You could do a college course to learn some of the skills you need for this job, like a Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) for a level 3 course
Palliative care assistant
Alternative titles for this job include Specialist healthcare assistant
Palliative care assistants provide specialist end of life care and support to patients and their families.
Average salary (a year)
£15,250 Starter
to£19,500 Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
41 to 43 a week
You could work
evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts
How to become a Palliative care assistant
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
Apprenticeship
You could train towards this role through:
- a healthcare support worker intermediate apprenticeship
- a lead adult care worker advanced apprenticeship
This will usually take 12 months to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time at a college or training provider.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), usually including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More information
Volunteering and experience
Experience, either paid or voluntary in a healthcare role, is usually expected by employers. You can contact the voluntary services co-ordinator or manager at your local NHS trust for more details.
Some employers will also expect you to have a good understanding of end of life care, or palliative care.
Direct application
You may not need any formal qualifications to start work as a palliative care assistant, but GCSEs grades (A* to C) in English and maths may be useful in helping you to find a job.
Some employers may also want you to have a level 2 qualification in health and social care, like a certificate, diploma, GCSE or NVQ.
More information
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a palliative care assistant from Health Careers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- knowledge of psychology
- excellent verbal communication skills
- being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties might include:
- applying simple wound dressings
- giving medication
- changing medical equipment like catheters, when required
- making sure equipment is cleaned and stored correctly
- caring for the person's body after death
Working environment
You could work in the community, in an NHS or private hospital or at a hospice.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Career path and progression
With experience and training, you could become a senior healthcare assistant.You could train as an assistant practitioner in chiropody or podiatry, occupational therapy, radiography or physiotherapy.
You could also train as a health professional like a nurse, midwife or physiotherapist.
Training opportunities
Apprenticeships In England
Healthcare support worker Apprenticeship for the Diabetes Eye Screening Service
- Wage : £14,046.00 Annually
- Location: London E9 6SR
Clinical Support Worker Apprenticeship
- Wage : £13,091.00 Annually
- Location: TN2 4QJ
Courses In England
Palliative Care - Improvers
- Provider: Bradford College
- Start date: 24 January 2019
- Location: Bradford
End of Life Care Awareness Level 2 Award Cache NCFE
- Provider: Barnsley College
- Start date: 04 September 2019
- Location: Barnsley