Healthcare Support Worker (Nursing Associate Apprenticeship Pathway)

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Town of Cambridge; On-site; AUD 41,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site leisure facilities

Staff transport benefits

Parking subsidies

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is inviting applications for the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship. This programme blends workplace learning, university study and clinical development, allowing you to earn while you learn and progress toward a recognised nursing qualification.

Candidates must have at least six months’ Health Care Support Worker experience at CUH, must meet eligibility criteria, and will start as a Healthcare Support Worker before moving into the Nursing

Job description

Company:

Company: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

A Vacancy at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Nursing Associate Apprenticeship at Cambridge University Hospitals

Already working as a Healthcare Support Worker or interested in building a career in nursing?

The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship could be your next step.

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to support people with the right values, commitment and potential to develop rewarding careers in nursing.

The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship combines workplace learning, academic study and clinical development, allowing you to earn while you learn and develop towards a recognised professional qualification.

Your route to the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship

You must have completed a minimum of six months' HCSW experience at CUH before commencing the NAA apprenticeship, alongside meeting the required apprenticeship, academic and Right to Work eligibility criteria.

Applying externally?

If successful, you will initially join CUH as a Healthcare Support Worker and complete a minimum of six months' HCSW experience at CUH before progressing towards the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship.

This period is an important part of your preparation, giving you the opportunity to develop fundamental care skills, gain experience within CUH and prepare for apprenticeship study.

Progression onto the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship remains subject to confirmation that all apprenticeship, university and Right to Work eligibility requirements have been met.

We are looking for people who are:

• Passionate about delivering excellent patient care
• Caring, compassionate and reliable
• Motivated to learn and develop
• Confident working as part of a team
• Ready for the challenge of combining work and study
• Committed to developing their nursing career at CUH

If you are ready to develop your skills, challenge yourself and take the next step in your nursing career, we would like to hear from you.

If you have not yet completed the CUH HCSW induction, including the Care Certificate and required competencies, you will be appointed at Band 2. Upon successful completion, you will progress to Band 3 and remain at this band throughout the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship, if successful.

Please note that all interviews for this post will be conducted face-to-face only; virtual interviews cannot be accommodated. If you are unable to attend, please let us know in advance so we can explore whether an alternative arrangement may be possible. Failure to notify us of your unavailability may result in your application being withdrawn, with no further consideration given.

For full details, please refer to the HCSW job information pack in the downloads section of this advert and the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship via the following links:

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Come Nurse with us…

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Please note you may be required to undertake a short functional skills screening as part of your interview assessment. You will need to pass this in order to proceed to a Conditional Offer. This is applicable if you are not currently working as a Support worker at CUH.

Visa and Right to Work (RTW) requirements

Applicants must meet Visa and RTW employment eligibility criteria. Recruitment Services will undertake and confirm formal Right to Work checks.

Alongside this, prior to commencing the university cohort start date, applicants who require a visa, must hold a valid visa covering the full duration of the apprenticeship programme.

The Nursing Apprenticeship Team, working with the Higher Education Institution (HEI) and Right to Work Team where appropriate, will confirm whether the applicant meets the relevant apprenticeship funding eligibility requirements.

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

This vacancy will close at midnight on…29th November 2026

Interviews are due to be held on… 14th December 2026

Please note this vacancy has been capped at 250 applications. Once this limit is reached the vacancy will automatically close.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

This advert closes on Sunday 29 Nov 2026

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust