Health Care Assistant - Apprenticeship

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is offering an HCSW Level 3 Apprenticeship starting January 2027, with interview dates in November 2026. The programme partners with a local provider and includes onsite tutor support and release for study sessions.

The role requires working shifts including days, nights, weekends and bank holidays on a rota; progression to Band 3 is possible after completion. The 24-month apprenticeship is designed to develop you from Band 2 to Band 3 through a nationally

Qualifications

• Enthusiasm and commitment to working within the healthcare setting.
• Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures.
• Committed to providing high quality patient care.

Responsibilities

• Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Undertake delegated duties in line with patient care plans.
• Use knowledge and experience to undertake non-routine duties and make decisions within area of responsibility.
• Carry out a range of clinical duties with supervision, including vitals, glucose monitoring, sample collection and wound swabs.
• Participate in patient assessment and escalate concerns to the MDT.
• Maintain safe care standards following Trust guidelines and policies.
• Maintain infection control and patient safety.
• Utilise skills to support self-care and independence for patients.
• Promote health education aligned with policies.
• Maintain accurate record-keeping and communication with patients and families.
• Ensure equipment and stores are well maintained and restocked.
• Work effectively as part of a team.
• Input information into electronic and written records as applicable.

Skills

Enthusiasm & healthcare setting

Awareness of healthcare work &Policies

Education

Maths & English or equivalent

Job description

Are you looking to enhance your skills and knowledge and progress to a Band 3 Senior HCSW role? Or are you thinking about your future career pathways? If so, we have some exciting news!

We are looking to recruit into our HCA Level 3 Apprenticeship course with a new cohort starting in January 2027.

Interviews will be held in November 2026.

This course is delivered in partnership with a local provider.

This is an exciting opportunity to support your personal development and career progression in healthcare through a nationally recognised qualification. We can now guide you through each stage of your career, starting with a Level 3 Diploma and offering the opportunity to progress further into degree-level training through an apprenticeship, should you wish to continue.

You will be supported by a Tutor onsite and have agreed release for study sessions as well as supported time to explore other areas around our organisation.

Please be aware that your shift pattern will include, days, nights, weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis.

This is a 24-month apprenticeship, with a starting salary at Band 2 of £25,760 per annum. Upon successful completion of the training, you will progress to a Band 3 role with a corresponding salary increase.

Please note that we are unable to offer a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role, as it does not meet the eligibility criteria.

Main duties of the job

This is a 24 month long training course with a local provider. Please be aware you will be expected to do a minimum of 30 hours per week in order to be put forward for the Apprenticeship Scheme.

As part of the apprenticeship acceptance criteria we are unable to accept applications for those staff that already hold a qualification that is higher than a Level 3 unless we can demonstrate new skills.

PLEASE SEE THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FURTHER DETAILS RE THE JOB ROLE AND ELIGIBILITY.

If successful, you will be invited to attend an interview via your email address provided on this application form.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

1. Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.

2. Competently undertake delegated duties in line with patient care plans.

3. Ability to use your knowledge and experience to undertake non-routine duties and an understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility.

4. To carry out a range of (limited) clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including for example, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples / faecal samples / sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.

5. Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff.

6. Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.

7. Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.

8. Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies.

9. Utilising skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.

10. Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.

11. maintain effective record keeping and communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills, where there may be barriers to understanding.

12. Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty. This may include ordering supplies.

13. Work effectively as part of a team.

14. The SHCSW is responsible for inputting information into the electronic patient record where applicable and also into patients written records. Comply with all relevant legislation and local policies regarding confidentiality and access to medical records.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Enthusiasm and commitment to working within the healthcare setting

Qualifications

• Educated to Maths & English or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures
• Committed to providing high quality patient care

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.