Best Healthcare Assistant Jobs in UK For Foreigners

The healthcare sector is one of the sectors with the largest employment opportunities in the UK. As a result of this, the UK government opened these opportunities to both foreigners and locals. Hence, it’s no surprise that foreigners are constantly seeking healthcare assistant jobs in the UK.

Advertisment

Some UK employers provide visa sponsorship to foreigners willing to work healthcare assistant jobs while others do not. However, what’s more important is understanding what the job entails and your employer’s requirements.

For this purpose, we have discussed the meaning of a healthcare assistant, their responsibilities, requirements for foreigners vying for this position, and available jobs for foreigners in the UK.

Advertisment

So, keep reading to learn more about getting HCA jobs in the UK, with or without a visa sponsorship.

What is a Healthcare Assistant?

A healthcare assistant (HCA) is an individual that provides patients/clients with personal care (such as dressing, feeding, bathing, etc.) alongside assisting them with their daily activities and supporting professional nurses.

HCAs are directly supervised by the RN’s, LPN’s, and other medical personnel. Generally, they work in various healthcare settings to offer direct support and personal care to patients.

Such settings include, but are not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, personal care facilities, and private homes. Healthcare assistants can also take these job titles: nursing assistant, nursing auxiliary, carer or domiciliary carer, and support worker.

Responsibilities: What To Expect in UK Healthcare Assistant Jobs

Foreigners seeking healthcare assistant jobs in the UK should understand that this position primarily involves providing direct care to patients under the supervision of a professional nurse or licensed doctor.

So, the following are responsibilities you’re expected to execute in this role depending on the healthcare setting where you work:

Make patients’ beds.
Bathe and dress patients.
Serve their meals and assist them to eat/feed them.
Perform health checks.
Help them in moving around, turning, positioning, and lifting (using wheelchairs or movable beds).
Ensure they’re comfortable and safe.
Assist them to use the restroom.
Monitor patients’ health by checking their pulse, weight, temperature, and respiration.
Clean up patients’ wards or homes.
Support doctors and nurses.
Provide emotional support and care.
Maintain communication with patients and their family members.
Restock consulting rooms.
Sterilize equipment.
Carry out health education duties.
Take urine and blood samples, especially after you’ve been trained on phlebotomy.
Process laboratory samples.
Tidy up patients’ bedding to maintain personal hygiene.
Offer them reassurance and therapeutic care by communicating with them.
Prepare patients for therapy, surgery, or other medical procedures.
Maintain patients’ records.
Check for medical supplies and collaborate with the pharmacist and order patients’ replenishment.
Provide massages for patients whenever they need it.
Assemble or organize the necessary equipment for healthcare personnels when needed.
Obey professional standards.
Observe patients’ health status consistently and report to nurses.
Attend important meetings with other healthcare experts.
Promote positive physical, mental, and nutritional health of patients.
Distribute snacks and tea.

Requirements For Healthcare Assistant Jobs in UK For Foreigners

Working as a healthcare assistant in the UK can be a good starting point for foreigners seeking jobs in the British healthcare system. Because of the high demand for this role, it has been made accessible to foreigners.

Furthermore, foreigners willing to take on healthcare assistant jobs in the UK must ensure they meet certain requirements. These include visa, English proficiency, paperwork, documents, and finance.

Because the majority of HCA training will be done on the job, there aren’t any compulsory qualification requirements for foreigners seeking healthcare assistant jobs in the UK.

However, having these qualifications will be a big plus for you:

SSCE or WAEC certification
GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A* to C)
Diploma in health and social care
Care certificate
Diploma in healthcare support
National vocational qualifications in healthcare

One of the requirements foreigners looking for healthcare assistant jobs in the UK will need is a visa to work in the UK healthcare industry. This is another hurdle you must cross as a foreigner.

So, the appropriate visa you should apply for is the Health and Care Worker visa. It’s a subset of the Skilled Worker visa, which was formerly known as the Tier 2 visa. But it doesn’t stop there — you must qualify for this visa.

To qualify for this visa type, you must possess relevant experience in the healthcare industry. Therefore, you must be working as a nurse, doctor, social care expert, or any health care provider.

With the Health and Care Worker visa, you can work in the United Kingdom (with the NHS, for NHS suppliers, or in adult social care). This visa is usually valid for up to 5 years. Afterward, you must update it upon expiration or if you switch employers.

Hence, a valid work visa is one of the essential requirements for foreigners looking for healthcare assistant jobs in the UK.

Other Requirements For Healthcare Assistant Jobs in UK For Foreigners

To be eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must have secured a job first. And the job must align with the acceptable minimum salary requirements.

Moreso, your job offer must come from an establishment or employer that has obtained approval by the UK Home Office to operate as a sponsor. This is mostly applicable to foreigners seeking healthcare assistant jobs with visa sponsorship in the UK.

But what if your employer isn’t approved yet? Well, they’ll have to apply for a sponsor license. Immediately after landing a job offer, your employer will check to ensure you meet UK’s standard requirements for working in the healthcare sector.

Afterward, they’ll give you a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS), which contains your job and employer details. Note that you must do your visa application within 3 months of getting your COS. Meanwhile, you’ll be asked for the following data during your visa application process:

Your employer’s name
Standard of English Language evidence
Your job title, job occupation code, and annual salary
Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
Your employer’s sponsor license number
Valid passport or any other official proof of nationality and identity

In addition, you must prove your English proficiency through tests such as Occupational English Test (OET) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). You must also pass these tests with at least a B1 on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference For Languages).

Monetary requirements are not left out for foreigners that want to work healthcare assistant jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship. Thus, you should have a minimum or £1500 in your bank account for personal support.

But if your employer is willing to support you, they can highlight it on your Certificate of Sponsorship. Besides these, you need other documents to support your visa application process.

Criminal record certificate from any countries you have lived in
Bank statements of account
Results of a tuberculosis test
Health check test results
Proof of your relationship with your partner

The UK visa application process is never a walk in the park. Therefore, ensure that you understand the specific requirements your employer seeks alongside the nature of the healthcare assistant position. This way, you’ll be able to make fewer mistakes.

Healthcare Assistant Jobs in The UK For Foreigners

While some employers offer visa sponsorship for foreigners seeking healthcare assistant jobs, others do not. But this section will cover both categories.

1. UK Care Home Jobs

You can get care jobs in care facilities and nursing homes across the UK. These employers provide visa sponsorship to foreigners for UK healthcare assistant jobs.

Currently, there are 9,062 positions in the care facilities job market. And these jobs include carer, nursing, and administrative job roles.

2. UK Carers – Agincare Worldwide

Agincare Careers employ caregivers from across the globe. Their principle, which implies that every individual deserves care, has been their driving force to accept employees from anywhere in the world.

Hence, they provide visa sponsorship to foreigners for UK healthcare assistant jobs. Furthermore, Agincare has a sponsor license from the UK Visa and Immigration. If you have your Health and Care Worker visa, you’re good to go!

3. NHS Care Jobs

Known for welfare and universal healthcare, NHS (National Health Service) also welcomes applications from individuals across the globe. Interestingly, they’re approved by the UK government to sponsor and employ foreigners seeking healthcare assistant jobs with a sponsorship visa.

Each month, the NHS jobs site posts approximately 25,000 employment offers for more than 350 different occupations. This means your chances of securing at least a job is very high.

4. UK Authorities Care Jobs

Since there are high employment opportunities in the United Kingdom, you can submit your application via the UK government website.

All you need to do is visit the UK government’s official website and apply for your desired healthcare assistant job. If you’re lucky, you could land a visa sponsorship.

Other healthcare assistant jobs in the UK include the following:

5. Hospital Healthcare Assistant

This is typically what comes to mind when most people hear “healthcare assistant.” Well, as a Hospital Healthcare Assistant, you’ll work in a hospital and assist doctors and nurses with patient care.

Also, you’ll be responsible for performing important health checks like blood pressure, temperature, etc. Assisting patients with eating, bathing, and dressing will be part of your duties too. Meanwhile, your responsibilities are not limited to the ones mentioned above.

6. Care Home Assistant

This job involves working in a residential care home, especially with seniors or elderly patients. You’ll typically assist with their medication, help patients with daily activities, monitor their health and report changes, and help organize social events.

However, you must be a compassionate and patient person to succeed in this position. This is because you’ll likely be working with individuals with dementia or other age-related issues.

7. Mental Health Support Worker

As the name implies, a mental health support worker supports patients with mental health conditions.

Usually, you’ll provide patients with emotional support, monitor their mental state, help them with daily activities, and plan therapeutic activities for them.

At the same time, you must possess solid communication skills and understand mental health conditions to thrive in this job.

8. Learning Disability Support Worker

A learning disability support worker helps patients with learning disabilities. So, you’re expected to assist these people with personal care, communication, organize fun activities, and support patients to learn independent living skills.

Fortunately, this is a rewarding position, as it’s a way for you to help people become independent.

9. Pediatric Healthcare Assistant

Do you love kids or enjoy working with kids? If yes, then you’ll most likely love a career that involves caring for children. And the pediatric healthcare assistant is one of such jobs.

In this position, your workplace setting could be a clinic or hospital. And some of your responsibilities will include helping children with eating, dressing, bathing, and using the toilet, and playing with kids to make them calm.

Other times, you’ll have to help nurses with procedures when called upon, and monitor & record critical signs in these children. Overall, you’ll have to be a gentle person and have the ability to make kids feel at ease in medical centers.

10. GP Surgery Healthcare Assistant

In this position, you’ll work more often in a doctor’s office. Thus, you’re expected to take blood samples, sterilize (surgical) equipment, and conduct basic health checks.

At the same time, you will be responsible for giving vaccines (after you’ve received proper training). If you’re seeking a less stressful position that takes more regular hours compared to hospital work, then consider this job.

FAQs

Do I need IELTS to work as a health care assistant in the UK?

Yes. You must obtain a level B1 on the CEFR scale to be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa. This level B1 is equivalent to an IELTS overall 4.0 score.

How to apply as a healthcare assistant with no experience?

You only need a high school diploma and a certificate or degree from a healthcare assistant training program.

How much is a health care assistant paid in the UK?

Entry level positions start at £21,264 annually and most experienced workers earn up to £30,850 a year.

What qualifications do I need to be a care assistant in the UK?

You need First Aid skills, an NVQ in Health and Social Care, Levels 2 and 3 or a level 3 diploma in adult care, and good basic numeracy and literacy skills.

How to get HCA jobs in the UK from Nigeria?

As a Nigerian you’ll require a Health and Care Worker visa to work in the UK healthcare industry.

Conclusion

A healthcare assistant basically provides personal care and comfort to patients across various healthcare settings as discussed in this article.

Foreigners who are searching for healthcare assistant jobs in the UK (with or without visa sponsorship) must first understand the requirements involved.

The United Kingdom is a good place to excel in healthcare positions. If you want jobs with visa sponsorship, you can apply to your desired position from any of the employers that provide visa sponsorship.

Otherwise, there are still many opportunities waiting for you. Each position discussed in this article has its unique rewards and drawbacks. And the most intriguing thing about healthcare assistant jobs is that they can help you advance in your healthcare career.

Many therapists, nurses, and health professionals you see today started as healthcare assistants. So, there’s enough opportunity for you to grow. Meanwhile, note that the specific responsibilities of a healthcare assistant can differ based on the work setting and employer.

And some positions may demand additional qualifications or training beyond the regular healthcare assistant requirements.

References

RECOMMENDATION

Advertisment

Best Healthcare Assistant Jobs in UK For Foreigners

What is a Healthcare Assistant?

Responsibilities: What To Expect in UK Healthcare Assistant Jobs

Requirements For Healthcare Assistant Jobs in UK For Foreigners

Other Requirements For Healthcare Assistant Jobs in UK For Foreigners