Apprenticeship training course

Healthcare support worker (level 2)

There are 11 training providers who offer this course.

Information about Healthcare support worker (level 2)

Providing high-quality and compassionate healthcare.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • The legislation, policies, standards, local ways of working and codes of conduct that apply to own role.
  • The scope of practice, limitations of own competence and who to ask for support.
  • The principles of ‘person-centred care and support’, including principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, active participation, consent and choice.
  • The principles of a ‘duty of care’ and ‘safeguarding’, including the signs and types of abuse and ways to reduce the risk of abuse.
  • The signs and symptoms that an individual is in pain, distress or discomfort.
  • The signs and symptoms that an individual’s health and wellbeing is changing and ways to report changes.
  • Techniques and principles to perform basic life support.
  • The physiological states, their normal ranges and the correct tools or equipment used to measure them.
  • The importance of prescribed medication and the limitations of own role in relation to medication.
  • The principles of hydration, nutrition and food safety.
  • The activities of daily living and ways to support individuals in developing and maintaining their independence in carrying out these activities.
  • Local systems to order and manage supplies and stocks.
  • Methods to safely clean and dispose of materials and equipment, including ways to handle hazardous materials and substances.
  • Local systems to manage appointments, including IT and telephone systems, how and where to sign-post individuals.
  • Communication techniques to maximise understanding including for individuals with specific communication needs or wishes.
  • The meaning of ‘capacity’, the differences between mental illness, dementia and learning disability and the impact of these conditions on an individual’s needs.
  • The principles of health promotion, availability of services to support individuals with lifestyle choices and how referrals can be made if required.
  • Ways to record and store information securely and in line with national and local policy and legislation, including the safe use of technology.
  • The principles and organisational policies for confidentiality, duty of confidence and disclosure.
  • The principles of infection prevention and control and the importance of good personal hygiene, hand hygiene and correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • The health and safety legislation, the principles of safe moving and handling of equipment and other objects and assistance of individuals.
  • The meaning of ‘risk’ in the workplace, ways to identify and raise concerns and own responsibilities in relation to incidents, errors and near misses.
  • The principles of continuing personal development and the local arrangements for appraisal and supervision.
  • The principles of the ‘Care Certificate’.
  • The principles of reflective practice.
  • The principles of ‘quality improvement’.
  • Ways to source evidence to support improvement in the workplace.

  Skills

  • Work in line with legislation, policies, standards, local ways of working and codes of conduct that apply to own role.
  • Work within the scope of practice, the limits of own knowledge and skills, escalating and reporting to others when needed.
  • Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide safe non-discriminatory person-centred care and support in line with individual’s established consent.
  • Implement a duty of care, recognising and responding to safeguarding and protection concerns and acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm.
  • Recognise and respond to the signs and symptoms that an individual is in pain, distress or discomfort to maximise comfort and wellbeing.
  • Recognise and respond to changes in individuals’ health and wellbeing.
  • Perform basic life support.
  • Undertake physiological measurements, selecting and using the correct tools or equipment.
  • Assist the registered practitioner in encouraging individuals to take or use their prescribed medication.
  • Promote access to fluids and nutrition in line with an individual’s care plan.
  • Support individuals with activities of daily living to maximise independence in line with their desired outcomes and plan of care.
  • Contribute to the storage of supplies and equipment.
  • Contribute to the cleaning, disinfecting and disposal of materials and equipment.
  • Support others with appointments, enquiries and referrals.
  • Communicate with individuals using techniques designed to facilitate understanding.
  • Recognise and respond to limitations in an individual’s mental capacity.
  • Act on opportunities to support others to maximise their health, well-being and positive lifestyle choices.
  • Record and store information related to individuals securely and in line with local and national policies, including the safe use of technology.
  • Report and share information related to individuals securely and in line with local and national policies, maintaining confidentiality.
  • Maintain a safe and healthy working environment, using a range of techniques for infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • Move and handle equipment or other items safely and assist individuals.
  • Take action in response to identified concerns, risks, incidents or errors and near misses arising in the workplace.
  • Participate in appraisal and supervision to support ongoing personal development.
  • Participate in training and development activities including the Care Certificate Standards.
  • Reflect on own practice.
  • Contribute to improvement activities in the workplace, for example collecting and logging data for audit.
  • Use evidence to make suggestions for improving practice.

  Behaviours

  • Treat people with dignity.
  • Show respect and empathy for those you work with.
  • Be adaptable, reliable and consistent.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Health and science
• Qualification level: 2; Equal to GCSE
• Course duration: 8 months
• Funding: £3,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Healthcare assistant
  • Healthcare support worker
  • Mental health support worker
  • Nursing assistant
  • Personal assistant
  • Support worker

View more information about Healthcare support worker (level 2) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.