Main area L2 HCSW Apprenticeship Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract 13 months (The duration of the apprenticeship is a minimum of 13 months) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (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) Job ref 391-RFL-7834848
Employer Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Barnet Hospital Town Barnet Salary £23,332 per annum inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 30/03/2026 23:59
NHS AfC: Band 3
Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.
Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers’ money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.
Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey. Further guidance can be found in the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1 .
This is an exciting opportunity, and we are recruiting at Barnet hospital for Healthcare Assistant Apprentices (HCAs) - 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 or just keen to work within the NHS, worked in care now is the time to join the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
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:
Ø Any applicants requiring sponsorship
Ø Applicants who have not been residing in UK for the last 3 years
Ø Applicants whose right to work in UK expires before December 2027
The Band 3 Healthcare Assistant Apprentice’s starting salary will be: £23,332 (including outer London HCAs). 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 £29,651 (including outer London HCAs)
How can I find out more about this opportunity?
We would like to invite you to join our virtual open day via Microsoft Teams on 18 th March starting from 1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM (estimated finish time).
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 37.5hours a week. Please consider how you will travel to work as you will be based at Barnet hospital.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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.
Please also refer to job description document attached
Person specification
* Experience - Good standard of written and spoken English
* Royal Free World Class Values - Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values
* Experience - Interest or experience of working within a care role/setting
* Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values
* Education & professional Qualifications - Willing to undertake the Care Certificate / Willing to undertake L2 HCSW Apprenticeship Programme / Achievement of or willing to undertake level 2 functional skills
* Pass BKSB tests
* Skills and aptitudes - to carry out administrative and clerical duties appropriate to the work area / Knowledge and understanding of the importance of equal opportunities / 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
* Experience - Carrying out assigned duties/assisting qualified staff after training / Good standard of written and spoken English
* Personal Qualities & attributes - 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
* Personal and People Development - Willing to produce a personal development plan with manager / Willing to develop self & undertake in-house study
* Specific Requirements - Flexible approach to shift patterns
* Experience - Working in a team / Interest or experience of working within a care role/setting
* Personal and People Development - Demonstrates understanding of own role within the team
* AT* - Apprenticeship Training. Where AT* is entered next to the job title indicates that this vacancy is for an apprenticeship role.
* By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers.This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.Therefore we require you to complete your stat and Man e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.
* If you are an EU/EEA citizen who does not have EU Settlement or Pre-Settled status, you will require a visa to work in the UK.
* You must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom or meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship, and these will be considered alongside all other applications. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role meet the eligibility requirements under the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points-based system to avoid disappointment. You can view this here
* If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks youridentity and right to work documentation will be verifiedremotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a “selfie” using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk
* The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
* The Trust will request a DBS(CRB) if post involves regulated activities. The Trust is compliant with the Disclosure and Barring Service Codes of practice and the Rehabilitation of offenders act.
* By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
* Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.
Please note:
* Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
* Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
* Interview arrangements will be communicated via email so please check your email regularly following the closing date.
Please be advised that due to exceptionally high demand, all Royal Free accommodation is at full capacity and waiting lists are being held. Average waiting times are 12 months. Please do not rely on Trust accommodation when you commence your role and ensure you investigate alternative accommodation for your arrival.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Babita Narang Job title Lead Nurse, Bands 2-4 Training & Development Email address babita.narang@nhs.net Telephone number 020 7794 0500
Additional information
How can I find out more about this opportunity?
We would like to invite you to join our virtual open day via Microsoft Teams on 18 th March starting from 1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM (estimated finish time).
Join the meeting here
Meeting ID: 356 468 855 846 99
Other key timeframes
1.Head of Apprentices sending basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) tests to candidates 10th-14 th April 2026
2.14 th April BKSB assessments results checked by Head of Apprenticeships
3.Provide recruitment with shortlisted candidates that meet BKSB assessment level by 14th April 2026
4.Provide recruitment with interview panels, dates and slots by 10 th April 2026
5. O n 17 th April 2026, r ecruitment will invite candidates who pass the BKSB assessment to attend the on 24th of April at Barnet Hospital Education Centre
Passcode: Zv3xW3zw
If you have problems applying, contact
Address Project Team - Medical and Dental Rotations Pre-Employment Checks
Telephone If you have any queries, please contact NLPSS Recruitment Helpdesk tel. 020 3758 2060
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