Apprentice Community Healthcare Support Worker

NHS; Kidderminster; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Kidderminster is seeking an Apprentice Community Healthcare Support Worker to provide support in mental health. This fully funded 12-month apprenticeship offers training and the opportunity to develop essential skills. Ideal for individuals eager to learn and grow in a supportive environment, this role serves as a stepping stone towards a career as a Registered Nurse or Occupational Therapist.

Benefits

27 days leave plus bank holidays

Generous NHS pension

Flexible working options

Health and wellbeing opportunities

Qualifications

• No prior healthcare experience necessary as training will be provided.
• Understanding of the role of a Healthcare Support Worker.
• Commitment to completing the Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship.

Responsibilities

• Focus on learning through observation.
• Involve in patient care and documenting patient care.
• Keep a portfolio of learning.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Basic IT skills

Education

Level 2 qualification in functional skills Maths and English

Job description

Apprentice Community Healthcare Support Worker

Closing date: 10 December 2025

Have you thought about building your career in healthcare? Want to make a difference to people living with mental illness or dementia? Want to continue to learn and grow until you're reached your full potential with support from like‑minded people? No experience? No healthcare qualifications? Not sure where to start? This could be your first step on your journey to becoming a Registered Nurse or Occupational Therapist* by starting out as an Apprentice Healthcare Support Worker.

Our Wyre Forest Older Adult Community Mental Health Team is looking for an individual who is passionate about older adult mental health to join our team as an Apprentice Healthcare Support Worker.

This exciting opportunity includes a 12‑month apprenticeship (plus a 3‑month end‑point assessment period) that is fully funded and, once completed, will give you the qualification of Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker.

This opportunity has arisen following the previous post holder’s success in this role, enabling them to take the next steps in their career within our services.

See attached Additional Information about Teams, locations and "What's in it for you?"

Please note the Trust is unable to provide sponsorship for this role; to apply you must have current right to work in the UK status.

Main duties of the job

For this role, we believe having the right attitude and values are key. We want you to show enthusiasm and have an eagerness to learn to become the best version of you.

Your duties will evolve as you learn, allowing you the opportunity to experience new things and continue your development.

When you start, it is likely you will focus on learning through observing others in practice. As your skills grow, you will be given the chance to use these skills under supervision/guidance/instruction of the nurses and occupational therapists in the team. This may involve patient care such as completing physical observations, being involved in multi‑disciplinary team meetings or supporting the team with running a patient or carer group. For all of our work there are documents we must complete, and you will be involved in documenting any patient care.

You will be expected to keep a portfolio of your learning as part of the apprenticeship programme.

After successful selection, any offer made will be subject to undertaking and obtaining Level 2 Health Care Support Worker Apprenticeship as provided by Dynamic Training, and completing all core competencies outlined by West Midlands Collaborative Competency for Healthcare Support Workers in Mental Health within 12–18 months of commencing employment.

All successful applicants will be required to sign an addendum to the contract as part of the conditional offer of employment. This will be discussed with you in detail at interview.

About us

At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4,500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work‑life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data – As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trust’s understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Job responsibilities

We are proud of the care we provide across our Older Adult Mental Health Services. We offer care on wards and also in the community, allowing us to work collaboratively to support our patients and those closest to them.

Our teams are well staffed, and you will find some of our staff have been in our teams for many years. This type of post has been created so that we can ensure we provide excellent patient care now and in the future. We are excited to welcome you to our team. We believe the apprenticeship model offers something different and provides an alternative route into healthcare that will bring benefits to the successful applicant, to our team and to the people we support.

Opportunities available will be discussed on an individual basis; they are not guaranteed and individuals must meet the prerequisites for the chosen route.

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role, please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Additional Criteria

• I declare I have lived in the UK for 3 years and understand this is a requirement for apprenticeship funding rules. Please respond by stating YES or NO.
• You understand that we will not provide sponsorship to work for this role.

Experience

• No previous healthcare experience necessary as training will be provided
• Experience of working within a health or care setting
• Experience of working with individuals living with a mental health condition
• Experience of providing 1‑1 interventions (independently or under supervision)
• Experience of working as part of a team

Knowledge

• Basic level of understanding of mental health, wellbeing and the factors that may impact upon this
• Demonstrates an understanding of the role of a Healthcare Support Worker
• Demonstrates an understanding of the demands and requirements in completing Level 2 Health Care Support Worker Apprenticeship
• Demonstrates an understanding of the importance of promoting positive health and wellbeing

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to recognise own limitations and competence whilst being proactive in seeking support through both formal and informal supervision
• Role modelling good behaviour including remaining professional when exposed to occasional stressful or challenging situations
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English in both verbal and written formats
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative where appropriate
• Ensure that own actions support equality, diversity, rights and quality
• Ability to follow a clear instruction and feed back to senior staff
• Display an awareness of the importance of maintaining confidentiality at all times
• Basic IT skills

Qualifications

• Level 2 qualification in functional skills Maths and English or equivalent at GCSE grade C / 4 or above
• A commitment to completing Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship within 12–18 months of commencing employment
• Will be expected to meet the Care Certificate standards within 12 weeks of commencing employment with the Trust
• I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust