HEALTHCARE ASSISTANTS HEALTHCARE ASSISTANTS Who are healthcare assistants? doctors and nurses, healthcare assistants are involved in several routine tasks, which are essential for the correct functioning of the hospital. As well as 1 (Operatori Socio Sanitari or OSS) nurses, healthcare assistants work with doctors, and other healthcare professionals. Along with midwives They have a lot of contact with patients. DO A career in the NHS (National Health Service) as a healthcare assistant posted by Health Careers 1 WARM UP t? Why did you choose to study to become a healthcare assistan Where do they work? What do they do? They can work at private homes or in public institutions such as hospitals, , and prisons, or . hospices nursing homes wherever assistance personnel is needed Their work varies depending on where they are based. In a hospital, for example, they are responsible for the and , including: well-being autonomy of the patients washing and dressing patients helping people to move around toileting making beds talking to patients and making them comfortable monitoring patients’ conditions by taking temperatures, , respirations and weight. pulse What personal characteristics are needed to work as a healthcare assistant? As their job involves with people in need , healthcare assistants need to be: direct contact 2 caring and kind and friendly cheerful willing to be empathetic with patients able to follow instructions and procedures willing to do personal care tasks (washing, toileting, etc) able to work in a team but use their own initiative. What skills are needed to work as a healthcare assistant? They also need to have some good , such as: soft skills communication skills (including listening) organisational skills observational skills flexibility. Education and training In Italy, free or Regional courses or high schools provide the , which – with some differences among Regions – involves 1,000 hours of training (450 theory, 100 practice, 450 ) and a final exam with a diploma that is valid throughout the national territory. fee-paying vocational training necessary to become a healthcare assistant internship 1 DO What personality traits are good if you want to become a healthcare assistant? Think of some adjectives describing them. 2 not MORE ln the UK, healthcare assistants usually work standard hours of a round 37.5 a week. 1