Bank healthcare assisstant vs Apprenticeship healthcare assistant specialist

[lreed5nr6]

Hi everyone as on my previous thread I was talking about becoming a bank hca but now more recently I have also been offered the chance to become an apprentice healthcare assistant in a more minor hospital under a different trust working with outpatients in othomology (eye clinic) as well as undertaking a level 2 healthcare support worker course at a training college twice a month. This post has more regular hours even though it is for less pay (as I'm 18 years of age). I am wondering whether the apprentice way to go about it is the best course rather than starting as a bank hca as I would be doing the theory to back up the practical but how would this post have more benefit to me in the future when I finish the course or would the bank hca with no experience have more benefits? Many Thanks.

I think go on the bank. You will have no shortage of work in different departments. Eyes are too specialist to go straight in to in terms of what may or may not be enjoyable.
Work in lots of departments and when jobs come up apply. I would imagine if you speak to the bank team there would be opportunities to get an nvq or care certificate anyway.

I should add if you enjoy hca work and get your level 2 certificate then you might want to go further and this will help.
Definitely speak to the bank and see if you can do the training that way too.

I thought that NVQs no longer existed?

Personally I would go for the apprenticeship. My dd is undertaking one and the learning opportunities are second to none. Is the healthcare apprenticeship you have been offered the general one, Op, if so it doesn't matter that you have worked in one environment, the qualification will allow you to work elsewhere.

I think so. The course itself is a level 2 healthcare support worker course but I'm gaining the experience in the outpatient eye clinic.

Apprenticeship 100%

I’d say apprenticeship too, my son is doing one in welding. Eyes are really interesting and you’ll gain loads of experience and knowledge. I’d go for it. Good luck with whatever you decide

I think the answer will depend on where you want to go with your career. The apprenticeship would be great if you see healthcare as a career for you as you can more easily progress into the nursing associate role and eventually a registered nurse if you chose (while getting good pay too).

Although being a bank hca can make you really good money and you get to choose your hours. However, it really depends what area you are banking in. I banked in care homes as a student nurse and didn’t enjoy it due to feeling not part of the teams I worked with. However, hcas I know who bank in the nhs don’t seem to have this problem as much. Being a bank hca is also useful experience to talk about though if you ever want to apply to uni to pursue a health career, and was the background of the majority of my uni cohort.

Also you could still bank whilst in the apprenticeship to top your wages up.

I would suggest the apprenticeship too. You would meet a variety of patients in ophthalmology and problems there can be a symptom or consequence of other conditions, giving you a holistic overview which might help future progression.

I used to be an eye nurse in a specialist eye hospital. It depends where you want your career to go. Lots of the clinic HCA’s started as a band 2 and went on to undertake training and worked as band 4’s. They were incredibly knowledgeable.

The opportunity to learn, develop and obtain qualifications is so important, particularly in your early career. So I'd recommend the apprenticeship. You can always pick up extra bank shifts to supplement your income if needs be.

Apprenticeship definitely .

Unruly has given a really nice snapshot of what the apprenticeship can lead to.

Regarding bank work I think that you have to have reached a certain stage in your apprenticeship before you can do this, but that might just be my dd's Trust. She started in January and is planning to do bank work from June.

The two jobs are at different trusts. In one trust I have the bank job and the other one I have been offered the apprenticeship, so if I go for the apprenticeship that would in all be more easy to progress and does different trusts recognise this when applying after my apprenticeship if that is what I decide to do. @unruly336 @Motnight

@lreed5nr6

The two jobs are at different trusts. In one trust I have the bank job and the other one I have been offered the apprenticeship, so if I go for the apprenticeship that would in all be more easy to progress and does different trusts recognise this when applying after my apprenticeship if that is what I decide to do. *@unruly336* *@Motnight*

This is bearing in mind the bank hca postition in AMU is also offering me all the training ect, including the care certificate

Apprenticeships are nationally recognised, Op.

Bank presumably not guaranteed hours or structured training though.

@lreed5nr6 The apprenticeship is nationally recognised and doing it will surpass the care certificate.

I do work in an AMU, the healthcare’s are run absolutely ragged with the constant admissions and I can rarely help them either unfortunately due to having a huge workload myself . Not to put you off though, I find it really enjoyable with the variety of patients and conditions you see and the level of interdisciplinary working. Also, a lot of opportunities come up in AMU for nursing associate progression compared to other areas in my experience.

It’ll be a careful decision for you to make and it depends on what you want to do with your career. The apprenticeship does look like your best choice from the information you have given though.

I'd go the apprentice route if you have aspirations to stay in healthcare long term I.e. progress to a RN or AHP

Hi all. I have been taking in your comments and debating where I should go from here. A quick question is that if I do decide to go the bank hca route I know someone touched on it, what career progression is there in terms of allied health professional as interested in physio assistant or nursing associate roles within healthcare. I know the bank position is on AMU but would it just be simple of transferring across once I have had a year experience. Many thanks once again and sorry for keep asking for your knowledge and experience as want to make the right choice.

@lreed5nr6 it would be a case of applying for the role when one becomes available. You wouldn’t necessarily need a years experience on amu but a years experience in general. They are competitive roles to get noteworthily.