Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) is a broad term that describes a wide range of staff working in roles that support the delivery of care and services across Health and Social Care Organisations.
Within Nursing, Midwifery and the Allied Health Professions you might hear HCSWs described as assistants, auxiliaries, technicians or technical instructors. HCSWs are employed within every area of the NHS and our wards, clinics, community services and primary care services rely on HCSWs as a core part of their teams.
Within NHS Grampian there are approximately ?? HCSWs employed within Nursing, Midwifery and AHP teams (NMAHP) with additional staff employed within bank or ‘as and when required’ roles.
HCSWs are not currently regulated by Professional Bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and are not part of the registered workforce, but work alongside them and under their supervision. Many HCSWs hold relevant qualifications that support them in doing their jobs such as SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification) and HNC (Higher National Certificate) Level qualifications.
There are usually good opportunities to apply for a range of HCSW positions within NHS Grampian. Some more senior HCSW roles may ask applicants to have previous experience of working within Health or Social Care and may ask for applicants to have a particular level of academic qualifications such as SVQ level 2 or SVQ level 3. Entry level HCSW roles usually ask for applicants to have a good general education and will provide those with no previous experience of working in health with appropriate work based training and education to support them in doing their jobs.
Many managers would say that being a Caring and Compassionate person who is able to work well with others in a team are the most important qualities that they look for in appointing a Healthcare Support Worker.
There are many benefits to working as a HCSW and lots of those working in the role say that the best part of their job is being able to make a difference for patients and their families. Healthcare Support Workers also describe enjoying the variety that their job provides as well as the opportunity to learn vital skills and access training.
There are part-time, and full-time roles as well as opportunities to apply for a bank position which provides more flexible and ‘as and when required’ opportunities to work as a HCSW.
- SVQ and work based learning information
- Information on applying for NHC nursing
- Information on Modern Apprenticeships
- What training and courses are available for HCSWs?
- Support for your learning
- library access
- learning and development links
- improving your literacy
- computer skills etc
HNC in Care and Administrative Practice (HNC CAP)
NHS Grampian supported route to the HNC in Care and Administrative Practice (HNC CAP) at NESCOL (formerly Aberdeen College) or Moray College. Applicants must:- Have been working as a Nursing HCSW within an adult, mental health or learning disabilities service for NHS Grampian for more than 12 months and hold a permanent NHSG contract within a permanent post.
- Be employed within the in-patient service at Elmwood for the Learning Disabilities route.
- Hold permanent residence within the UK or within the European community.
- Match the Scottish Government funding criteria to allow course fees to be paid (www.saas.gov.uk).
- Have signed confirmation of support for their application from their line manager and area's budget holder.
- Be able to provide evidence of recent learning.
- Not have to give up their current post, grade or salary for the duration of the course.
- Work full-time (37.5 hours per week equivalent) for the duration of the HNC CAP. Staff who are not on a full-time contract (37.5 hours per week equivalent) can apply but their line manager will have to complete a change form to make them up to full-time for the duration of the course. If this is not agreed the candidate will require to continue to be paid as per their current contracted hours but to attend both college and placements on a full-time basis for the period of the academic year.
- Require occupational health screening and PVG clearance prior to commencing the HNC CAP programme.
- On successful completion of the NHC CAP programme they will be allowed direct entry to Year 2 of the Pre-registration Nurse Education Programme at Robert Gordon University / Napier University. At this point they will leave NHSG to complete the Pre-registration course. Further financial help can be accessed for these two subsequent undergraduate years via a bursary.
Open University route to Nursing
There are opportunities for HCSWs within NHS Grampian to study part-time for a nursing degree with the Open University. Successful candidates will study for their degree over 4 years, whilst still being employed and working as a HCSW. In order to fulfill the entry requirements for the Open University Degree you must meet the following criteria:- You are required to be in a substantive post as a HCSW, working a minimum of 25 hours per week.
- You must have your line managers support to study for the programme.
- Core skills in numeracy at SCQF level 5 or Standard Grade Mathematics or Arithmetic (passed at credit level) or National 5 in mathematics or arithmetic or the equivalent.
- Core Skills in communication at SCQF level 5 or Standard Grade English (passed at credit level) or National 5 in English or the equivalent.
- 12 years of full-time education or the equivalent - includes primary school.
- Good character as evidenced through membership of the PVG scheme.
- Good health evidenced through self-declaration of health status, occupational health screening, and review of previous sickness and absence records.
- Two references, one of which must be from your current employer.
- An academic reference if you have previously commenced nursing studies with another University.
- Ideally, you should have a minimum of 1 years' experience of working as a HCSW.
