Nestorbot
Social ServiceISCO 5321

Healthcare assistant

A healthcare assistant is a person who works in a team with nurses, in nursing, social care, clinical care and the treatment of people of every age group. Healthcare assistants help to promote and restore the health of patients by giving physical and psychological support to the patients and to their friends and families.

Take the free testCheck yourself in a minute ↓AI risk: 17/100 (low risk)

Check yourself in a minute: healthcare assistant

Rate 5 of the 30 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

respond to changing situations in health care

educate on the prevention of illness

inform policy makers on health-related challenges

use e-health and mobile health technologies

empathise with the healthcare user

About healthcare assistant

Supporting the nursing staff is the stated function. The assistant supports the nurses, monitors the patients' parameters, and deals with urgent care situations. Monitoring basic signs means observing the patient's condition, such as temperature, pulse and breathing, and reporting changes to the nurse.

The physical care the assistant gives includes washing, moving and feeding patients, helping them to the toilet and sitting with them.

Psychological support is also part of the role. The assistant interacts with the people using the service and builds collaborative therapeutic relationships, with patients who are frightened, confused or in pain, and with the families around them who also need support. The clinical frame governs the work throughout: healthcare regulations, the quality standards healthcare practice requires, and the e-health and m-health technologies through which observations and records now move.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (30)

respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.educate on the prevention of illnesseducate on the prevention of illnessOffer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and healt...inform policy makers on health-related challengesinform policy makers on health-related challengesProvide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...provide basic support to patientsprovide basic support to patientsSupport patients and citizens with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, comfort, mobilisation and feeding needs.identify abnormalitiesidentify abnormalitiesIdentify what is normal and abnormal concerning the well-being of patients, through experience and instruction, reporting to the nurses what is abnormal.manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.provide health educationprovide health educationProvide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.support nursessupport nursesSupport nurses with the preparation and delivery of diagnostic and treatment interventions.work under supervision in carework under supervision in careWork under delegation and supervision of nurses to support nursing care and administration.communicate with nursing staffcommunicate with nursing staffCommunicate with nurses and other health professionals ensuring the delivery of quality and safe patient care.advise on healthcare users' informed consentadvise on healthcare users' informed consentEnsure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...adhere to organisational guidelinesadhere to organisational guidelinesAdhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.convey medical routine informationconvey medical routine informationConvey routine information to patients, relatives, and members of the public.work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.work with nursing staffwork with nursing staffWork together with nurses and other health professionals in supporting the delivery of basic patient care.promote inclusionpromote inclusionPromote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive envi...interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...have computer literacyhave computer literacyUtilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.monitor basic patients signsmonitor basic patients signsMonitor and analyse basic patient vital signs as vital signs of heart, respiration, and blood pressure. Take action by reporting them to the nurse.apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
Optional (14) — show
geriatricsgeriatricsGeriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.disability caredisability careThe specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.older adults' needsolder adults' needsThe physical, mental, and social needs of frail, older adults.disability typesdisability typesThe nature and types of disabilities affecting the human beings such as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional or developmental and the specific needs and access requirements of disabled peop...sterilization techniquessterilization techniquesThe methods and techniques used to destroy or remove microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria that can contaminate medical instruments or any type of material in a health care setting.perform cleaning dutiesperform cleaning dutiesPerform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.use technical equipment for sterilisationuse technical equipment for sterilisationWork with technical equipment and machinery such as steam sterilisers to clean and disinfect equipment and devices.evaluate older adults' ability to take care of themselvesevaluate older adults' ability to take care of themselvesAssess the condition of an older patient and decide if he or she needs assistance in taking care of him- or herself to eat or to bathe and in meeting his/hers social and psychological needs.distribute meals to patientsdistribute meals to patientsProvide meals to patients or residents, following the dietary requirements and medical prescriptions.communicate in foreign languages with health service providerscommunicate in foreign languages with health service providersApply foreign languages in communicating with health service providers such as doctors and nurses.use foreign languages for health-related researchuse foreign languages for health-related researchUse foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.assist in the administration of medication to elderlyassist in the administration of medication to elderlyProvide support and assistance in the administration of medications to elderly people, under the strict direction and supervision of the nurse, observing and monitoring the health and emotional condit...use foreign languages in patient careuse foreign languages in patient careCommunicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.support individuals to adjust to physical disabilitysupport individuals to adjust to physical disabilityAssist individuals to adjust to the implications of physical disability and to understand the new responsibilities and level of dependency.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

advanced physiotherapist21 shared essential skillsaudiologist21 shared essential skillsclinical psychologist21 shared essential skillshealth psychologist21 shared essential skillsnurse responsible for general care21 shared essential skillsorthoptist21 shared essential skillsparamedic in emergency responses21 shared essential skillsphysiotherapist21 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a healthcare assistant do?

Healthcare assistants work in teams of nurses within the occupational fields of nursing, social care, clinical care and care of people of all age-groups. Healthcare assistants assist in the promotion and restoration of patients' health by providing physical and psychological support to patients, friends and families.

What skills does a healthcare assistant need?

A healthcare assistant needs 30 essential skills, including respond to changing situations in health care, educate on the prevention of illness, inform policy makers on health-related challenges, use e-health and mobile health technologies, empathise with the healthcare user.

Will AI replace healthcare assistant jobs?

The AI disruption score for healthcare assistant is 17/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: manage healthcare users' data, comply with legislation related to health care, communicate in foreign languages with health service providers. Most resilient: empathise with the healthcare user, deal with emergency care situations, develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Quick Facts

SectorSocial Service
ISCO GroupPersonal care workers
Essential Skills30

Is healthcare assistant right for you?

Take the free 10-minute Career Portrait to see which career direction fits your motivations and strengths.

Take the free test