HCSW - Nursing Associate Apprentice

Job overview

At Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we're looking for compassionate, motivated people to join us as Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) and Nursing Associate Apprentices (NAAs), starting a rewarding career in patient care.

Whether you're leaving school, returning to work, or changing careers, this is your chance to make a difference while building a future in healthcare.

Please specify in your Supporting Information section if you are applying for a HCSW or for NAA.

Start as a Healthcare Support Worker Healthcare is more than a job—it’s a career with purpose. As an HCSW, you’ll play a key role in patient care, supporting nurses, doctors and multidisciplinary teams. No prior experience needed—just the right values and passion to care

• Earn while you learn with no student debt • Gain a recognised qualification • Secure a long-term NHS career • Develop clinical skills

You will be recruited at Band 2 if you have not yet completed CUH HCSW induction which includes completion of the Care Certificate and Competencies. Once completed you will move up to Band 3. If you are currently working in a support worker role and have therefore completed these, you will be recruited as Band 3

Please note you will be required to undertake a Functional Skills Test as part of your interview assessment. You will need to pass this in order to proceed to a Conditional Offer. This is applicable if you are not currently working as a Support worker at CUH.

Main duties of the job

At CUH, we are committed to developing our own workforce. For HCSWs who meet apprenticeship criteria and show dedication to patient care, the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship offers a clear pathway into registered nursing.

All our Nursing Associate apprentices begin as HCSWs, gaining essential experience in fundamental care skills and building confidence before advancing their knowledge and nursing practice.We’re looking for people who are:

Caring and compassionate Reliable and committed Strong communicators and team players Motivated to learn and develop Passionate about high-quality patient care Able to balance work and study

To join as a HCSW, you must complete the National Care Certificate as part of your development.

To progress onto the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship, you must start as a HCSW, complete the above, and evidence apprenticeship eligibility and funding requirements, including:

• GCSE English and Maths (Grade 9–4 / A*–C) or equivalent
• Flexibility to work a full range of shifts (enhanced pay for unsocial hours)
• Right to work in the UK (not for education purposes only)
• UK residency for at least 3 years before the course
• A valid visa covering the full apprenticeship duration (if applicable)

Please see the downloads section for further Right to Work guidance and FAQs.

Meeting these criteria does not guarantee a place, but working as a HCSW at CUH provides valuable experience and preparation.

Care for patients today. Build your future tomorrow.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CUH offers a comprehensive four week clinical support staff induction programme and support to achieve the National Care Certificate.  This will equip you to find your feet within the organisation and quickly feel like a valued member of the clinical team/s. Please note it is mandatory to attend every day of the induction programme.

We are currently recruiting for a wide variety of adult wards. Please note ward allocations will be offered based upon current vacancies within the trust.

Find Out More

Join one of our Nursing Associate Apprenticeship Webinars on:

• -          23 June 2026, 1pm https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/318314019592192?p=zBrvjP5IHsqAaM36hw -          3 July 2026, 11am https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/34833269979978?p=0GsVuONPunnQ7kv2gs

Learn about the HCSW and Nursing Associate roles, meet the team and receive application & interview advice

If successful you will be added to a centralised pool for 6 months. During this time a ward or clinic allocation will be sourced for you. Please note after 6 months you will be removed and subsequently withdrawn if an allocation cannot be confirmed for you

Please note that all interviews for this post will be conducted face-to-face only; virtual interviews cannot be accommodated. If you are unable to attend, please let us know in advance so we can explore whether an alternative arrangement may be possible. Failure to notify us of your unavailability may result in your application being withdrawn, with no further consideration given.

In order to start in this role as a Band 3 there is a requirement that the National Care certificate (NCC) has been completed alongside a practical/ in -person competency booklet. Successful candidates that are unable to evidence completion of these requirements will start in the role at a Band 2 and therefore will not be eligible for sponsorship. Successful candidates that are able to provide this evidence may be permitted to commence at a Band 3. Starting salary and eligibility for sponsorship, if requested, will be considered at conditional offer.

In addition due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have either applied for a Graduate visa or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment.

Please note this vacancy has been capped at 250 applications. Once this limit is reached the vacancy will automatically close.

We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse, day nurseries and access to a great transport system with easy access to airports and rail travel.

For further details of our fantastic benefits please refer to the attachment below - CUH Benefits.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases alternative working hours will be considered.

Stagecoach is currently offering free bus travel between the Babraham and Trumpington Park and Ride sites and CUH. In addition to that there are further discounts available for NHS and CUH staff.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.