ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ

RCN: First steps for healthcare assistants

• First Steps is the RCN’s most popular free e-learning tool for health care assistants. It’s a perfect resource to dip in and out of, whether you’re new to the post or looking to refresh your knowledge and skills.
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RCN: Accountability and delegation

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ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ and Health Education England: Careers resource for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ support workers.

• This resource aims to help you to understand the development and career opportunities available for the ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ support workforce across health and social care.
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ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ (2019) Health care support workers administering inactivated influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines, for adults and live attenuated influenza vaccine (laiv) for children. RCN guidance. London: RCN.

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ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ (2025) Newly registered ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associate guide (England only). London: RCN.

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ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ (2024) RCN position statement on ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates (NAs) training in cervical screening (England only). London: RCN.

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Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) Standards of proficiency for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. London: NMC.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. London: NMC.

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Skills for Health: The Care Certificate

Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (2019) deciding to delegate: a decision support framework for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ and midwifery.

NHS Education for Scotland (2023) Framework for the administration of medicines by level 3 and level 4 healthcare support workers in Scotland.

NHS Education for Scotland (2024) Making delegation safe and effective: a learning resource for nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and health care support workers.

NHS Education for Scotland (no date) Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Development Framework.

NHS Education for Scotland: Healthcare support workers (HCSWS)

Social care (Scotland)

Scottish Government (2015) Clinical and care governance framework: guidance.

Scottish Social Services Council (2024) Codes of practice.

Health Education and Improvement Wales (no date) All Wales guidelines for delegation.

Aldred K (2025) Personal and professional development for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. London: Learning Matters.

Coulson A (eds.) (2025) The ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associate: stepping into practice. Bognor Regis: Wiley.

Cowls H and Tobin S (2025) Assessing, planning and monitoring care for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. London: Learning Matters.

Flaherty C (2022) Practice-based learning for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Flaherty C and Taylor M (2024) Developing academic skills for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.

Griffin R (2023) Healthcare support workers: a practical guide for training and development. London: Routledge.

Harris M (2025) Understanding person-centred care for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. 2nd edn. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.

Peate I (2021) The ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associate at a glance. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.

Peate I (eds.)  (2021) The ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associate's handbook of clinical skills. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.

Peate I (2025) Learning to care: the ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associate. 2nd edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier.

Peate I (2017) Fundamentals of care: a textbook for health and social care assistants. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Rawles Z (2026) Essential knowledge and skills for healthcare assistants. 3rd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.

Roulston C and Davies M (2024) Medicines management for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. 2nd edn. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.

Rowe G (2025) Health promotion for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ associates. 2nd edn. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.

Rowe G, and others (2023) The handbook for ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ 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.

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.

Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.

Journals of interest for healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners.

• RCN Magazine

Shining a Light: A history of ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ support work

• This exhibition uncovers the long history of ÌÀÍ·ÌõÎÛÁÏ support workers and celebrates the contribution that they continue to make today – in hospital wards, care homes, clinics and communities.
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