Nursing, nursing associates and healthcare assistants

Healthcare assistant apprentices learn important skills while helping to care for patients. They also study for a level 3 healthcare qualification.

For some people, this is their first step towards becoming a nurse. It's also a great way to learn about different healthcare jobs in our Trust.

As an apprentice, you'll work with nurses and other healthcare staff to give patients the best care. You might also support their families and carers.

This role may include:

• helping to care for patients under the guidance of nurses
• working with your team to meet ward or service goals
• learning new skills and helping to improve how care is given
• helping to create a safe and caring space for patients
• following important policies and procedures

Career pathway

To become a healthcare assistant apprentice, you will need to have GCSEs A-C/9-4 or Functional Skills level 2 in maths and English. This is because good numeracy and literacy skills are essential for the duties in this role, such as updating patient records.

If you do not have these qualifications, we can support you to gain these during your apprenticeship. 

We also expect healthcare assistant apprentices to complete the Care Certificate, and we can support you to achieve this.

Healthcare assistants (HCAs) and support workers help care for patients under the guidance of a healthcare professional, like a nurse. They spend a lot of time with patients and may support families and carers too. In our Trust, they may work with adults with mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism, or children and young people. 

Career pathway

To be a healthcare assistant you will need to have good literacy and numeracy skills and GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. We also ask for a healthcare qualification such as BTEC or NVQ, or equivalent in health and social care.

For most positions, we expect some prior experience in healthcare or care work in the form of paid, voluntary, work experience or placement work. If we recognise good talent without these requirements, you may be eligible for our apprenticeship route instead.

Training to be a healthcare assistant will include basic nursing skills and completion of the Care Certificate.

With experience and further training, a healthcare assistant can become a senior healthcare assistant or a nursing associate.

Nursing associate is a new role within the nursing team. They help care for patients and work with nurses and healthcare support workers. They complete clinical tasks and help make sure patients get great care, under the guidance of a nurse. 

The role bridges the gap between registered nurses and healthcare support workers. It is a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse.

Nursing associates work in all fields of nursing: adult, children's, mental health, and learning disability. What they do can change depending on where they work. 

Career pathway

To become a nursing associate, you will need a level 5 nursing associate qualification, GCSEs A-C/9-4 or level 2 Functional Skills (or equivalent) in English and maths.

Nurses make a difference to our patients' lives every day. They provide increasingly complex care to patients and support for their family members. 

Our nurses work in a range of settings and services across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull. This could include working in forensic inpatient wards, inpatient wards, community or day clinics, or providing care in patient's homes. 

We have opportunities for nurses with a background in all four fields of nursing: adult, children's, mental health, and learning disability.

This role may include:

• checking patients' health and completing medical assessments 
• recording patients' medical history
• supporting medical procedures
• overseeing nursing associates, nursing students, and healthcare support workers
• giving medications and treatments
• monitoring patients
• talking to patients and family members about treatment and care plans

Career pathway

To apply for a registered nurse role within our Trust, you will need:

• a level 6 nursing degree qualification
• GCSEs A-C/9-4 or level 2 Functional Skills (or equivalent) in English and maths
• to be willing to have an extensive DBS check (this is a safety check for working with people)

If you do not have your nursing qualification you can apply to a university like Coventry University or Birmingham City University.  You'll also need: 

• 3 GCSEs grade A-C (9-4) in maths and English or level 2 Functional Skills
• A Levels or equivalent, such as an access course
• 12 months experience working with patients

With further experience and training, registered nurses could progress onto a senior clinician or management role. 

Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are healthcare professionals with advanced knowledge and skills. They use their expertise to provide care and treatment to a patient during their time with us.

ACPs work with patients one-to-one and also as part of a team. 

At CWPT ACPs come from different backgrounds like nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.

The role may include:

• checking and diagnosing health problems 
• planning and reviewing treatments
• prescribing and checking medication 
• leading teams, teaching others, and carrying out research

Career pathway 

ACPs need to have a master's ACP qualification, a professional registration in healthcare, and GCSEs A-C/9-4 or level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English.