Trainee Healthcare Support Worker - Mental Health

NHS Professionals; Bromsgrove; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Professionals is offering the Healthcare Support Worker development (HCSWD) programme at the New Haven Unit, Princess of Wales Community Hospital, Bromsgrove. This trainee role runs for six months and combines on-the-job learning with structured supervision.

During the placement you’ll gain the Care Certificate, foundational patient-care skills, and progression opportunities toward nursing roles within an NHS team. Paid training and regular shifts support your development.

Qualifications

• No healthcare experience required for entry level role.
• Must be over 18 and able to work 30 hours per week across shifts.
• Strong care ethos and commitment to NHS values.

Responsibilities

• Taking basic observations, updating patient records.
• Supporting patients with daily activities and mealtimes.
• Providing emotional support to patients and families.
• Monitoring health and maintaining accurate records.
• Supervising patients to ensure safety and assist during emergencies.
• Working with nurses and other staff to deliver patient care.
• Adhering to Trust policies including safeguarding and infection control.

Skills

Compassion

Communication

Teamwork

Patient-care mindset

Education

No formal qualifications required

Job description

Open the door to your NHS career today. Discover how you can earn while you learn.

Join our Healthcare Support Worker development (HCSWD) programme, where you will learn on the job at New Haven Unit at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove over a 6-month period.

Pay Rates:

Days: £12.71, Saturdays/Nights: £17.22, Sunday/Bank Hols: £22.34

Why might this job interest you?

During your placement, you’ll work towards achieving the widely recognised Care Certificate with the training you need to become a Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW). Also known as Healthcare Assistant (HCA). Throughout, you’ll have supportive supervision from your mentor/Ward Manager.

Once you’ve graduated as a HCSW, you can progress your career by accessing further training. This career path may lead to potential roles such as Senior Healthcare Assistant to Assistant Practitioner or Nursing Associate, enabling further career avenues such as a Nurse or Midwife.

Where will you be working?

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust provides a range of services across community hospitals, recovery units and within the wider community. As one of only six Global Digital Exemplars in Mental Health, the Trust is the county’s main provider of community nursing, therapy and mental health services.

New Haven Unit is a specialist unit located on the Princess of Wales Community Hospital site in Bromsgrove, serving patients from across Worcestershire. The Unit is split into two wards; Meadow Ward and Woodland Ward, which provides specialist care to older adults that are experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

Benefits of joining

By joining, you can receive some exciting benefits:

• Career Progression – Achieve a Care Certificate and begin your journey with the NHS.
• Weekly pay – Work this week, get paid next week.
• Paid annual leave – Build holiday allowance.
• Provide patient care – Provide care, safety, and welfare for patients.
• Join the NHS family – Become part of a healthcare team.
• Dedicated training and supervised shifts – Support from your ward / area and skilled mentors.

Main Responsibilities

As a trainee HCSW in Mental Health, you'll learn key skills, such as:

• Taking basic observations, explaining treatment, and updating patient records.
• Supporting patients with everyday activities, including assisting at mealtimes.
• Providing emotional support and reassurance to patients and their families.
• Monitoring patients’ physical and mental health and keeping accurate records.
• Supervising patients to ensure their safety, managing common emergencies, and performing risk assessments.
• Working individually and as part of a team, supporting registered Nurses and other healthcare practitioners in providing patient care.
• Comply with Trust and local policies and procedures including Safeguarding, Infection Prevention and Control.

The benefits we can offer you in return:

• Career progression – Achieve a Care Certificate and begin your healthcare career with the NHS.
• Weekly pay – Access your wages more quickly.
• Join the NHS family – Become part of a respected healthcare team and provide patient care.
• Dedicated training and supervised shifts – Support from your ward / area and skilled mentors.
• Development opportunities via the Trust.
• Webinar support – Regular monthly sessions covering the Care Certificate workbook, Conflict Management training and more.

The Ideal Candidate

What you’ll need:

• As an entry level role, you do not need any previous healthcare experience.
• A passion for care as well as following the six enduring values that underpin ‘compassion in practice’. The 6Cs are defined as: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment.
• To be over the age of 18 or turning 18 before placement.
• Able to work at least 30 hours a week across earlies, lates and nights during the programme.

What’s next?

If you’re successful, you’ll be invited to an interview and assessment day on 15th October 2026 (Thursday), followed by unpaid classroom training (in November datesTBC) and an induction week before you start.

“As a result of the HCSWD programme, I am now a qualified Healthcare Support Worker and currently pursuing my dream to qualify as a Nurse.” Lynda Akpan, HCSW