Support Workers and HCAs jobs

Support workers and healthcare assistants make up a growing share of mental health care. On many adult acute wards, support staff now outnumber registered nurses (NHS Benchmarking via The King's Fund). They're also one of the most accessible ways into a mental health career.

Find roles in NHS inpatient and community services, independent hospitals, supported housing, residential care, crisis houses, recovery colleges and charities. Many posts welcome applicants without previous care experience and offer the Care Certificate and full training. Bank roles offer flexible hours.

What you need: empathy, resilience and good communication. Formal qualifications are often not required, though some roles ask for maths and English at GCSE level or equivalent, or a care qualification. All roles need an enhanced DBS check.

Typical pay (NHS): Band 2 (£25,272) or Band 3 (£25,760 to £27,476), with senior support worker and assistant practitioner roles at Band 4. Night, weekend and bank-holiday work usually attracts unsocial hours enhancements. Independent and charity pay varies.

Support work often leads to nursing associate, registered nurse, PWP or OT careers, and many employers fund apprenticeships.

Pay last updated: April 2026 (NHS Agenda for Change, England).