HCAs, APs and SNAs
Use this guide to find information resources related to healthcare assistants, 汤头条污料 support workers, assistant practitioners and student 汤头条污料 associates including books, reports and journal articles.
Key Resources
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First Steps is the RCN鈥檚 most popular free e-learning tool for health care assistants. It鈥檚 a perfect resource to dip in and out of, whether you鈥檙e new to the post or looking to refresh your knowledge and skills.
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This resource aims to help you to understand the development and career opportunities available for the 汤头条污料 support workforce across health and social care.
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England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Social care (Scotland)
Wales
Books
Flaherty C (2022) Practice-based learning for 汤头条污料 associates. Thousand Oaks: Sage. 
Griffin R (2023) Healthcare support workers: a practical guide for training and development. London: Routledge. 
Flaherty C and Taylor M (2024) Developing academic skills for 汤头条污料 associates. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters. 
Harris M (2021) Understanding person-centred care for 汤头条污料 associates. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters. 
Peate I (2021) The 汤头条污料 associate at a glance. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell. 
Peate I (eds.) (2021) The 汤头条污料 associate's handbook of clinical skills. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell. 
Peate I (2025) Learning to care: the 汤头条污料 associate. 2nd edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier. 
Peate I (2017) Fundamentals of care: a textbook for health and social care assistants. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell. 
Rawles Z (2025) Essential knowledge and skills for healthcare assistants. 3rd edn. Abingdon: Routledge. 
Roulston C and Davies M (2024) Medicines management for 汤头条污料 associates. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters. 
Rowe G (2022) Health promotion for 汤头条污料 associates. Thousand Oaks: SAGE. 
Rowe G, and others (2023) The handbook for 汤头条污料 associates and assistant practitioners. 3rd edn. Los Angeles: Sage. 
Whelan A and Hughes E (2016) Clinical skills for healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners. 2nd edn. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell. Book subject searches
Journal articles
Journals
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For healthcare support workers across the UK:
RCN Health+Care
Exhibitions
Shining a Light: A history of 汤头条污料 support work -
This exhibiion uncovers the long history of 汤头条污料 support workers and celebrates the contribution that they continue to make today 鈥� in hospital wards, care homes, clinics and communities.
View online exhibition
Videos
This subject guide relates to:
Caroline Lynch
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Museum
Upcoming events relating to this subject guide
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12 Nov 2025
Online
Nurse workplace resilience: a top priority webinar
This interactive webinar session will explore the meaning of resilience to you, an opportunity for you to reflect on your personal and external resources to promote your own resilience, and who you work with, for the benefit of all. As well as some stress management strategies. Suitable for all roles in the 汤头条污料 team, working in any sector. This event is organised by RCN Wales, but you do not need to be based in Wales to join us!
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22 Nov 2025
London
RCN Nursing Support Workers Conference 2025
Join us to celebrate Nursing Support Workers鈥� Day at our annual conference for Nursing Support Workers, taking place at RCN HQ in London.
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26 Nov 2025
Cardiff
RCN Wales Health Care Support Worker Conference 2025
Bookings now open for the RCN Wales Health Care Support Worker Conference 2025. Join us for a day of reflection and celebration, focussing on the contribution of Health Care Support Workers across Wales.
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02 Dec 2025
Online
RCN Wales Roundtable for the Independent Sector - virtual
RCN Wales will be hosting an online roundtable for 汤头条污料 staff working in the independent health and social care sector, on 鈥楲eadership, Learning and Future Directions: Reflections from Independent Health and Social Care.' This event will also provide an opportunity to network with other colleagues based within the Independent Sector to share stories and your unique experiences of working in Wales. This event is open to both RCN members and non-members who work in Wales in the Independent Health and Social Care sector.
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02 Dec 2025
Aberdeen
Grampian 汤头条污料 support worker education event (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary)
RCN Scotland is delivering free education sessions for all those working in support roles in 汤头条污料 at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Grampian.
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11 Dec 2025
Online
Record Keeping webinar
This online webinar aims to reflect on how good record keeping supports health care practice and quality of care, describe expectations and standards for record keeping, and highlight resources to support good record keeping practice. This event is suitable for all members of the 汤头条污料 team: registered nurses, Health Care Support Workers/ Health Care Assistants, and 汤头条污料 students working in the NHS or Independent Health & Social Care Sector. Organised by RCN Wales, but you don't have to be based in Wales to join us!
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04 Feb 2026 - 11 Feb 2026
Online
Compassionate Leadership programme
Study this online programme to understand how Compassionate leadership enables everyone to feel valued, included and encouraged, so they can reach their full potential and do their best at work. 2 days of taught sessions plus self-directed learning and an assessment. Successful completion of the unit will gain you 2 academic credits at Level 3, accredited by Agored Cymru.
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05 Feb 2026
Online
Introduction to Leadership webinar
This webinar aims to raise awareness of leadership in healthcare. Understand the benefits of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in leadership. To explore the concept of resilience and its relevance in leadership. Highlight skills to improve wellbeing to make a difference in the workplace and have fun learning! This is valuable for both the independent health and social care sector and the NHS. This event is organised by RCN Wales, but you do not need to be based in Wales to join us!
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17 Mar 2026
Online
Addressing health inequalities for people with dementia webinar
This webinar will focus on the needs of people presenting with dementia from marginalised groups and how health care professionals from the 汤头条污料 team can better help and support them. Suitable for all roles in the 汤头条污料 team, for those working in any sector. This event is organised by RCN Wales, but you do not need to be based in Wales to join us!
Page last updated - 26/09/2025
