You would help ill people with their practical daily tasks, either in hospital or in a patient’s own home.

You’d chat with patients and help them to feel less anxious.

A friendly, sensitive and cheerful approach will be very important. You’d need to be able to get on with people of all ages and backgrounds. 

You would:

• Help patients to wash, shower or dress

• Serve food to people or help them to eat

• Make and change beds

• Talk with people to help them feel less anxious

• Help patients if they find it difficult to move around

• Give out and collect bedpans, and help patients to the toilet

• Help patients who are confined to bed to change position and avoid pressure sores

• Tidy the ward or patients’ homes

• Keep supplies and equipment in order

• Take and record observations such as temperature, pulse and breathing

You might use mobility aids and equipment to help lift and move patients. In hospitals you may also escort patients to and from different departments.

Nursing staff would supervise your work. With experience, you may be involved in training new healthcare assistants.

If you work for the National Health Service (NHS) the salary for this role is covered by the Agenda for Change pay rates. You can see information about the pay and conditions on the Healthcare assistant page on the NHS Careers website. There are also numerous clinical healthcare support worker roles available on the careers website. 

• Royal College of Nursing - Advice to become a healthcare assistant from the professional body for nurses, midwives and HCAs

• NHS Education for Scotland – Training for the healthcare workforce including higher education and professional development

• Disclosure Scotland – more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme