Healthcare support workers infographic

Key survey statistics

Use the directional arrows below to cycle through the data graphs.

What can my organisation do to improve?

"No care certificate resources were available, and no help given to understand how to navigate the online system".

Attraction

• Use NHS Jobs, local recruitment campaigns, trust websites and We are the NHS to become a visible employer of choice locally.
• Use the NHS Employers Inspire, Attract and Recruit toolkit to help you improve the candidate experience. 
• Read the NHS Employers Inclusive recruitment: leading positive change report and other resources designed to help organisations embed inclusive recruitment.
• Provide candidates with the best possible experience so existing staff promote your organisation as the best place to work.
• Visit the NHS England and NHS Improvement website to find out more about attracting people healthcare support workers roles.

"A video showing the wards and site and possibly different patients speaking about their experiences with their HCA and some staff talking about their role would have been appealing".

Recruitment

• Recruit for values and help to ensure you secure the right people for your organisation.
• Where possible, try to speed up and streamline recruitment processes to support HCSWs into post as quickly as possible. Explore the use of robotic process automation.
• Help manage applicant expectations by clearly detailing role activities, shift patterns and any weekend working.

"To be fully informed of exactly what was included in the role applied for. ie, wasn't told about working weekends and wasn't told about working on call".

Onboarding

• Develop an onboarding checklist. Further information on onboarding can be found on the NHS England and NHS Improvement website. 
• Keep candidates warm throughout, especially if there are delays from appointment to starting in post.
• Provide as much information, pre-training and guidance as possible to help prepare HCSWs and ensure they can hit the ground running when induction arrives.

"Being shown around where you would be working before initially starting, I think would be beneficial especially for a new starter who hasn’t worked in a hospital environment before as it can be overwhelming knowing where things are etc. and also, going through how rotas work and annual leave etc".

Induction

• Develop a checklist and ensure everyone involved in the induction understands their role.
• Ensure all the basics are covered – allocation of uniform, access to IT and training, information about shift patterns, how to access the Bank, tour of the hospital and information on how annual leave works.
• Where possible provide peer and/or mentor support.

"I feel I could have been shown different departments of the hospital, as I have been asked to go to departments to collect items and have struggled to find these".

Career development

• Ensure the Care Certificate forms part of induction and candidates are supported to complete it.
• Highlight to HCSWs the career development routes available, particularly routes into nursing including nursing associates and other healthcare roles.
• Have conversations with your HCSWs about their aspirations and help them realise their future potential.
• Use the NHS Employers People Performance Management Toolkit to ensure line managers make time to talk about career aspirations.
• Visit the Health Education England website for more information on nursing associate career opportunities for your healthcare support workers.

"I love the job I’m in now but really want to become a registered nurse, I’m so happy that the trust offers developmental opportunities although I think there should be more".

Further information

For further information on attracting and supporting newly qualified HCSWs in your region please email cathrina.tierney-reed@nhs.net.