Patients come first
Make a difference to patient care and experience by working across different areas and specialisms to deliver the best care.
Healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners provide a critical level of patient-centred care while working with registered practitioners.
Your career routes
Starting as a healthcare assistant enables you to build upon this expertise into senior positions and provides the foundational experience to become a registered professional.
Several qualifications and training routes can support you in your development.
View the career path for more information.
Routes for Scotland and Wales
Funding for apprenticeships is a devolved matter in Scotland and Wales. This means access to development opportunities may differ depending on you where you live. Where there are differences, we have mapped these within the career pathway.
Aspiring healthcare professionals can be supported to complete a level 3 (SCQF level 6) course for healthcare assistants, depending on the restrictions of the funding available at the time. Scottish funding is managed through local colleges and universities, and the learning services team can support you with guidance with routes to nursing.
People interested in imaging opportunities should explore local bursary opportunities or speak to student services for further guidance. Wales currently offer a bursary scheme and Scotland Awards Agency Scotland support routes to nursing in Scotland.
Start your journey
Hit the ground running with your 90-day induction and get to know your clinical area.
Keep patient safety at the forefront by completing your mandatory training. Build your confidence with the Care Certificate by undertaking the healthcare support worker apprenticeship.
Develop yourself with professional conversations with your manager and participate in the check-in and appraisal process.
Healthcare Assistant
Develop your understanding of your clinical area, focusing on the essential skills and competencies for starting your career.
Begin to develop a deeper understanding of your clinical area and increase your specialist knowledge with the level 3 Healthcare Assistant apprenticeship
Senior Healthcare Assistant
Be proactive by suggesting opportunities for improvement and start to take a small patient allocation under the supervision of a Registered Practitioner.
Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner
Reflect upon your improvement as a practitioner within nursing or allied health by developing evidence-based practice skills through the level 5 Foundation Degree Nursing Associate or an Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship.
Scotland does not currently recognise or support the nursing associate role within the nursing route.
Wales do not currently train this level of nursing associate.
People interested in nursing opportunities should explore local bursary opportunities or speak to student services for further guidance. Wales currently offer a bursary scheme and Scotland Awards Agency Scotland support routes to nursing in Scotland.
Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitoner
Enhance your skills and become an Operating Department Practitioner or Registered Nurse by improving your core understanding of theories and critical thinking skills with the level 6 Operating Department Practitioner apprenticeship or Registered Nurse apprenticeship.
Scottish aspiring operating department practitioners can complete and enrol on the level 5 operating department practice course.
Speak to your manager or email learning services for information on how to enrol in this course.
Links to other pathways
Advanced Practitioner or Senior Registered Nurse
Put theories into practice and add to your extensive knowledge of healthcare management with continued support to develop specialist skills through advanced clinical practice by working towards the level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioner apprenticeship or undertaking the level 3 Recognising Leaders programme.
Clinical Service Manager or Director of Clinical Services
Use coaching opportunities and feedback tools to support your growth and development to effectively manage across multiple disciplines.
Build strategies that drive change within healthcare management and learn to effectively manage across multiple disciplines through the following courses:
- Level 5 Operational Leaders
- Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
- Level 7 MSc Global Leadership and Management
- Level 7 towards Outstanding for Senior Leaders programme
- MBA route through a specialised programme for directors