- Conference
- 2003 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 1 December 2002
- Decision
- Carried
The government, in the implementation of the NHS Plan, has highlighted the need for services to be designed with the patient at the heart. We believe that the role of the HCA has changed fundamentally over the last 10 years and even more so over the past 5 years. Yet barriers still remain in their way. The vast majority of HCAs continue to be on an A grade: this does not reflect fairly the duties and responsibilities of their work.
We recognise and value the work which Unison has already undertaken, especially the HCA forum as a method of dialogue between members and the nursing sector, keeping us informed of changing practice. The work on this campaign has won the support of patients too: they value their role and the care that they receive from them.
The introduction of NVQ/SNVQ’s was seen as a method of enabling HCA to access education and to enhance their clinical skills. However many have been prevented from accessing them as not all employers provide them. Those who have accessed them are often demoralised and unable to complete: often as a result of lack of access to assessors. We recognise that assessing any NVQ student is complex and time consuming. It is essential that this work be funded to enable the quality of assessment to be maintained. It is hoped that the introduction of peripatetic assessors will assist NVQ students, as they will be able to assess in more than one occupational setting and for a number of qualifications.
We welcome the opportunity for secondment into nurse training but do not feel the allocated money is sufficient to meet demand. As a result many HCAs do not go on to higher education due to financial hardship, not least when trusts refuse to pay their 20% contribution to the 80% central funding.
We call for the following:
1.Nursing sector to continue to highlight and maintain the campaign already established on Healthcare Assistants;
2.Raise with the Department of Health the need for Workforce Development Confederations to have increased funding to support HCA secondment opportunities;
3.Highlight the need for greater investment in infrastructures of assessors to support training needs.
4.