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Healthcare support worker entry routes
Whether you have no formal care experience, a little or a lot, there are different ways you can become a healthcare support worker with us.
If you're passionate about wanting to make a difference, you're in the right place.
As a starting point, you need English and Maths level 2 qualifications which is equivalent to GCSEs. If you do not have these, please speak to your local council or visit the National Careers website who may offer functional skills courses.
Take a look at the career pathway below to explore entry routes through our trust.
- Please choose an appropriate entry point to explore further
- You have previous formal care experienceBack up
This means you have significant caring experience in a paid or voluntary role.
- Healthcare support worker in postBack up
Your significant experience means you can apply for healthcare support roles within the Trust on the NHS Jobs website.
- Healthcare support worker with NHS Professionals staff bankBack up
You may also decide to apply to join the staff bank with NHS Professionals to enjoy flexible options and long-term placement opportunities, as well as the ability to develop professionally and gain experience in a number of wards or areas across the UK. This can be in addition to your substantive role and can give you the option to earn extra money.
- You have little or no formal care experienceBack up
This means you have little or no caring experience in a paid or voluntary role.
- New to Care ProgrammeBack up
If you have a passion for healthcare, but who have no prior care experience, our new to care programmes may be for you. We run a new to care programme inhouse and with support from NHS Professionals we also deliver a care support worker development programme.
Both programme can help you become a skilled and competent healthcare support worker through studying, training, and work experience.
They are ideal for people who really want to get into healthcare and have transferable skills through work in other sectors.
- Healthcare support worker in postBack up
During our inhouse new to care programme, you will be assigned a role in either our community hospitals, mental health teams, or specialist dementia wards.
- You are joining the Trust from Individual Placement and Support IPS Employment servicesBack up
The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service supports people in our secondary mental health care services, who have experienced moderate to severe mental health conditions, to access work placements.
Work Forward Placements is a specific programme run by the team and is an employment-based scheme specially designed for clients to undertake work experience that reintroduces them to the workplace.
The IPS Team are on hand to support service users through their initial assessment, support gaining relevant and suitable employment, and once in their role continue to have regular meetings with the employer and service user to discuss how things are going and provide support, if needed.
- Participation partner routesBack up
The Trust appreciates and values volunteers, patients and the public who give their time, energy, skills, expertise, and experience to support our work. All Trust volunteers, patient and lay representatives and experts by experience are known as participation partners.
Becoming a participation partner is another way to gain experience in our trust and open up doors to opportunities. Examples of this are young people who have gone into employment with the Trust following their experiences in Youth Board. Read Megan's Youth Board story on the careers website.
There's lots of ways you can gain experience and insight in the Trust, including:
- NHS Cadet Scheme (through St John's Ambulance) is a fantastic way to gain relevant experience before pursuing a career as a paramedic or health care professional.
- Work experience is a great way for people to try new experiences, gain skills, understanding and develop knowledge of working in the NHS. Long term and short term placements are available.
- Volunteering provides access to working within a wide range of roles in both clinical and non-clinical areas. We can work with you to find the best role to suit your skills and amount of time you can spare.
- Youth Board is for young people aged 14 to 25 years old, who live or study in Worcestershire. By becoming a member of the Youth Board, you will have an opportunity to help shape the way in which NHS services are delivered.
offers a range of training opportunities and it's an ideal opportunity to get an insight into the NHS and how it works, all of which can be added to your CV.
- Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 ApprenticeshipBack up
This apprenticeship programme helps you develop the skills and knowledge required to provide vital support and care to patients in various healthcare settings.
You will gain a level 2 qualification while you work and achieve your Care Certificate.
On completion you can apply for substantive healthcare support worker roles.
- Healthcare support worker in postBack up
Once the apprenticeship is completed, you can apply for substantive healthcare support worker roles.
- New to Care ProgrammeBack up
We are currently developing a new to care programme for people with a passion for healthcare, but who have no prior care experience. The programme will help people become skilled and competent healthcare support workers through studying, training, and work experience; it also leads to employment.
It is ideal for people who really want to get into healthcare and have transferable skills through work in other sectors such as retail and customer service.
- Healthcare support worker in postBack up
During the New to Care programme, you will be assigned a role in your chosen area, (either in our community hospitals, the community, or mental health teams).
- NHS Professionals Care Support Worker Development ProgrammeBack up
The Healthcare Support Worker Development (HCSWD) programme provides a unique opportunity to begin your healthcare career with the NHS by providing you with all the training, support, and supervision you need to become a Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) or more commonly known as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA).
- Healthcare support worker in postBack up
You may decide to apply for a substantive role upon completion of the Healthcare Support Worker Development (HCSWD) programme, which will lead to a substantive post in the Trust (either in our community hospitals, the community, or mental health teams).
- Healthcare support worker with NHS Professionals staff bankBack up
After completing the Healthcare Support Worker Development (HCSWD) programme, you may also decide to remain with NHS Professionals to enjoy flexible options and long-term placement opportunities, as well as the ability to develop professionally and gain experience in a number of wards or areas across the UK.
- You have just finished sixth form and further educationBack up
Depending on your level of study or experience, you may wish to go straight into employment in a healthcare support worker post or to join the staff bank through NHS Professionals. Please check out job descriptions for healthcare support worker opportunities on NHS Jobs website to see what the requirements are before applying. We also encourage you to chat with recruiting managers if you find a role you are interested in, their details are found on the right side of each job advert.
Alternatively, please contact the Careers team on whcnhs.hwhctcareers@nhs.net for advice and any queries.