Skills Boost for Health Care

Course overview

Skills Boost for Health Care is an exciting course that has been 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 pass the interview are given a provisional job offer with NHS Lothian as a band 3 health care support worker. 

This could be the start of a very exciting career as there are a number of different progression routes within NHS Lothian.

This course is free and is available to anyone over the age of 16. You will not be paid during this course or be entitled to a bursary. If you do receive universal credit, you will continue to do so for the course duration. You will only begin to be paid when you start working on the ward for NHS Lothian. 

Please complete the college application form if you are interested in starting or re-starting your career as a health care support worker.

Interviews will be held on the 8th and 9th of May 2025 at the NHS Comely Bank Centre, Edinburgh. You will be interviewed by a member of NHS Lothian and a College staff member. You will have to provide two valid forms of ID during the interview. One must have a photo, and one must have your address (driver's license/passport/young scots card). You will also have to provide two references that we can contact (this can't be a friend or family member) 

All people who apply 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.  

NHS Lothian is unable to offer sponsorship for this workstream

Please note that your interview is for the college course and a healthcare support worker job with NHS Lothian. If you are successful, you must attend the three-week college course starting on Monday, 2 June 2025.

Upon completion of the course and all compulsory NHS checks, such as satisfactory PVG with disclosure Scotland and Occupation 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 and start you as soon as possible, but delays may occur when applicants do not submit all the required 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.

The Hospital locations that currently have vacancies for this cohort are:

•  To be confirmed

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 are not an employee at NHS Lothian and will not be paid during the course

If you receive Universal Credit your benefit will remain in place until you start your job.
 
Please remember while you are applying for a course you are also applying for a job and it will help your application if you expand on what motivated you to apply for this job and course. If you have been referred to this job and course through the Department of Work & Pensions please quote 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's course, you must adhere to the Edinburgh College Positive Behaviour and anti-bullying & 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

Number of days per week

• 5 days per week - 9 AM to 4.30 PM

Entry requirements

• No formal qualification required

English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

• Career as a band 2 health care worker