcare assistant is a healthcare professional that supports patients or clients with their clinical care and daily needs. In most cases, they will either work alongside a nurse or report directly to them if the nurse is overseeing the individual’s care.
A HCA will carry out multiple tasks during their shifts and may provide care to one person or several people, especially if they are working in a care home, hospital or general practice. In a community setting, also known as care at home, a HCA will usually care for one person.
What is the role of a healthcare assistant?
The role of a healthcare assistant can often be varied to provide an overall level of care and support to the people requiring care services.
At Thornbury Community Services, our healthcare assistants deliver highly bespoke and tailored care to our clients within our complex care at home service. The conditions we support in our complex care service include:
- Acquired brain injury
- Spinal injuries
- End-of-life and palliative care
- Physical disabilities
- Neurological conditions
At TCS, we have an extensive team of healthcare assistants and nurses with unrivalled expertise and experience, meaning we can support individuals with the most complex of care conditions and needs.
If you’re looking for a new HCA job where you will work with a team of passionate healthcare professionals committed to delivering exceptional care, without exception, then view our latest HCA jobs near you.
Healthcare assistant duties and responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of a healthcare assistant consist of many medical, clinical and care related tasks. There will be certain responsibilities a HCA will have to carry out in their role that are unique to the person requiring care and their changing healthcare needs.
Working as a HCA at TCS, you can expect to carry out a range of duties and responsibilities, including:
- Administering medication
- Communicating with the person receiving care and their family
- Assisting with daily activities such as cooking, cleaning and personal care
- Monitoring the health and wellbeing of the individual
- Supporting the individual with their nutrition and diet
Healthcare assistant key skills and qualities
There are many skills and qualities that can help you succeed as a healthcare assistant.
At TCS, we look for HCAs who can demonstrate the following skills and qualities in their role.
Passionate
Resilient
Proficient
Organised
Observant
Dependable
Healthcare assistant salary and pay rates
Depending on the care setting you work in, and your employer, this can dictate whether you receive a HCA salary or pay rates.
Working as a HCA at TCS you can expect to receive hourly rates of pay. To learn more about the pay rates we offer, visit our HCA pay rates page.
Healthcare assistant role FAQs
To learn more about the role of a healthcare assistant, their duties and responsibilities and how you can join Thornbury Community Services, read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) below.
Healthcare assistants and support workers are often grouped together and in some settings there may be overlaps of the purpose of those roles and the types of care they provide.
Generally, healthcare assistant roles are based within hospitals, care homes and community settings. They will assist with medication, monitoring the health condition of the patients or clients under their care and provide personal care and support with daily tasks.
Whereas a support worker is commonly associated with providing care and support to people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions. Working as a support worker, you will provide companionship, guidance and support to ensure the individual in your care can carry out activities, develop their confidence and build their independence over time.
At TCS, we recruit healthcare assistants to work in our complex care at home service that supports adults and children with highly complex clincial conditions to receive care at home.
We also recruit support workers to work in our learning disabilities, autism and mental health service. In their roles, they provide person-centred care and support to adults and children in their own homes who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, autism or a mental health condition.
You can become a healthcare assistant by taking a course during college, completing an apprenticeship or finding a role working as a training care assistant, such as in a care home or residential setting.
Following this, you can progress further in your career and provide care to people with more complex needs and conditions.
Some employers may require you to have a qualification to work as a healthcare assistant at their company.
Qualifications that can support you to become a healthcare assistant include:
- A Level 2 Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Health, Social Care and Social Work
- A Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- A Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care
- A T Level in Health (health and science)
To find out more about becoming a healthcare assistant, the required qualifications and career development opportunities available, visit the National Careers page on the Government’s website.
Working as a healthcare assistant at TCS, you can expect to deliver ‘Outstanding’ CQC-rated care to our clients. You will work with a passionate and dedicated team of healthcare professionals who strive to improve people’s lives by providing exceptional care at home.
Upon joining TCS, you will receive great rates of pay, an extensive benefits and rewards package, an array of development training courses and 24/7 support from our specialist team.
To find your next healthcare assistant job with TCS today, simply register your interest here and our team will be in touch.
Join Thornbury Community Services
Start your career with Thornbury Community Services today and deliver exceptional care to adults and children in their homes.
