Healthcare assistant

In this role you could:

• help patients shower and get dressed
•  help people eat
•  make beds
•  use equipment to lift and move patients
•  talk to patients and reassure them
•  help patients to use the toilet
•  tidy the ward or patients' homes
•  take patients' temperature or pulse
•  attend meetings with other healthcare professionals

• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to work well with your hands
• excellent verbal communication skills
• customer service skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

Healthcare assistant roles can be a stepping stone to other health careers.

With training, you could become an assistant practitioner in chiropody or podiatry, occupational therapy, radiography or physiotherapy.

With experience you could train new healthcare assistants.

You could also apply to train as a nurse, radiographer, dietitian, midwife or social worker.

Health Careers has information about careers in all areas of health.