What is the salary for NHS healthcare assistant Band 5 roles?

NHS Band 5 roles pay between £32,073 and £39,043 per year under the 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay scale, plus additional payments for unsocial hours, on-calls, and high-cost area supplements.

What qualifications do I need for NHS healthcare assistant Band 5 jobs?

Band 5 roles require a relevant degree and professional registration (NMC for nurses, HCPC for allied health professionals, etc.). These are the entry-level positions for newly qualified practitioners.

What qualifications do I need to become an NHS healthcare support worker?

Many trusts accept candidates without formal qualifications and provide the Care Certificate on the job. GCSEs in English and maths, any patient-facing experience, and evidence of caring values will strengthen an application.

Are healthcare assistant jobs the same as healthcare support worker jobs?

Many NHS adverts use healthcare assistant, HCA, clinical support worker, and healthcare support worker for closely related patient-care roles. The exact duties and band depend on the employer and service.

Band 5 Healthcare Assistant Jobs in the NHS

31 live vacancies at this grade · 18 NHS employers · salary £32,073 - £39,043

Open Positions

£31k - £48k

Salary Range

NHS Trusts

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What to expect from Band 5 Healthcare Assistant roles

Band 5 is where most newly qualified registered professionals start: nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, dietitians, and others. Posts involve autonomous clinical practice under supervision, with progression to Band 6 typically after 2-4 years. For healthcare assistant candidates, this usually means matching the advertised responsibilities to your evidence before applying: the same band can cover different service settings, rota patterns, and levels of supervision across NHS employers.

Job Clerk is currently tracking 31 live band 5 healthcare assistant vacancies across 18 NHS employers. Use this page to compare the broad market, then narrow into a city page when you need local salary expectations, employers, and closing-date pressure.

Recent salary data for band 5 healthcare assistant roles ranges from about £31,049 to £48,117 per year, depending on employer, setting, rota pattern, and high-cost area supplements.

Band expectations

Professional registration with the relevant body (NMC, HCPC, GPhC)
Degree-level qualification approved by your regulator
Evidence of clinical competence from placements or supervised practice
Readiness to manage an autonomous caseload under supervision

Role evidence to prepare

Recording and escalating vital signs observations (NEWS2, PEWS)
Phlebotomy, ECGs, or wound care (where trained and competent)
Supporting patients with nutrition, hydration, and mealtime assistance
Infection prevention: hand hygiene, PPE, equipment decontamination

Typical requirements

Care Certificate (completed within first 12 weeks of starting)
NVQ/QCF Level 2-3 in Health and Social Care (desirable)
Previous care, support, or patient-facing experience (desirable)
Manual handling certification (usually provided on induction)

Hiring locations

Current band 5 healthcare assistant demand is visible in Basingstoke, Carlisle, Oxford, Belfast HSCT, and York. Location pages help you compare local trusts, travel expectations, and live job counts before applying.

Employer mix

Recent listings include employers such as Inclusion, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. Review each advert for the person specification, application method, and whether the post closes early after enough applications.

Band 5 Healthcare Assistant Jobs by City

Browse band 5 healthcare assistant jobs in the UK's biggest NHS hubs.

Band 5 Healthcare Assistant in Belfast

Where Band 5 Healthcare Assistant Roles Are Hiring

Basingstoke, South East2 jobs

Carlisle, North East and Yorkshire2 jobs

Oxford, South East2 jobs

Belfast HSCT, Belfast1 jobs

York, North East and Yorkshire1 jobs

High Wycombe and Aylesbury, Midlands1 jobs

Newport, Midlands1 jobs

Aylesbury, Midlands1 jobs

South Eastern Corporate Bank, South1 jobs

Bath, South West1 jobs

Plymouth, South West1 jobs

Chandlers Ford, South East1 jobs

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