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.

What is the salary for NHS healthcare support workers?

Under the 2026/27 pay scale, NHS healthcare support workers typically work at Band 2-3 (approximately £25,000-£27,000). With additional training and responsibilities, progression to Band 4 (£28,000-£31,000) is possible.

Which NHS trusts hire healthcare assistants in Cambridge?

Major NHS employers for healthcare assistants in Cambridge include Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Healthcare Assistant Jobs in Cambridge

Healthcare assistant and support worker posts provide direct patient care under the guidance of registered nurses and other clinicians. Duties typically include personal care, observations, mobility support, and ward routines. Most posts sit at Band 2 or Band 3, with Band 4 assistant practitioner roles available for experienced staff who complete additional training.

2 live vacancies in Cambridge · 1 NHS employers · updated hourly

View all NHS jobs in Cambridge

Open Positions

£25k - £27k

Salary Range

NHS Trust

New This Week

Working in Healthcare Assistant roles in Cambridge

Cambridge University Hospitals (Addenbrooke's) is a major teaching hospital with strong research links to the university. Royal Papworth Hospital, the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital, relocated to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in 2019. For healthcare assistant candidates, this means roles can appear across acute hospitals, community services, specialist teams, mental health providers, and integrated care settings depending on the local NHS workforce mix.

Job Clerk is currently tracking 2 live healthcare assistant vacancies in Cambridge from 1 NHS employers. New posts can include permanent, fixed-term, bank, part-time, and rotational opportunities, so it is worth checking both the broad Healthcare Assistant results and the band-specific pages below.

Recent salary data for these healthcare assistant roles ranges from about £25,272 to £27,476 per year, depending on band, specialist experience, and whether high-cost area supplements apply.

Common work areas

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)

Local employers

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Bands hiring in Cambridge

Current healthcare assistant pages for Cambridge include Band 3. Use these band pages when you want salary expectations, seniority, and job descriptions narrowed to a specific level.

Local practical context

Cambridge has rail to London King's Cross (50 min) and connections across East Anglia. The city has strong cycling infrastructure, and many staff cycle to hospital sites on the southern edge of the city.

Housing costs are higher than most East of England cities due to university demand. No high-cost area supplement applies, which is a consideration compared to London-fringe alternatives.