Reference Number: ST0217
Details of standard
Occupational profile
Senior Healthcare Support Workers help registered practitioners deliver healthcare services to people (1). As an experienced support worker, you carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner. You provide high quality, compassionate healthcare, following standards, policies or protocols and always acting within the limits of your competence. You may work in a range of services eg hospital, community, health or day case unit, birth centre or midwifery led unit, someone’s home, operating theatre, nursing or care home, assessment centre, hospice, school, prison, GP surgery, charity or voluntary organisation; working in partnership with individuals, families, carers and other service providers.
Responsibilities and duty of the role
Duties are delegated to you in line with care plans (2). Not all duties are routine and you will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility. You are accountable for your work and for reviewing the effectiveness of your actions. The role is undertaken following a period of experience in healthcare so you are able to demonstrate best practice and act as a role model. You may supervise or guide the less experienced staff in your team. You follow the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers.
Options:
- adult nursing support,
- maternity support,
- theatre support,
- mental health support,
- children and young people support,
- allied health profession – therapy support
Entry
When recruiting, employers may select apprentices with prior experience as a support worker.
Progression
After a period of working and gaining experience, you may be able to work towards an Assistant Practitioner or Nursing Associate post or, providing you meet the entry requirements, apply to university to become a registered healthcare practitioner.
Qualifications
You must complete a Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support prior to taking the end-point assessment. Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment.
Industry specific requirement
The apprentice must complete an induction which meets the 15 standards as set out in the Care Certificate (3).
Level
3
Duration
Typically 18 - 24 months
Review date
after 3 years
Apprentices complete the core and select one option
Values
You will be caring and compassionate, honest, conscientious and committed. honest, conscientious and committed
Behaviours
You will treat people with dignity, respecting individual's diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences, show respect and empathy for those you work with, have the courage to challenge areas of concern and work to best practice, be adaptable, reliable and consistent, show discretion, show resilience and self-awareness and show supervisory leadership
CORE | You will be able to: | You will know and understand: |
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C1. Health and wellbeing |
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C2. Duty of careand candour, safeguarding, equality and diversity |
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C3. Personcentred care, treatment and support |
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C4. Communication |
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C5. Personal, people and quality improvement |
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C6. Health,safety and security |
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Option 1 – Senior HCSW (Adult Nursing Support)
Senior adult nursing support workers look after adults in a range of settings, duties will vary accordingly. In most instances your supervisor will be a registered nurse. Some people you support have short term needs; eg they have sustained an injury. Others may have long-term conditions which affect them every day, all their lives eg asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, dementia, depression, stroke or arthritis. Many people suffer from more than one condition eg an older person who has sustained a fall and has a wound that needs regular dressing, may also have heart disease. Some people will need round the clock care, being able to do very little for themselves, requiring you to look after all their personal needs including feeding, washing, going to the toilet as well as carrying out clinical tasks like checking their blood pressure or pulse.
Option 1 | You will be able to: | You will know and understand: |
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1.1 Assist withclinical tasks |
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1.2 Activities ofdaily living (Video) HOW TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN A SUPPORT WORKER/SENIOR CARER/HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT INTERVIEW |
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Option 2 – Senior HCSW (Maternity Support)
Maternity Support Workers assist midwives to look after pregnant women, mothers and newborn babies in a range of settings. Under the supervision of a registered midwife, you will contribute to the care of women antenatally and during birth, and of women and babies postnatally. You will support new parents to care for their baby and to develop confidence and bonding.
Option 2 | You will be able to: | You will know and understand: |
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2.1 Assist withclinical tasks |
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2.2 Assist withcaring for babies |
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2.3 Supportmothers and birthing partners |
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Option 3 – Senior HCSW (Theatre support)
Theatre Support Workers look after people before, during and after operations. In most instances your supervisor will be a registered theatre nurse or an operating department practitioner. You will support people as they are preparing to go into theatre, reassuring them if they are anxious, and helping them move them back to recovery following their procedure. You will support the team that carries out the operations by carrying out a range of checks, such as checking individuals into the theatre department, preparing equipment, counting swabs or other instruments and measuring fluids. You may be involved in routine operations or traumatic and emergency surgery.
Option 3 | You will be able to: | You will know and understand: |
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3.1 Assisthealthcare practitioners with delegated clinical tasks (Video) Senior Carer Interview Questions and Answers. Top-scoring answers to get you the job. #seniorcarer |
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3.2 Supportindividuals |
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3.3 Equipmentand resources |
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Option 4 – Senior HCSW (Mental health support)
Mental Health Support Workers support individuals with mental ill health. You work as part of a multi-disciplinary team offering a range of mental health services.You will support individuals, and their families, at different stages of their illness or recovery by listening, providing emotional support, developing and reviewing plans to meet their needs; observing and reporting changes in their mental and physical well-being; encouraging independence and enabling them to manage their condition and quality of life. Usually you will have to work closely with carers and with other organisations eg housing or social care
Option 4 | You will be able to: | You will know and understand: |
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4.1 Assist withdelegated clinical tasks and therapeutic interventions |
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4.2 Supportindividuals |
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4.3 Riskassessment and risk management |
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Option 5 – Senior HCSW (Children and young people)
Children and young people (CYP 7) senior healthcare support workers look after neonates, babies, infants, children and young people in a range of settings; your duties will vary accordingly. You will support them with their healthcare needs. Your supervisor will be a registered healthcare practitioner, in most instances a registered nurse. You will work within guidelines and legislation designed to protect and support children and young people, recognising the different needs and rights they have at different ages and stages of their development. You will promote person and family-centred care, working in partnership with parents, families and other services and agencies.
Option 5 | You will be able to: (Video) Uk CARE WORKER SALARY // HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT SALARY // AGENCY VS PERMANENT SALARY IN THE UK | You will know and understand: |
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5.1 Assist with clinical tasks |
Other clinical tasks are determined by your local work setting and policies eg physiological measurements, venepuncture, intravenous cannulation; tissue viability risk assessments; caring for wounds; obtaining and testing samples and other specimens |
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5.2 Activities ofdaily living |
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5.3 Childdevelopment |
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Option 6 – Senior HCSW (Allied health profession - therapy support)
Allied Health Profession (AHP) - therapy support workers work with individuals in a range of settings, your clinical and therapeutic duties will vary accordingly. There are 12 different AHP professions (9) and you may carry out tasks associated with a single profession or tasks that relate to a range of them. Your supervisor will usually be a registered Allied Health Professional. Illness, disability or a change in life circumstances often means that people have to learn or be supported to do things in new and different ways. This can change the pattern of a life-course but individuals can often expect to regain and enjoy a quality of life through the therapeutic and clinical support you provide. Some individuals may have short term needs eg an injury. Others may have long-term physical and/or mental illness or learning disability that affects their independence, function or way of living. You will be required to work with the individual either on their own or within a group setting. You may also work with others to support the individual eg training carers or working with families.
Option 6 | You will be able to: | You will know and understand: |
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6.1 Assist with delegated therapeutic or clinical tasks andinterventions |
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6.2 Support,educate and enable individuals with their healthand wellbeing See Also Universal Screening: K–2 Reading - International Dyslexia Association10 Best Breakfast Spots in Orlando You CAN'T MISS (2022)Does Dollar General Sell Amazon Gift Cards (Secrets Nobody Is Talking About) | RV and PlayaIndividual Beef Wellington {+ Step-by-Step Photos} - Plays Well With Butter(Video) CAREGIVER SA UK LiFE: ANO KAIBAHAN NG SENiOR HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT SA HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT |
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6.3 Equipmentand resources |
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(1) “People, person or individual” may include babies, infants, children, young people or adults. Individual options within the standard may specify an age range that you will be expected to work with.
(2)Care plans/Care planning is used throughout this document to include care, therapy, intervention plans, treatment plans or sheets and planning processes. In some instances care plans may not exist or be used.
(3)Care Certificate: for more details see http://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/care-certificate. The CQC expect that providers that employ healthcare assistants and social care support workers follow these standards to make sure new staff are supported, skilled and assessed as competent to carry out thier roles
(4) Consent - NHS Choices (2010) defines consent as: "the principle that a person must give their permission before they receive any type of medical treatment. Consent is required from a patient regardless of the type of treatment being undertaken, from a blood test to an organ donation"
(5)End of Life Care – End of life care is defined as care that helps those with advanced, progressive, incurable illness to live as well as possible until they die. (End of Life Care Network)
(6)End of Life Care – End of life care is defined as care that helps those with advanced, progressive, incurable illness to live as well as possible until they die. (End of Life Care Network)
(7) the abbreviation CYP is used throughout the standard to refer to babies, infants, children and young people. “‘childhood’ should be considered up to the age of 18, with special consideration given to those young people with long-term conditions up to the age of 25.” RCN Caring for Children and young people April 2014.
(8)End of Life Care – End of life care is defined as care that helps those with advanced, progressive, incurable illness to live as well as possible until they die. (End of Life Care Network)
(9) The 12 Allied Health Professions are: art therapists, music therapists, drama therapists, paramedics, podiatrists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, radiographers, orthoptists and prosthetists/orthotists. Not all of these professions carry out therapeutic interventions, nor do all have support workers within their teams. If you undertake this option in your apprenticeship you are likely to primarily carry out therapeutic tasks related to: dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry or speech and language therapy.
(10)End of Life Care – End of life care is defined as care that helps those with advanced, progressive, incurable illness to live as well as possible until they die. (End of Life Care Network)
(11)Care plans/Care planning is used throughout this document to include care, therapy, intervention plans, treatment plans or sheets and planning processes. In some instances care plans exist or may not be used.
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FAQs
What is the role of a senior care worker? ›
Senior care workers routinely oversee and monitor care workers, care assistants and home carers. They also attend to the personal needs and comforts of the elderly and the infirm with care and support needs ('service users') within residential care establishments, day care establishments or in their own homes.
What is the difference between a support worker and a senior support worker? ›The Senior Support Worker role combines support work with managing a team. As well as carrying out the same tasks as a Support Worker, you'll have responsibility for supervising staff and volunteers across a cluster of services, encouraging and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of support.
What is a health care support worker? ›Healthcare support workers work across a variety of settings, from mental health to end of life care. As a healthcare support worker, you'll work under the supervision of a healthcare professional, supporting them and helping patients and service users on their journey back to full health.
What is a senior health care assistant? ›Senior healthcare assistants work within a medical facility to provide basic care to patients and their loved ones. These assistants help doctors and nurses in the day-to-day care of patients. Many healthcare assistants perform tasks ordinarily carried out by nurses, helping remove some of nurses' workload.
How do I become a good senior support worker? ›customer service skills. patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. the ability to work well with others. the ability to work on your own.
What are the skills required for senior care job? ›- Compassion. Showing compassion means being able to tune in to other people's distress and feeling a desire to alleviate it. ...
- Communication. ...
- Observation. ...
- Interpersonal Skills. ...
- Time Management. ...
- Organization. ...
- Cleanliness. ...
- Patience.
Senior support workers under NHS earn Band 3 or Band 4 salaries, which begin from £20,330 and £22,549 per year.
What band is senior care worker? ›In the NHS, Senior Healthcare Assistants are paid at Band 3 of the Agenda for Change pay scales.
What band is a senior health care assistant? ›Band 3 equivalent salary, dependant on experience. The role of Senior Health Care Assistant requires independent working in the community; applicants should have excellent communication skills and IT…
What qualifications do you need to be a healthcare Support Worker? ›There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare support worker, but good literacy and numeracy skills are expected, and in some cases GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths are required too. You may also need a healthcare qualification such as a BTEC or NVQ for some of our roles.
Is a healthcare Support Worker the same as a healthcare assistant? ›
Healthcare support workers (HCSWs), or Healthcare Assistants (HCAs), play a crucial role in providing high quality and compassionate care to patients. They work as part of wider health or social care teams, working under the supervision of registered healthcare professionals.
What's the difference between healthcare assistant and a healthcare Support Worker? ›Consequently, we have a sector called 'Healthcare assistant' that is intended for hospital and clinical roles. Healthcare assistants can be found in hospitals or GP surgeries. They can also be known as 'healthcare support workers' or 'auxiliary nurses', particularly when working in a hospital setting.
How much does a senior care assistant earn in the UK? ›How much does a Senior care assistant make in United Kingdom? The average senior care assistant salary in the United Kingdom is £21,450 per year or £11 per hour. Entry level positions start at £20,475 per year while most experienced workers make up to £27,956 per year.
How much do senior carers get paid in UK? ›The average senior carer salary in the United Kingdom is £22,002 per year or £11.28 per hour. Entry level positions start at £20,500 per year while most experienced workers make up to £25,818 per year.
How do I prepare for a senior support worker interview? ›- Why do you want this support worker role? ...
- What skills can you bring to this support worker role? ...
- What is your process for evaluating a client's needs? ...
- Tell me about a challenging experience you've had and how you overcame it.
- They know when to step up and step back. ...
- They know the value of communication. ...
- Patience and a sense of humour. ...
- Reliability. ...
- Respect.
It can be difficult so you'll not only need skills but also patience, compassion and understanding. Basically, if you're self-obsessed and don't like dealing with people, this is not the job for you.
What makes a good healthcare support worker? ›A good Care Assistant will have a positive energy about them. They will walk into a room with a smile on their face and radiate a can-do attitude. A positive attitude will help put your service users at ease - as well as helping you, the carer, feel more confident in what you are doing.
How do I pass a care assistant interview? ›- What has attracted you to the care profession? ...
- What relevant experience do you have with respect to this position? ...
- Tell me about your ability to work under pressure. ...
- How would you handle someone who is confused or upset? ...
- How would your friends and family describe you as a person?
Also known as healthcare support workers or nursing auxiliaries, healthcare assistants are supervised by staff nurses. They help to look after you, including helping you eat or wash, taking your temperature or blood pressure, or in some cases taking blood samples.
How do I become a senior care worker UK? ›
- be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional.
- work in an eligible health or social care job.
- work for a UK employer that's been approved by the Home Office.
- have a 'certificate of sponsorship' from your employer with information about the role you've been offered in the UK.
- Assess medical needs. Checking on your senior loved one's health is an important caregiver responsibility. ...
- Prepare a care plan. ...
- Assist with basic needs. ...
- Provide companionship. ...
- Help with housekeeping. ...
- Monitor medications. ...
- Assess your care plan regularly. ...
- Prepare meals.
There's no real difference between them. Sometimes you'll see Care Assistant, sometimes you'll see Carer, but they're pretty much the same thing. This is actually where I started, so I started off going into healthcare profession as a Nurse, as a Carer. I was a Carer in an elderly care home.
What are the main duties and responsibilities of a care worker? ›- Helping a care home resident get dressed, wash and eat.
- Providing company: chatting and sharing news.
- Involvement with writing residents' care plans.
- Providing information to family members regarding the care plan.
- Ensuring that the resident's needs and wishes are met.
Why become a carer? Working in the care sector is an incredibly rewarding job, so it's no wonder that it is one of the most commonly spoken about reasons to be a carer. Everyday you will be making a difference to someone's quality of life, supporting them to remain living in their own home, independently.
What band is a senior healthcare assistant? ›Band 3 Senior Healthcare Assistant.
What are 5 qualities of a good caregiver? ›- Patience. Those who provide home care to others need to be patient. ...
- Compassion. When someone has compassion for another they have an understanding of what the person is going through.
- Attentiveness. ...
- Dependability. ...
- Trustworthiness.
In general, there are four types of caregivers: Home Health Care, Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, and Adult Daycare Centers.
How do I become a senior care worker UK? ›- be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional.
- work in an eligible health or social care job.
- work for a UK employer that's been approved by the Home Office.
- have a 'certificate of sponsorship' from your employer with information about the role you've been offered in the UK.
Healthcare assistants can be found in hospitals or GP surgeries. They can also be known as 'healthcare support workers' or 'auxiliary nurses', particularly when working in a hospital setting.
Is a support worker the same as a care worker? ›
The terms carer, support worker and personal assistant can be interchangeable.