What Healthcare Assistants Look For When Applying for a Job

Healthcare assistants (HCAs) provide invaluable support to doctors and nurses. As they play a critical role, knowing what healthcare assistants look for when applying for a job is pivotal in attracting and retaining skilled HCAs. This will lay the foundation of success for healthcare facilities.

Understanding the crucial role HCAs play is important before proposing an attractive job offer and hiring the correct professional.

Clear Salary

Firstly, HCAs consider salary. A common mistake among healthcare facilities is vague rhetoric around salary. For example, many HCA job advertisements use terms like “competitive salary”, whereas, an exact salary should be provided.

This way, transparency builds trust with candidates. This saves time for the job seeker and for you as an employer, as it avoids people dropping out due to misunderstanding salary. If salary is clear from the get-go, the likelihood of turnover decreases.

Highlight the Benefits

Clear workplace benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, pension schemes, paid annual leave, and growth opportunities make the HCA role far more attractive. Additionally, child support, wellness programs, and clear working hours are highly valued by HCA professionals.

By stating these job benefits in the advertisement, job seekers can differentiate the advertised HCA role from others. Those looking for HCA roles favour work-life balance and benefits.

Growth Opportunities

Career advancement creates purpose, drive, and motivation for HCAs. People don’t want to feel like they’re stuck in a rut without progression. Providing training programs and clear progression pathways will attract hard-working and passionate HCAs. And these candidates are far more likely to stay for long-term career growth. It’s a win-win situation.

Work-Life Balance

HCAs work lengthy hours under testing conditions. By offering flexible working hours, remote working options if possible, and sufficient annual leave, professionals will value these roles because of control over their schedules and personal lives. You will get an increase in applications if you demonstrate work-life balance in your HCA job description.

Supportive Environment

Creating a supportive and inclusive work environment is the foundation of HCA retention. Through supportive behaviour, a positive culture at work is fostered. For example, celebrating employee milestones, an employee of the month, mental health support, inclusivity and diversity training, and team-building efforts go a long way.

Safety

At time. HCAs may face difficult or testing work conditions, for example, patients struggling with mental health issues. Employers must stress the safety of the healthcare facility because it’s a top priority for job seekers in the field. Following health and safety regulations, alongside restraint training and protective equipment will follow all regulations.

How Cucumber Can Help

Cucumber Recruitment, one of the UK’s leading healthcare staffing agencies, is committed to helping companies employ talented HCAs and finding HCA job-seekers with the quality workplace they deserve.

If you’re wondering how we can help or require immediate staffing in your healthcare facility, reach out to Cucumber today. Our knowledgeable team will help you discover talented professionals to run your facility and provide your patients with quality healthcare.