Care assistant or healthcare assistant?

I’m currently looking for employment in the healthcare sector to enhance my application for Medicine and to gain experience and knowledge in the healthcare field.
I have been offered a job as a care assistant but I was wondering whether to decline the offer and wait for a healthcare assistant position (with no prior experience) to become available.
I’m struggling to see any HCA jobs that accept applications from someone with no experience so should I try to do 6 months as a CA then 6 -12 months HCA?
Would I gain much knowledge from being a CA? Would it look ok on my application or not worth the time??
Any advice is appreciated

Reply 1

Popeye_ukuk

It doesn’t matter daughter had 4 offers this year and had no hospital or shadowing experience. Worked in a school as a classroom assistant whilst on gap year. Hope this helps.

Reply 2

gracehwd

Original post by Popeye_ukuk

It doesn’t matter daughter had 4 offers this year and had no hospital or shadowing experience. Worked in a school as a classroom assistant whilst on gap year. Hope this helps.

4 offers, wow! That’s incredible, congratulations to her! Thank you for your advice

Reply 3

roseprincessx

how do you apply to be a HCA if you have no previous experience?x

Reply 4

Popeye_ukuk

Original post by gracehwd

4 offers, wow! That’s incredible, congratulations to her! Thank you for your advice

It’s what you learn from your experience ie communication styles, resolving, planning and preparing etc. Quite basic requirements needed to be a medic but doesnt need to be in a hospital environment. Could even be a shop assistant. Good luck also

Reply 5

roseprincessx

Original post by Volibear

It's a caring role. It would be fine and ultimately it's how you reflect on the experience that counts. And also remember that work experience should be a learning experience for you too, not just something to tick a box on your application.

It's possible. But it usually helps if you have experience working with people in one way or another. I recently was offered a job as a TSW and I got it because of the experiences I've had (volunteering in a hospice and psychiatric hospital) even though neither were real 'hands-on jobs'. I only applied to HCA jobs that didn't specifically say they looked for people who were experience/already had related qualifications.

Thank you for replying :smile:

I’ve done volunteering in a care home and also did work experience in a GP practice and hospital, do you think this will be enough?
Also what does TSW mean if you don’t mind me asking?