Skills Boost for Health Care

Course overview

Skills Boost for Health Care is an exciting course developed in partnership with NHS Lothian and Edinburgh College. We are working together to provide education and employment for people in the Lothian region and beyond.

Candidates who successfully pass the interview are offered a provisional job as a trainee Band 3 Health Care Support Worker with NHS Lothian. 

This could be the start of an inspiring career, as there are several different progression routes within NHS Lothian.

This course is free; however, you will not receive payment during the course and are not entitled to a bursary. If you receive Universal Credit, you will continue to do so for the duration of the course. You will only begin to be paid when you actually start working on the ward for NHS Lothian. 

Please complete the college application form if you are interested in starting or restarting your career as a health care support worker. Interviews will be held the week commencing 29 September at the Comley Bank Centre, 13 Crew Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2LD.

A member of NHS Lothian and a College staff member will interview you. You will need to provide two valid forms of ID during the interview. One must have a photo, and the other must show your address (e.g., driver's license, passport/young Scots card). You will also need to provide two references that we can contact (please ensure these are not friends or family members).

All individuals applying for this course/career must have the right to work in the UK in full-time employment. 

International students often have the right to work 20 hours per week. Due to this restriction, this course/career would not be offered to international students.  

Please note that your interview is for both the college course and the role of a healthcare support worker with NHS Lothian. If you are successful, you must attend the three-week college course starting on Monday, 27 October. 

Upon successful completion of the course and all compulsory NHS checks, such as a satisfactory PVG with Disclosure and Scotland's Police and Occupational Health report, you will start your exciting new career. The start date will depend on the candidate's ability to complete all previously mentioned checks as quickly as possible. We will try to start you as soon as possible, but delays may occur when applicants do not submit all the required paperwork.

If successful, you will be invited to an induction morning at Comley Bank on 28 September. Students accepted on the course must attend this induction to complete the NHS application and paperwork.

These are full-time vacancies and will require you to work 37.5 hours per week. You will work shifts and be expected to work nights/weekends/public holidays.

This course will be the start of your learning journey, and your new job will provide you with a pathway to a career in health care. 

College Course Content 

• Safe beginners for health and care - Professionalism, reflection, legislation
• Infection control
• Health and Safety
• First Aid
• Career pathways

NHS Lothian Course Content

• Basic Life Support 
• Equality, Diversity and Rights 
• Fire Safety Awareness
• HAI 
• Health and Safety
• Information Governance
• Management of Aggression
• Public Protection 
• Manual handling

Please note that during the 3-week course, you will not be an employee of NHS Lothian and will not receive payment during this time.

If you receive Universal Credit, your benefit will remain in place until you start your job.
 
Please remember that, while applying for a course, you are also applying for a job. It will help your application if you expand on what motivated you to pursue this course and career. If you have been referred to this job and course through the Department of Work and Pensions, please quote the reference number DWP2025 beside your name.

Further Information
You must complete the NHS application and background checks within the set time frame, or the provisional job offer will be cancelled.

Throughout the 3-week course, you must adhere to the Edinburgh College Positive Behaviour and anti-bullying and Harassment Policy, or progression to employment will not be possible.

• Manual Handling
• Public Protection
• Management of Aggression
• Information Governance
• Health and Safety
• Infection Protection and Control (HAI)
• Fire Safety Awareness
• Equality, Diversity, and Rights
• Basic Life Support
• Career Pathways
• First Aid
• Health and Safety
• Infection Control
• Safe Beginners for Health and Care - Professionalism, Reflection, Legislation

How the course is assessed

• Continual assessment

Number of days per week

• 5 days per week - 9 AM to 4.30 PM

Entry requirements

• No formal qualification required

English Proficiency Requirements