Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

As a healthcare assistant practitioner you will work as part of the multidisciplinary care team in a manner that provides safe, compassionate, respectful and empathic wellbeing to a wide range of care recipients including those with a disability.

You will promote health, longevity and independence and thereby support care recipients in all activities of daily living. You will work as part of a team assisting with risk management, audits, and supporting other colleagues.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
• Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
• Bathe patients.
• Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
• Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
• Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
• Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
• Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.
• Perform a variety of duties as requested by client, such as obtaining household supplies or running errands.
• Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Apprenticeship Route

The official entry route for a Healthcare Assistant is through undertaking an apprenticeship.

Click here to find information on the Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship

There are many pathways into Nursing Aid & Assisting in Healthcare roles. Employed healthcare assistants who have a relevant QQI Healthcare Level 5 Major Award (120 credits) with distinctions in at least 3 components or equivalent qualification from another awarding body mapped to level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications and a minimum of 6 months' work experience in the healthcare sector 2.

Leaving certificate: 5 subjects with O6/H7 to include English. Learners also need to have foundation mathematics and a minimum of 6 months experience of working as a healthcare assistant and at least, 2 relevant QQI level 5 healthcare components - 30 credits

3. A mature candidate, over the age of 23 who does not hold the above Level 5 qualifications as set out in categories 1 or 2 above but who has a minimum of 2 years’ experience working as a healthcare Assistant, is recommended by their employer and demonstrates the correct attitudes, behaviours and literacy skills, will also be eligible to apply.

The English language entry requirements for the programme are CEF B2+ or equivalent. Candidates with English language levels below CEF B2+ must first reach this minimum standard before enrolling on the academic programme Learners must have their first aid responder, people moving and handling, CORU. 

Garda vetting and any relevant vaccinations (responsibility of the employer).

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship Healthcare support NFQ level 5 Search our FET coursefinder

FET PLC Courses Healthcare Assitant FET course Healthcare Assistant NFQ level 5 & 6 Search our FET PLC coursefinder

Apprenticeship Healthcare Apprenticeship NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Last Updated: October, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €22k - €40k

HSE Healthcare Assistant: €29,562  - €37,600

Salaries vary by employer (public/ Private), location, duties, and experience.

Data Source(s):
HSE.ie/ Indeed.ie/ Payscale.com / Excel rercruitment

Last Updated: September, 2022

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although the annual average employment growth rate for this occupation was below average, employment has been growing since 2020. Those employed in this occupation are primarily female, a high share are employed in part-time roles (41%), and more than a quarter are aged 55 years or older. Recent job hires in 2022 exceeded employment growth indicating a level of job churn. There was a large volume of vacancies advertised through DSP and over 200 new employment permits were issued in 2022; in addition, in December 2022, a quota of 1,000 general employment permits was announced for carers and home carers.

The high number of persons employed in this occupation, and the older age profile, indicates that replacement demand alone will create a high number of job opportunities for these roles; the increased demand for these services with our ageing demographics suggest that shortages are likely to continue in the short-medium term at least. Issues with the attractiveness of the job and job churn are further exacerbating the shortage.

• CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals

  • Infinity Building, George’s Court, George’s Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 E98Y
  • (01) 293 3160
  • [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here