Health Care Assistant Jobs
Whether you’re just starting your career in healthcare or you’re looking for a new opportunity, working as a Health Care Assistant with us is very rewarding.
What is a Health Care Assistant?
A Health Care Assistant empowers people to live their best lives by supporting them with daily activities such as getting washed and dressed, eating and drinking throughout the day, socialising and taking part in activities, and going out into the local community.
No two days will be the same – our service users are individuals and they deserve to be treated as such. As a general guide, your role as a Health Care Assistant may include:
- personal care – empowering people to self-care as much as possible and helping people to get ready for the day including bathing, dressing and when required, continence support
- companionship – providing friendly company and emotional support
- social activities – encouraging people to take part in activities that are meaningful to them, both inside and outside the home
- meal times – encouraging people to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and when required, assisting them at meal times
- getting around – providing an arm to lean on around the home or assisting people with their mobility through aids and equipment
- care plans – ensuring that care is provided in line with people’s choices as outlined in their care plans, and keeping care plans up-to-date.
Rewards and benefits of working as a Health Care Assistant
Lifestyle and retail discounts – get cash back and discounted vouchers at over 250 high street shops, supermarkets and restaurants.
Employee Assistance Programme - access 24/7 counselling and support through our award-winning programme.
Paid DBS check - we pay for all new starters to have a DBS check, so you don’t need to cover the cost.
Access pay early – through fastPAYE, request an advance of up to 50% for additional hours worked.
Blue Light Card – get huge discounts at a wide range of retailers.
Company Shop membership – get exclusive membership at The Company Shop and purchase groceries, gardening and electrical items at a heavily discounted price.
Free uniform – unlike other care providers, you’ll get your uniform for free.
Healthcare cash plan - spread the cost of health expenses through a monthly premium.
Training and career development for Health Care Assistants
There are lots of opportunities to learn and develop in your career as a Health Care Assistant, if you wish.
Health Care Assistant induction
If your application is successful, you’ll do a four day welcome induction which covers mandatory and statutory training including moving and handling, safeguarding and person-centred care. This induction also includes our Exemplar Positive Behaviour Support training.
After that, you’ll continue your induction in your home with the support of a buddy.
Ongoing learning and development
Throughout your employment, you’ll have regular one-to-ones and Performance Development Reviews with your Manager to review your progress and discuss your career aspirations.
There are lots of opportunities to continue your learning as a Health Care Assistant including:
- mandatory and statutory training (MAST) to refresh skills and knowledge
- apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships
- specialist clinical skills development such as tracheostomy care
- in-house, CPD certificated ABC of Caring programme.
Career progression for Health Care Assistants
Our Health Care Assistant roles are a vocation, not just a job. There are lots of opportunities for you to progress within the company including to:
- Senior Health Care Assistant
- Central Services including recruitment and training.
Download our career journey which shows you all of the development and progression opportunities available at Exemplar Health Care.
Health Care Assistant jobs
Exemplar Health Care has over 40 specialist care homes across England, with plans to open a number of new homes over the next five years.
We're recruiting Health Care Assistants across the country. Visit our online job search to find your nearest vacancy.
Here are quick links to our most popular Health Care Assistant job searches.
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Birmingham and Tipton
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Castleford
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Hull
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Leeds
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Liverpool
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Newcastle upon Tyne
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Rochdale
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Rotherham and Sheffield
- Health Care Assistant jobs in Sutton-in-Ashfield
FAQs about Health Care Assistant jobs
Want to know more about working as a Health Care Assistant? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about Health Care Assistant jobs.
- What type of work does a Health Care Assistant do?
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A Health Care Assistant or Care Worker supports people with all aspects of their day to day living.
This might include supporting someone to get dressed in the morning, eat their meals, socialise with family and friends, take up new hobbies and access education or work.
Health Care Assistants can work in a care home, in people’s own homes or in the community.
At Exemplar Health Care, you’ll work in one of our specialist care homes. You’ll usually work on the same unit, supporting the same service users, so you’ll get to know them really well.
- What qualifications do I need to be a Health Care Assistant?
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When applying for a Health Care Assistant job, it might be helpful to have a social care qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care.
It will also help to have qualifications that show good English and number skills such as GCSE A-C in English and maths.
However, if you don’t have a qualification, don’t worry – you can do them when you’re in the job.
What’s really important is that you have the right values and behaviours.
At Exemplar Health Care, our values are fun, integrity, responsive, success and team work. Read about what our values mean.
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Do I need previous experience to apply for a Health Care Assistant job?
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When applying for a Health Care Assistant job, it might be useful to have experience in a similar role or with disabled people.
This could be through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.
However, it isn’t necessary to have previous experience as a Health Care Assistant or Care Worker.
What’s really important is that you have the right values and behaviours.
At Exemplar Health Care, our values are fun, integrity, responsive, success and team work. Read about what our values mean.
- How much will I earn as a Health Care Assistant?
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As a Health Care Assistant, you can expect to earn at least the National Living Wage.
In 2021, the average salary for a Health Care Assistant was between £16,000 and £18,000 per year.
The average hourly rate for a UK Health Care Assistant was approximately between £8.50 and £9.50.
At Exemplar Health Care, our Health Care Assistants earn up to £9.85 per hour, dependent on experience.
- What career progression opportunities does a Health Care Assistant have?
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There are lots of career progression opportunities for Health Care Assistants.
When you start in the role, you’ll do a thorough induction to learn more about the role and the service users in your home. If you’re new to care, you’ll complete the Care Certificate which covers the minimum standards that everyone working in social care needs to know.
As a Health Care Assistant, you’ll have opportunities to do a vocational qualification such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care or a continuing professional development qualification such as in dementia, end of life or autism care.
At Exemplar Health Care you can do our in-house ABC of Caring training programme (that’s been certificated by the CPD Certification Service).
When you have the right experience, knowledge and skills, you could progress into a Senior Health Care Assistant role, and manage a team on your unit. You can also train to become a Nursing Associate which offers a great progression route into nursing.
Some of our Health Care Assistants become champions in their home, such as a Training Champion, which can lead to progression into our Central Services.
There are lots of Central Services roles such as administration, recruitment, marketing and training.
- Is care work a good job?
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Care work is an extremely rewarding job.
Many people are drawn to care work because they want to give something back.
Most care workers are motivated to make a difference to the lives of the people they support.
As a Health Care Assistant, you’ll have a meaningful impact on others. You’ll get great job satisfaction from seeing the people you support progress and be happy – it’s often the small daily wins that mean the most.
- What hours will I work as a Health Care Assistant?
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The hours you’ll work as a Health Care Assistant can vary depending on your contract.
The typical hours for a full-time Health Care Assistant are 37 – 40 hours a week.
Most full-time Health Care Assistants work three 12-hour shifts each week.
However, there may be opportunities for you to work more of shorter shifts.
You’ll usually be contracted to work either day or night shifts, but sometimes, you might be asked to cover both.
- How can I become a Health Care Assistant?
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There are no set entry requirements to become a Health Care Assistant.
It’s more important to have the right values and good skills such as communication, writing and number skills.
You can get into a Health Care Assistant role through:
- a college course such as Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
- an apprenticeship such as a Healthcare Support Worker
- applying for a job online or in your local care home
- volunteering.
Exemplar Health Care is recruiting Health Care Assistants across England.
If you’re interested in working as a Health Care Assistant, use our online job search to find a vacancy near you.
Read the job description and person specification. If you feel that you’re right for the role, fill in the online application and we’ll get back to you shortly.
Meet Craig, Health Care Assistant at Tyne Grange
Craig worked as a Machinist in engineering for the past 30 years, before joining Tyne Grange as a Health Care Assistant.
He shares: "I've always thought about working in care but never pursued it. During the pandemic I decided I wanted a change and do a more rewarding job. The people you work with are so helpful and friendly. Within half an hour of my first shift, it felt like I'd been here for years. It's the only job I've had where I get up on a morning and it doesn't feel like you're going to work. It's like a breathe of fresh air working here - it's brilliant!"
Meet Jayne, Health Care Assistant at Pathways
Jayne previously worked as a landlady in a local pub and later a cleaner, before starting her role as a Health Care Assistant at Pathways.
She shares: “I was a bit nervous at first as I’d never worked in care before. However, the company offers great training and you’re supported by a buddy when you first start. My favourite thing about being a Health Care Assistant is spending time with our service users. It’s fantastic to see their faces when they’re having a good time or they’ve achieved something. You get so much satisfaction from coming to work each day."
