Healthcare Support Worker Development Programme

Acute Healthcare Support Workers are important in helping patients in hospital, providing care to patients with a variety of ailments.

Through our development programme, trainees learn how to provide compassionate, safe, and effective care in a range of acute settings. This includes safeguarding, communication, as well as how to help patients with social and physical activities, personal care, mobility, etc. HCSWs may also take patients observations, including temperature, pulse, respiration and weight.

The Patient Safety Support Worker (PSSW) role is crucial in ensuring both quality and safety in the clinical setting for vulnerable patients including those with challenging behaviours, dementia or at high risk of falls. PSSWs are also able to work as Healthcare Support Workers in other areas.

Patient Safety Support Workers support the multidisciplinary team in the clinical environment by providing quality care such as communication and distraction techniques, as well as reminiscence therapies with patients.

Examples of wards where PSSWs work include elderly care, adults with dementia, adult and older adult mental health.

Mental Health Support Workers practice in mental health wards, providing therapeutic communication and quality care.

In preparation for their role, our trainees learn how to approach difficult situations, recognise and understand a variety of mental health conditions and how to work in a multidisciplinary team to support patients needs. Self-care and reflective practice are an important element in this programme.

Community Healthcare Support Workers support patients and their carers in the community, either in the patients’ home or their care setting.

During our Healthcare Support Worker development programme for community, trainees learn a variety of healthcare skills in a community setting. These include supporting nutritional needs, moving and mobilising at home, communication and mental health.

Paediatric Healthcare Support Workers are vital in ensuring that children and young people receive safe, individualised, and effective standards of care.

For this role, trainees learn how to provide compassionate, safe, and effective care in a range of settings. This will include ensuring the comfort and consideration of the child or young person as well as providing holistic care to the family / carers with kindness and empathy to all concerned.

Examples of wards where Paediatric HCSWs work include Neonatal, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Oncology, Critical Care, Cardiac, as well as general wards and surgery.

Second Tuesday of every month at 4 pm

During this session, HCSWD trainees can ask any questions relating to their workbooks which include the 15 standards and completion or sign-off questions.

Every week, by invite only

This is mandatory training where you will reflect on your placement as well as understand how to deal with managing conflict within the clinical setting. There will be a presentation and an open discussion during the session.

Third Tuesday of every month at 1 pm

We are providing a series of regular drop-ins, aimed at nurses and mentors on the ward who support the trainees in their on-going training, coaching and supporting the trainees in learning the skills to develop into Healthcare Support Workers.

These sessions do not require any fixed agenda and will cover any questions about the programme.

First Tuesday of every month at 1 pm

This session is an open session that is held by our Practice Development Nurses and members of our on-placement team. It is a chance for HCSWD trainees to ask any questions concerning their placement and the programme. This can be clinical, or admin related.