Healthcare Assistants and Clinical Support Workers
Healthcare Assistants
Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) play an important part in providing excellent patient care. They work alongside and assist registered nurses and nursing associates. They carry out tasks such as helping patients to:
- wash and dress
- eat and drink
- move about the ward
- go to the toilet
They also monitor patients by checking their clinical observations, for example, temperature, pulse and breathing. They may also measure height and weight. Generally they help to make patients feel comfortable while they are in hospital.
Clinical Support Workers
Clinical Support Workers (CSWs) do slightly different work but their role is equally important. They support the general running of a department and mainly work in short-stay areas such as outpatient departments, day surgery, main theatres or clinics. CSWs usually have less contact with patients than HCAs.
Apply
To apply, check our HCA and CSW recruitment timetable (below) to see when applications are being accepted.
When vacancies are open, complete an online application form, which you can find by checking the job advert on:
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an interview.
| Advert opens | Advert closes |
|---|---|
| 01 Jul | 04 Jul |
| 15 Jul | 18 Jul |
| 29 Jul | 01 Aug |
| 12 Aug | 15 Aug |
| 26 Aug | 29 Aug |
| 09 Sept | 12 Sept |
| 23 Sept | 26 Sept |
| 07 Oct | 10 Oct |
| 21 Oct | 24 Oct |
| 04 Nov | 07 Nov |
| 18 Nov | 21 Nov |
| 02 Dec | 05 Dec |
| 16 Dec | 19 Dec |
| 06 Jan 2025 | 09 Jan 2025 |
Read our advice on how to apply for a job at King’s.
Training and support
When you join King’s you will complete a one-week induction training programme, to prepare you with the knowledge and skills needed to safely care for our patients, before you start work in clinical areas. You will then have a local induction to help you familiarise yourself with your department and role.
To ensure you have every opportunity to become familiar and confident in your new position, we will ‘buddy’ you with a more experienced member of our staff before you work on your own.
Band 2 HCAs
Band 2 HCAs will need to complete:
- the Care Certificate within your first three months, if you do not already have it
- a competency document
You will have the opportunity to complete qualifications in Maths and English at level 2 and enrol on a level 3 apprenticeship in Healthcare. You can find out more about qualfication levels on the UK government website.
Band 3 HCAs
Band 3 HCAs will need to complete a competency document. You will also have study days in order to develop your knowledge and skills.