Health Care Assistant - Training course
Course content:
1. Dignity and privacy
2. Health and oral care
3. Communication skills
4. Manual handling and pressure area care
5. Risk assessments
6. Washing and dressing
7. First aid and safety
8. Infection control
Health Care Assistant
The work
Health care assistants, also known as nursing assistants and nursing auxiliaries, help other health care professionals with the day-to-day duties surrounding patient care. Patients may be elderly, suffering long-term sickness, recovering from surgery, have mental health problems, physical disabilities or learning difficulties.
Their work involves
Health care assistants work in hospitals, residential care homes, and the community, assisting patients with tasks they cannot manage on their own. Some assistants visit and support patients in their own homes.
In hospitals they may escort patients between hospital departments, assist with treatments or examinations, keep the ward tidy, check and sort supplies and help with paperwork.
Health care assistants working with patients who have mental health or learning disabilities, may generate activities to increase their self-confidence. This can involve shopping trips or outings to leisure facilities.
Hours and Environment
Health care assistants usually work 37.5 hours a week, including nights, bank holidays and weekends on a shift or rota system. Flexible and part-time hours are often available.
Skills and Interests
To be a health care assistant, you should:
• be friendly and outgoing, able to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds
• be tactful and sensitive, particularly when helping patients with personal care
• not be embarrassed or squeamish about personal or unpleasant tasks
• treat patients with respect
• be physically strong for lifting and supporting patients
• be gentle, as many patients will be frail
• be able to work on your own initiative or as part of a team
• be reliable and patient with a sense of humour.
Entry
There are no set entry requirements for work as a health care assistant, however, previous voluntary experience in a caring role may be useful.
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