About this role
Job summary
Are you interested in a career in healthcare at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust?
This is an exciting opportunity, and we are recruiting for RFL NHS Foundation Trust for Healthcare Assistant Apprentices (HCAs).
We have a number of vacancies for posts as Healthcare Assistant Apprentices - don't worry if you haven't worked in a hospital before, we offer comprehensive training through our apprenticeship programme. If you are fresh from school/college, worked in care or just keen to work within the NHS, now is the time to join the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Due to the nature of this work and working patterns we would encourage people of over the age of 18 years old to apply.
If you have the right attitude and live our values, then we can train you for the role and onto our apprenticeship career pathway that can lead to nursing.
Please note that under the current apprenticeship rules we cannot accept:
Any applicants requiring sponsorship
Applicants who have not been residing in UK for the last 3 years
Applicants whose right to work in UK expires before March 2028
Main duties of the job
As a band 3 HCA apprentice you will attend classes and work alongside dedicated and passionate colleagues caring for our patients. In your role you will assist patients with their personal care such as washing, dressing, feeding and support the registered nurse to care for the patients. As you may be aware patients require care for 24 hours a day and therefore you will be expected to work a combination of long days, weekends, and night shifts of 12 hours. You will only be expected to work 37.5 hours a week. Please consider how you will travel to work as you may be based at any of our hospitals.
The Band 3 Healthcare Assistant Apprentice's starting salary will between £24,291 -£25,213 (including London allowance - dependent on the hospital location). The duration of the apprenticeship is a minimum of 13 months.
Upon completion of a satisfactory probation period and the achievement of the apprenticeship, the salary will rise to the bottom of band 3 under agenda for change £30,630 or £31,554 (including London allowance - dependent on the hospital location)
About us
Every single member of staff has an important role to play in bringing the best of the NHS to all our patients.
More than 17,000 people make up the incredible Royal Free London (RFL) team: caring for those when we need them most; ensuring our buildings are clean; providing food for our staff; transporting patients through our endless corridors; and making sure our support services run smoothly.
We have set out an ambitious plan to enable our staff to deliver world-leading healthcare for all our patients, meet growing demand and create a healthier future for local people and those further afield who come to our hospitals for specialist treatment.
Our clinical vision is transforming how we deliver world-class care, and the way people access our services.
Our plan is underpinned by five key principles:
o our focus on world class care, ground breaking research, and best in class teaching o improving our populations' health o reducing health inequalities o working in partnership o continuous improvement We are embedding these principles across all our hospitals and satellite sites
Job description Job responsibilities
We would like to invite you to join our virtual open day via Microsoft Teams on Friday 2nd October starting from 2:00 PM TO 3:00 PM (estimated finish time).
Join the meeting here
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/36501429518533?p=tCTQH4sDXVW16MrpEo
Meeting ID: 365 014 295 185 33
How do I apply for this role and what will the process be?
Step
What needs doing
By when
Step 1
Read the Job description and find out about the role attend the virtual open day on 2ndOctober 2026
2ndOctober 2026
2:00 PM
Step 2
Complete the application form
By 13thOctober 2026
Step 3
Shortlisting will be completed
By 14thOctober 2026
Step 4
If you are shortlisted, you will be emailed a link to complete an on-line Maths and English assessment
16thand 18thOctober 2026 midnight
Step 5
If Maths and English Assessment is satisfactory you will be invited to a face-to-face interview at Royal Free Hospital.
Interview date 30th October 2026 in the Royal Free Hospital
Person Specification
Essentail Essential
Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust shared commitments.
Education and professional qualifications Essential
Willing to undertake the Care Certificate Willing to undertake L2 HCSW Apprenticeship Programme Achievement of or willing to undertake level 2 functional skills
Personal qualities and attributes Essential
Demonstrates understanding of importance of maintaining privacy and dignity Demonstrates compassion for patients Willing to assist with essential care for patients as directed Able to use a computer/ learn how to use a computer to record information Able to communicate accurately and effectively with patients and colleagues, verbally and in writing Able to follow instructions and complete assigned tasks Able to deal with the public in person and on the phone Understands importance of maintaining confidentiality Willing to produce a personal development plan with manager Willing to develop self & undertake in-house study
Desirable
Demonstrates understanding of own role within the team
Experience Essential
Carrying out assigned duties/assisting qualified staff after training Good standard of written and spoken English Interest or experience of working within a care role/setting
Desirable
Working in a team
Maths & English Assessment Essential
Maths & English Assessment
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
Hampstead
NW3 2QG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)