Health care assistant

[Smeghead90]

Hi, does anyone know what qualifications are needed to become a health care assistant? I know it isn’t the same as a Nurse but it’s the next best thing. I would really love to be a nurse but I really struggle with maths so have never been able to do it. I’m looking at doing a health and social care nvq level 2

Care and compassion. Is a must. Generally good grades at GCSE. I have just got a job as an hca. I do have GCSE and a levels and have been working in admin roles since leaving college. I do have 10yrs nhs admin experience as well

I would imagine a Health and Social Care qualification would be helpful.

The job spec on this advert is very good www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/?vac_ref=915909106

@Mumof1andacat that advert doesn’t really say you need any formal qualifications really. That’s what’s confusing me

You don't need a qualification, but you do need a huge amount of patience and grit. Some days it's brutal other days it's wonderful.

I'm now a nurse. Maths can be learned. You shouldn't rule out doing your nursing training. Xx. Dream big

I was a healthcare assistant for several years. I did okay in school but not brilliant and didn't have any health and social care qualifications. A caring and compassionate nature is essential and in my experience the training provided (both the induction period and then the annual training sessions throughout my career) were sufficient. I was just in a nursing home though doing the standard routines when I first started, not experienced with hospitals etc so could be different! But generally you can be a great HCA with very little other than the right nature/personality and on the job training

@BryanAdamsLeftAnkle I did try to re do my maths GCSE a few years ago but it made me really ill I suffer with depression and it caused me some problems there. I would love to do it but I just don’t know where to start!

For a care home or carer in the community no formal qualifications necessary. They'll take 17yr olds on as the turn over is that high. You can do your NVQ levels 1,2,3 whilst training, alongside your certs of meds handling, peg feeding, disposal of sharps. You'll also do your GCSE maths, IT and English if needed. If you're keen you can opt in to do your nursing qualification (generally in a specific setting like a care home - they'll support you studying so long as your placements are based there, and you sign into a contract to stay for 2yrs post qualifying).

I wouldn't worry about the maths too much tbh. For a general care role the assessor will come to your place of employment and basically spoon feed it to you. If you want to further train as a nurse then obviously you'll have to increase your maths competence for meds dispensing. I wouldn't rule it out though! I was shocking at maths until doing a access to higher education course for university. I received more 1:1 support and things actually 'clicked' that I would never of been confident enough to put my hand up to ask questions at school.

@Dogno1 thanks, I did an access to uni course but as the weeks went on nothing was sinking in, I was excelling in all other subjects apart from maths. The final straw was when we was given an exam and I didn’t know a single bloody question.

It's very different from nursing. Are you sure it's what you want ?

I was a HCA twice, never had any qualifications.

I got accepted onto a degree without any qualifications too. Anything is possible.

I have interviewed for HCAS.

For me its all down to the interview - are they safe ? Are they compassionate ? Tolerant ? Polite? Respectful ? Empowering? Can they recognise their limitations?

I can honestly empathise! I'm not 'lazy nor stupid', but Maths is my stumbling block. I can honestly say I still don't know how to even recite my times table (very basic for primary aged children 🙄). I had to speak to my A2HE tutor as the maths tutor basically 'class shamed' me over a question I couldn't comprehend/answer. I was willing to just quietly drop out & he pulled me in to ask why? I was easily averaging merits in all other areas. Dyscalculia is as much a genuine LD as Dyslexia but unfortunately much less recognised.

you don't need formal qualifications. If your applying for a job have a look at the job description and more specifically the person specification. Some HCA roles require people with experience and others don't.

To add to pp, it may be worth phoning to enquire if you see a job that asks for experience, but that you would like, as many areas will offer excellent training, and sometimes it’s easier to train someone from scratch in a new area than adjust previous habits.

Thank you everyone, @IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls
So no formal qualifications are really needed? Is it all training

@Smeghead90 I work in a nursing home and have done now for 2 years. I have 3 GCSES and no other qualifications. You have moving and handling training, fire safety and first aid before you start as well as induction shifts then do your NVQs whilst working, it is possible. I'm now looking at doing my NVQ 3 to then proceed onto my meds training, sharps training and so on

Most people do an apprenticeship course they have made it longer so you train for about 13months (used to be 6 months). I’ve worked as a HCA for 7 years on the same ward I’ve seen many people come and go. I actually never did the apprenticeship as I had nursing home experience and health & social. Don’t worry about the maths side too much infact I often wonder what people learn on these apprenticeships as it’s mainly a practical job it is also to do with having a passion I would say. It’s not for everybody look on NHS jobs site. PS I don’t have a maths GCSE and find it hard. Good luck.

Got a band 2 HCA post at a hospital and I was sent the offer letter on Nov 3. I’m still waiting for my last NHS trust to send a reference to my new NHS trust. Does anyone know how long this takes?

You need to be able to read and write and do basic athematic (usually to GCSE grade D English and maths) but as a lot of HCAs are older and pre-date GCSE's it is generally tested at interview and during training.

HCAs are well trained but its the unteachables that we really look for - care, compassion, managing changing and competing demands demands whilst remaining caring and compassionate and a strong stomach!