If you've started looking at jobs as a Healthcare Support Worker, you may have noticed roles advertised in both hospitals and community services. At first glance, they look very similar, so what's the difference?
Before we go any further, you should know that not all NHS Trusts are the same, because they don't all provide the same services.
What is the different between an 'Acute Trust' and a 'Non-Acute Trust'?
Some NHS Trusts, often referred to as Acute Trusts, run larger hospitals and are responsible for services such as A&E, elective and emergency surgery, maternity care, inpatient medical wards, specialist services and intensive care units.
Others, like Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare, are classified as Non-Acute Trusts, and are commonly referred to as Community and Mental Health Trusts. These organisations provide a broad range of NHS services, which can include district nursing, health visiting, rehabilitation, podiatry, sexual health services, long term condition management, mental health support, counselling and CBT, early intervention in psychosis, perinatal care and learning disabilities care. Much of this work takes place outside of traditional hospitals, supporting patients in their own homes, local clinics and specialist units.
Healthcare Support Worker roles can vary quite a bit depending on the service you join. While some are based in one location, others may involve travelling between patients' homes and working independently for parts of the shift. There's no right or wrong choice; some people enjoy the pace and structure of working in one place, while others prefer the independence and variety that comes with working out in the community.
Understanding these different environments can help you decide which type of role might suit you best. Whatever you choose, it's important to remember that you'll always be part of a wider team, with experienced colleagues on hand to support you.
Community Physical Health
Healthcare Support Workers who work in the community spend much of their time caring for patients in their own homes. In this role, you could be supporting District Nurses, Community Nurses or Specialist Nurses, caring for patients who may be recovering from surgery or a fall, managing a long-term condition or receiving end-of-life care.
No two visits are the same. One patient may need support with personal care or mobility, while another may require observations to be taken or help following a treatment plan. You’ll have a patient list to work from each day, travelling across your local area between visits. Most people in this role drive their own car and claim a mileage allowance, although some services may have a pool car available to borrow.
Many people enjoy the independence that comes with community working. You’ll often spend time working alongside one colleague or independently, building relationships with patients who you may visit regularly over several weeks or months. That said, working in the community doesn’t mean working alone. You’ll receive the training and support you need, with regular supervision and experienced colleagues available throughout the day if you need advice or assistance.
Some of the services you could work in include:
- Urgent Community Response
- District Nursing
- Falls Prevention
- Therapies and Musculoskeletal
- Neuro Rehabilitation
If you enjoy meeting different people, managing your own working day and like the idea of helping patients remain independent in their own homes, community healthcare could be a good fit.
Inpatient Physical Health
Working as a Healthcare Support Worker on an inpatient ward is probably what most people picture when they think about the role.
Patients are admitted to hospital because they need ongoing care that cannot be provided at home. As part of the ward team, Healthcare Support Workers support patients throughout their stay, working closely with registered nurses, doctors, therapists and other healthcare professionals.
The environment is often busy, with new admissions, discharges and changing priorities throughout the day. Healthcare Support Workers spend much of their shift on the ward, supporting patients with personal care, mobility, observations, meals and other aspects of their treatment.
Because everyone works in the same place, there is usually a strong sense of teamwork. Colleagues are nearby, decisions are often made together and there are plenty of opportunities to learn from more experienced members of staff.
If you enjoy working in a fast-moving environment, like having colleagues around you throughout your shift and want to gain experience supporting patients with a wide range of conditions, inpatient physical healthcare could be a good fit.
Community Mental Health
Healthcare Support Workers also play an important role in community mental health services.
Rather than supporting patients on a ward, community mental health teams help people continue living as independently as possible while receiving treatment either at home or in an outpatient clinic.
Depending on the service, you may visit patients at home, support them to attend appointments, help them develop daily living skills or work alongside nurses and other professionals to monitor how they are managing with their recovery. Much of the role is focused on building relationships over time. You may support the same people over several months, getting to know them and recognising changes that could indicate they need additional support.
Good communication and patience are particularly important in community mental health, as you'll spend time listening, building trust and working at the patient's pace. Similar to community physical health services, you'll usually be allocated your own caseload of patients and have the flexibility to manage your own working day. Access to a car is important, as you'll be travelling between patient visits, although you'll be able to claim a mileage allowance.
Some of the services you could work in include:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- Older Persons Mental Health (OPMH)
- Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT)
- Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP)
- Crisis Resolution Home Treatment (CRHT)
- Talking Therapies
If you enjoy getting to know people over a longer period, building trusting relationships and supporting them to remain independent, community mental health could be an area worth exploring.
Inpatient Mental Health
Inpatient mental health services support people who need more intensive treatment and care than can be provided safely in the community.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare manages a number of specialist inpatient mental health services, and Healthcare Support Workers play an important role within these teams.
Although every service is different, the role involves working as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), supporting patients throughout their stay. Depending on the ward or unit, this could involve helping patients with their daily routines, supporting therapeutic activities, carrying out observations or simply spending time talking with them.
Each service has its own patient group and unique challenges. Working in CAMHS, for example, means supporting children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties, while Forensic Services care for patients who require treatment within a secure environment. Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) provide short-term care for people experiencing severe mental illness who need a higher level of support before moving on to other services.
Whatever the setting, you'll work alongside nurses, doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals, learning from colleagues with a wide range of experience. Good communication, patience and teamwork are important in every inpatient mental health role, regardless of which service you join.
What should I pick?
Choosing your first Healthcare Support Worker role can feel like a big decision, but it doesn't have to define your entire career. Many people join the NHS with little knowledge of the different services available, and it's only once you've started working, do you discover where your interests lie.
If you're not sure which setting is right for you, don't worry. Read the job descriptions and think about the type of working environment you would enjoy most. It's also perfectly acceptable to contact the hiring manager for an informal chat to find out more about the service, what the role involves and whether it could be a good fit for you.
Interested in supporting patients with their mental health? Read: What does a typical day look like as an Inpatient Mental Health Support Worker?
Interested in supporting patients in the community? Read: What's a typical day as a Community Healthcare Support Worker in Physical Health?
Want to learn more about the training involved? Read: The Care Certificate explained: What is it and why does it matter?