Health Care Support Worker Intermediate Apprenticeship Standard

Healthcare support workers (HCSWs) need to show they can work as part of a team providing high quality and compassionate care to individuals. You will carry out well-defined routine clinical duties like monitoring an individual’s conditions (by checking things like blood pressure, temperature or weight), checking on their overall progress, comfort and wellbeing. 

Depending on where you work, you may also help them to eat, drink, wash, dress or use toilet facilities. You may be asked to prepare individuals for healthcare activities carried out by other members of the healthcare team, looking after them before, during and/or after those activities in line with their care plan. 

You will also carry out non-clinical duties and, depending on where you work, this could include things like keeping records, making beds, tidying up your work area, returning or cleaning the equipment used during a clinical activity. You will be able to address straight forward problems in your day to day work, reporting concerns and changes to the appropriate person in a timely manner.

The topics you will cover whilst training include:

• Communication skills
• Health and Safety
• Safeguarding 

And a choice of optional topics that are included in your work role for example:

• Dementia Care
• Support Individuals to Carry out Their Own Healthcare Procedures

To be able to join the programme apprentices are to have a clear DBS (Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service).

Typically, candidates need a minimum of 2 GCSEs grade A-C or grade 4 or above. If you do not have suitable Maths & English grades, you will complete initial assessments to identify if you can achieve Functional Skills at Level 1.

To begin with you will be assessed through the completion of the nationally recognised Care Certificate (if not obtained already), the Diploma at level 2 in Health and Social Care (advised to achieve) which is achieved through your workplace job role, through assignments set in the classroom sessions to show knowledge and understanding. Then completing the programme with an end point assessment which will only be offered when all of the components of the programme including where applicable the achievement of functional skills maths and English at level 1

This qualification also has an End Point Assessment which includes:

• An observation of practice undertaken in the workplace
• An evidence portfolio completed by you with an interview