Senior Healthcare Support Worker
Senior healthcare support workers work in a range of settings for example in a hospital, as part of a community team, in a day-case unit, birthing centre, individual’s homes, operating theatres, nursing or care homes, hospices and in general practice. The purpose of the occupation is supporting registered healthcare professionals.
Course Summary
Course Information for Students
Who is this course for?
A senior healthcare support worker will provide clinical, therapeutic or diagnostic care under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered healthcare professional. For this standard, one of the following occupational options will be completed:
Adult nursing support: Providing care and support for adults as part of the nursing team. Some of the individuals the adult nursing support worker cares for wounds which requires dressing. Others may have long-term conditions which affect them every day, all their lives. Many individuals will have more than one condition, and some will need round the clock care for all their personal needs including feeding, washing, going to the toilet as well as for their clinical needs.
2. Maternity support: Providing care and support for women, babies and their families as part of the maternity team. The maternity support worker will contribute to the care of women antenatally and during birth, and care for women and babies postnatally. They support new parents to care for their baby and to develop confidence and bonding.
3. Theatre support: Providing care and support for individuals before, during and after operations as part of the multi-disciplinary theatre team. They will support individuals as they are preparing to go into theatre, reassuring them if they are anxious, and helping them move them back to recovery following their procedure. The theatre support worker will support the operating team by checking individuals into the theatre department, preparing equipment, counting swabs or other
Entry Requirements
GCSE Grade 4 in English & Maths
Ideally, a relevant level 2 qualification
Working in a clinical setting
What will you learn?
Undertake delegated nursing care and support for adults.
Promote the health and wellbeing of individuals.
Act within the limits of own competence and within agreed ways of working, following the relevant local and national standards, policies and protocols used in the workplace.
Monitor the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals in your care.
Use communication methods and techniques to overcome barriers and meet individuals’ wishes, preferences and needs.
Maintain the health, safety and security of yourself and others in the workplace by identifying risks and taking appropriate action to keep people safe.
Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.
Record, report and store information related to individuals, keeping information confidential.
Contribute to the quality of services by participating in improvement activities.
Provide leadership for others within the scope of own role.
How will you learn?
Attend college day fortnightly
OneFile electronic portfolios
Off The Job Hours from the clinical placement.
What will you need to bring with you?
Notepad, pens, laptop
How will you be assessed?
In the classroom for knowledge completing tasks that will be marked and feedback given
Assessed in the work setting for practical application
Where next?
Progression on to Nursing associate
Who do you contact for more information?
For more information contact Derby College on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk
Is there any financial support available?
Course Information for Employers
Apprenticeship summary
Are they any entry requirements for my apprentice?
What is required from the employer in the workplace?
Behaviours expected within the role
What qualification will my apprentice gain?
What will the assessment look like?
Will my apprentice need to come into college?
Is there any specialist equipment required?
What progression can my apprentice expect after completion of their apprenticeship?
What job roles will this apprenticeship be suitable for?
Will the college help me find an apprentice?
You may already have someone in your organisation or someone has come to you direct asking for an apprenticeship, but if you don’t we have a free recruitment service to help you hire the best candidate for your organisation from our talent pool and external advertising through social media and the national apprenticeship services website
Contact us
If you are an employer and you would like to know more, please email businessenquiries@derby-college.ac.uk or call 01332 387421
Career Information
DCG Success Stories
Discover how our students have achieved success. Their hard work and dedication to learning has enabled them to succeed in rewarding careers or progress onto higher education.
We encourage progress and aspirational outcomes by guiding people onto learning pathways that lead to positive destinations. Our students have gone on to achieve great things since leaving the College. We would like to share some of their inspiring success stories with you.
Find out what funding could be available to you:
Thinking about returning to education or developing new skills? Use our funding calculator below to get an estimate of the financial support you may be eligible for based on where you live.
Whether you’re looking to retrain, progress in your career, or try something new, funding could make your next step more accessible than you think.
Simply enter your postcode into the calculator to see an estimate of the funding that may be available in your area. This is based on regional funding allocations and typical eligibility criteria for adult learners.
Important:
The results shown are a guide only and are not a guarantee of funding.
Funding availability can vary depending on:
- Your personal circumstances (such as age, employment status, and prior qualifications)
- The course you choose
- Government and local funding rules at the time of enrolment
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Course Information Last Updated On: September 21, 2026 2:56 pm
