HCA Development

Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) Enhanced Induction

We are piloting an enhanced induction for new HCSWs. The programme is designed to support the completion of the Care Certificate and development of key skills essential for safe practice in the General Practice setting. It is open to Health Care Assistants (HCAs), General Practice Assistants (GPAs) and Phlebotomists.

What is it and who is it for?

A 3 month programme of education, mentoring and peer support to achieve the Care Certificate.

There are 12 places available on the programme, which is open to Health Care Assistants (HCAs), General Practice Assistants (GPAs) and Phlebotomists working in a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Practice, PCN or Federation, who are new to working in Primary Care.

What is provided for the HCSW?

8 hours Induction session:
2 hours per week for 11 weeks of facilitated education, mentoring and peer support to achieve the Care Certificate standard
Dates: TBC

What is expected from the HCSW?

Attendance at Induction session and 10 x facilitated education, mentoring and peer support events.
Proactive collation of evidence to support the achievement of the Care Certificate standards.

What is expected from the Practice?

Provision of an in-house mentor who contributes to agreeing the key learning objectives (professional development plan) and supports the HCSW to evidence their achievement of the Care Certificate standards
Release of their HCSW to attend the facilitated education, mentoring and peer support events and Learning Programme
An up-to-date Job Description and Personal Development Plan (Standards 1 and 2 of Care Certificate)

Sample Training Hub Learning Programme

Candidates are expected to attend the following training events within 3 months:

Induction Programme for Staff New to General Practice
Introduction to Phlebotomy
HCA Clinical Skills
Chaperone Training

If you have questions on any aspect of the HCSW enhanced induction to register your interest, please do get in touch:

via our Contact Form

via direct email to candptraininghub@nhs.net

via phone on 01733 666670

If you need information on a specific topic related to HCA Development that is not listed on this page, please email us at candptraininghub@nhs.net

Nursing Associate Role

June 2021 Trainee Nursing Associate Funding Available: for more information please click here

Nursing Associate description: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/new-roles-in-primary-care/

Link to HEE info on the Nursing Associate role and a video that explains a bit more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TvZNzeZgC4&feature=emb_title

A Quick Guide to Nursing Associates in General Practice (Suffolk NHS)

HCA Care Certificate

What is the Care Certificate?

The Care Certificate is the minimum training, supervision and assessment that those staff new to care (health and adult social care) should receive as part of induction.

The Care Certificate is intended to be used at the start of a career in health and social care. It ensure that people joining the sector can receive appropriate training, support and workplace assessment before they start to deliver care out of the line of sight of more experienced workers.

It provides a foundation for those working in healthcare support and social care worker roles in England, ensuring that the new worker is able to provide a compassionate and caring service.

There are fifteen standards that must be completed, involving knowledge learning, practical skills development and workplace assessments. Completion of all standards is required to attain the Care Certificate.

Access further information from Health Education England, Skills for Health and Skills for Care via these links:

Care Certificate FAQ for Health and Adult Social Care

Care Certificate Standards

Skills for Health Care Certificate Resources

E-learning for Health also provides on line learning to support the Care Certificate, visit https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/ and once registered or logged in, put Care Certificate or code CCT in the search bar and the learning modules that relate to the 15 care standards will pop up.