Nursing, nursing associates and healthcare assistants

Healthcare assistant apprentices gain valuable clinical skills through caring for our patients alongside studying for a Level 3 healthcare qualification.

For some people, this is their first step towards becoming a nurse. It is also an opportunity to learn about the different clinical roles available within the Trust.

As a healthcare assistant apprentice, you will work closely with nurses and other healthcare professionals within your team to support your patients and deliver the best care. You might also help to support patients' families and carers.

Typical duties may include:

• Under the direction of qualified nursing staff, assist with individual patient care by undertaking duties as delegated by senior members of the nursing team. 
• Work with colleagues to promote the development of the base/ward philosophy and agreed base/ward objectives. 
• Work with colleagues to develop clinical expertise and continually improve standards of nursing practice.
• Assist in developing a therapeutic environment, which meets the needs of patients. 
• Become familiar and comply with relevant operational policies, procedures, and protocols applicable to your post.

Career pathway

To become a healthcare assistant apprentice, you will need to have GCSE's A-C/9-4 or Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English. This is because good numeracy and literacy skills are essential for the duties in this role, such as patient records upkeep.

If you do not currently have these qualifications, we can support you to gain these during your apprenticeship. 

We also expect healthcare assistant apprentices to complete the Care Certificate, and we can support you to achieve this.

Healthcare support workers or healthcare assistants (HCA) work under the guidance of a healthcare professional such as a nurse and have a lot of contact with patients. They provide support in our clinical services and may work with adults with mental health needs and learning disabilities and autism, or children and young people.

As a healthcare assistant, you will work closely with nurses and other healthcare professionals within your team to support your patients and deliver the best care. You might also help to support patients' families and carers.

Career pathway

To be a healthcare assistant you will need to have good literacy and numeracy skills and GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths. We also ask for a healthcare qualification such as BTEC or NVQ, or equivalent in Health and Social Care.

For most positions, we expect some prior experience in healthcare or care work in the form of paid, voluntary, work experience or placement work. If we recognise good talent without these requirements, you may be eligible for our apprenticeship route instead.

Training to be a healthcare assistant will include basic nursing skills and completion of the Care Certificate.

With experience and further training, a healthcare assistant can become a senior healthcare assistant or a nursing associate.

Nursing associate is a new role within the nursing team. Nursing associates work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients and the public. They carry out clinical tasks and contribute to the delivery of excellent care, under the guidance of a registered nurse.

The role bridges the gap between registered nurses and healthcare support workers. It is a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse.

Nursing associates work across all four fields of nursing: adult, children's, mental health, and learning disability. Their responsibilities will vary, depending on the setting they're working in. 

Career pathway

To become a nursing associate you will need a Level 5 Nursing Associate qualification, GCSE's A-C/9-4 or Level 2 Functional Skills (or equivalent) in English and Maths.

Nurses make a difference to our patients' lives every day. They provide increasingly complex care to patients and support for their family members. 

Our nurses work in a range of settings and services across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull. This could include working in forensic inpatient wards, inpatient wards, community or day clinics, or providing care in patient's homes. 

We have opportunities for nurses with a background in all four fields of nursing: adult, children's, mental health, and learning disability.

Typical duties of this role may include:

• completing medical assessments and observations with patients
• recording patient's medical history
• supporting medical procedures
• overseeing nursing associates, nursing students, and healthcare support workers
• administering medications and treatments
• monitoring patients
• talking to patients and family members about treatment and care plans.

Career pathway

To apply for a registered nurse role within our Trust, you will need:

• a Level 6 Nursing degree qualification
• GCSE's A-C/9-4 or Level 2 Functional Skills (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• to be willing to have an extensive DBS check.

If you do not have your nursing qualification you will need to apply to your chosen university. Coventry University and Birmingham City University have courses locally. In addition to a degree, you will also need: 

• 3 GCSE's Grade A-C (9-4) in Maths and English or Level 2 Functional Skills
• A Levels or equivalent, such as an Access Course
• 12 months experience working with patients.

With further experience and training, registered nurses could progress onto a senior clinician or management role. 

Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are healthcare professionals who have advanced knowledge regarding the scope of their practice. They use their expert clinical skills and knowledge to provide care and treatment to a patient during their time with us.

Advanced clinical practitioners work with individuals on a one-to-one basis, as well as alongside colleagues in a team setting.

At CWPT our advanced clinical practitioners have a range of qualified professional backgrounds including nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

General duties of the role include:

• assessing and diagnosing patients 
• planning and evaluating treatments and care for patients
• prescribing and reviewing medication 
• providing leadership and management, education, and research.

Career pathway 

We expect advanced clinical practitioners to have a master's ACP qualification, a professional registration in healthcare, and GCSE's A-C/9-4 or Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English.