Interview with a Bank healthcare assistant
Healthcare assistants, also known as HCA’s, work in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals. Those working as HCA’s can also be known as nursing assistants, nursing auxiliaries or auxiliary nurses depending on the setting.
Although there are no set requirements to become a healthcare assistant, good levels of literacy and numeracy are expected.
Training to become a healthcare assistant includes basic nursing skills and working towards a Care Certificate, developed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Health Education England. You can find out more about the Care Certificate here.
If you are interested in becoming a healthcare assistant you can find out more on the NHS Health Careers page.
To explain more about the fantastic opportunities healthcare assistants have working through the staff bank we have interviewed Leah who works as a healthcare assistant at our Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Staff Bank.
What made you decide to become a Bank HCA?
To help build my confidence in myself and to help people! I wanted to allow myself to work flexibly within many environments and wards without being stuck in one area.
What is the best part of your job?
Being with the patients and making a difference to their care. It gives me the opportunity to build my skills in various areas.
Why do you choose to work through the bank?
I enjoy the flexibility to be able to choose when and where I would like to work and they are very helpful!
What do you love about working bank?
Flexibility, friendly staff/bookings team and useful online booking system. The also inform me when training is needed and about future shifts.
What do you love about working at ESTH?
Epsom and St Helier Staff are friendly and welcoming!
What would you say to someone considering becoming a Bank HCA
Very rewarding, you need put the effort in.
What would you say to someone considering bank work?
Work hard, build a good rapport with all of the wards you work on, look regularly for shifts and know your availability.
If you would like to see more HCA roles we have available across all our Trusts, click here.
If you are interested in finding out more about working Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Staff Bank you can find out more about them here.
-
Bank Partners announces new partnership with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustUK’s leading independent provider of NHS staff bank management announces new partnership with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. Bank Partners is…Read more -
Shaping safer health systems: Insights from Acacium Group’s new white paperThe future of healthcare depends on the people who deliver it. Acacium Group’s latest white paper, developed in partnership with Cavell, highlights the vital…Read more -
Spotlight series UCLH’s oncology teamSpotlight series: UCLH’s oncology team UCLH provides a comprehensive set of services to diagnose, treat and support people with cancer. They are a specialist…Read more -
Interview with a staff bank radiographerInterview with a staff bank radiographer Radiology is one of the most specialised fields in healthcare and offers a fantastic opportunity to make a difference to patients’ lives.…Read more -
12-hour shifts: Bank Partners’ guide for NHS bank staff12-hour shifts have become standard practice in many NHS trusts and across many wards. For some, this shift pattern has certain advantages; working fewer days per…Read more -
5 reasons to work flexible NHS bank shiftsWe all know the famous song about ‘working nine to five’. Whilst this may be a common working pattern for most, it doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, a…Read more