Healthcare Assistant Essentials
The Learning and Development Centre offers a wide range of courses for clinicians and non-clinicians working in Primary Care. We have identified the essential courses for Healthcare Assistants starting their General Practice career, whether they have caring experience in other settings or if they are working in practice for the first time.
This page provides the course information and dates for these essential training topics, enabling HCAs to complete the full range of competencies before undertaking other courses from our catalogue.
New dates for all our topics will be available at least every 6 months, and we can notify delegates when new dates are published; just ask to be added to the Request List or submit a Wish List note from your Learning and Development Centre account.
Please ensure that all bookings are made in the name of the person that will be attending the course. If there are any queries about how to do this, please contact the Learning and Development Centre in the first instance.
If there are any queries please do contact us! [email protected]
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism: Tier 2, Part 2
for Clinical Staff
As of July 2022, all registered health and social care providers are now required to provide training for their staff in learning disability and autism, including how to interact appropriately with autistic people and people who have a learning disability.
The Learning and Development Centre is delighted to be working with Award Training to provide this course for clinical teams.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is a standardised, government-recommended training package designed to ensure consistent, high-quality learning across the health and social care sector.
ALL DELEGATES MUST COMPLETE THE 90-MINUTE ONLINE LEARNING MODULE BEFORE ATTENDING THIS EVENT. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE MODULE VIA E-LEARNING FOR HEALTHCARE: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/the-oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-on-learning-disability-and-autism/
Delivered by trained and approved facilitators, the structured approach ensures that:
✔ Content and delivery remain consistent, making the training fully transferable between employers
✔ It aligns with national standards and best practices, as recognised by leading advisory bodies in health and social care
✔ Staff receive the essential knowledge and understanding required by the Health and Care Act 2022
Our next course dates are as follows:
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism: Tier 2, Part 2 - 22nd May 2026
Immunisations Foundation for Healthcare Assistants and Assistant Practitioners
One of the cornerstones of the Healthcare Assistant role is giving immunisations.
Our hugely popular Immunisations Foundation course is delivered by Tricia Smith and Emma Edwards over two half days of virtual training. Our experienced trainers will guide you through the complexities and correct delivery of Flu, Covid, Shingles and the Pneumococcal Programme.
Trainees will be asked to complete a workbook in advance of the first session, and there is an online multiple choice test to be completed after the second day. Following completion of the course, trainees are provided with a competency document to complete in practice with a suitably qualified mentor.
Trainees receive a Certificate of Attendance on completion of the theory sessions; this combined with the completed competency document constitutes the immunisations qualification. Trainees need to attend an annual Immunisations Update to remain eligible to give immunisations.
Our next course dates are:
Introduction to Asthma
Specialist Respiratory Nurse Laura Rush shares her brilliant Introduction to Asthma course with the Learning and Development Centre as a virtual, interactive two-hour presentation in which delegates are introduced to the impact of asthma on the UK population, how asthma affects the human airways, asthma symptoms, how to take a good history, what makes asthma more or less likely, how to assess and manage asthma, and the asthma guidelines.
Delegates receive a Certification of Attendance on completion.
Our next course is:
Introduction to Asthma - 5th February 2026Why not search our catalogue for the rest of our Asthma and Respiratory Courses?
- Asthma Update
- Asthma Advanced
- Clinical Examination of the Chest
- Paediatric Asthma
- Inhaler Technique
Introduction to COPD
Specialist Respiratory Nurse Laura Rush brings her Introduction to COPD course to the Learning and Development Centre as a virtual, interactive two-hour presentation in which delegates are introduced to what COPD is and its impact, the difference between a normal airway and a COPD airway, the symptoms associated with COPD, the diagnostic process including history and investigations, assessing and managing COPD including both the pharmacological and non pharmacological options and the COPD guidelines.
Delegates receive a Certification of Attendance on completion.
Our next course date is:
Introduction to COPD - 12th February 2026
Further development opportunities:
Search our catalogue for the rest of our COPD and Respiratory Courses:
- COPD Update
- COPD Advanced
- Clinical Examination of the Chest
- Inhaler Technique
Diabetes Foundation
Diabetes Specialist Nurses Michelle Ford, Lizzie Moore, Becky Brown and Marcia Pearse present the Diabetes Foundation course as an accessible, virtual presentation in which all delegates have a chance to interact, share their knowledge and ask questions. Usually taking a full morning to complete, this course is a comprehensive introduction to the Diabetes topic that promotes up to date practices in Diabetes Care.
A Certificate of Attendance is issued on completion of this course.
Our next course date will be:
Diabetes Foundation - 11th February 2026
Diabetes Foundation - 20th May 2026
Further development opportunities:
- Diabetes Foot Checks and Doppler Assessments
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Freestyle Libre Systems
Introduction to Phlebotomy
Clinical Educator Tracey Owen presents this in-person training session which provides all the theory required to undertake this procedure in practice. A fake arm is available to work on during the session.
A Certificate of Attendance is issued on completion of this theory course and delegates are provided with a competency document to be completed in practice with a suitably qualified Mentor. These documents combined constitute the Phlebotomy qualification.
Our next course date:
Introduction to Phlebotomy - 10th February 2026
Wound Care for Healthcare Assistants
Alexandra Bishop is the Lead Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and her lively, in person presentation on Wound Care for Healthcare Assistants is an essential course for front-line healthcare workers. Delegates will be introduced to the types and variations of wounds seen in primary care and how to treat them, with a summary of the most suitable dressings for each presentation.
A Certificate of Attendance is issued on completion of this course.
Our next course date is:
Wound Care for Healthcare Assistants - 14th January 2026
Further training:
- Complex Wounds Management
Introduction to Ear Care
Our Ear Care specialist Tracey Owen is well known around the region for her brilliant Ear Care Introductions and Updates, all supported by training pathways and materials produced by Rotherham Ear Care and Audiology Services.
This comprehensive course covers all aspects of ear irrigation and instrumentation.
Our next training date is:
Introduction to Ear Care - 19th March 2026
Further training:
- Ear Care Update
Mental Health Training
The Learning and Development Centre offers a range of Mental Health courses for clinicians and non-clinicians working in Primary Care. An understanding of Mental Health is an essential element of person-centred care and can influence how patients are treated for short and long-term conditions.
Our scheduled and bespoke courses are delivered by our two specialist Mental Health trainers, Ali Uzzell and Tracey O'Keeffe.
Topics available include the following:
Mental Health Awareness - 14th May 2026
Wellbeing in the Workplace - 16th June 2026
Mental Health Crisis Management - 8th July 2026
Hypertension
We are delighted to be working Dr Connie Fearnley who will be presenting this brand new, essential course on Hypertension for primary care practitioners. Book now to secure your place!
Our next course is:
Introduction to Hypertension - 21st April 2026
Ongoing Training
The Learning and Development Centre is proud to be able to support Primary Care practitioners with all their training needs across a wide range of healthcare disciplines. In addition to the HCA Essentials, we offer regular updates to ensure that all staff are knowledgeable in the most up to date practices and clinical developments. Some of these are requirements for continued practice, others are highly recommended and enhance existing knowledge and skills.
Annual updates are required for the following topics:
- Immunisations
- Ear Care
Updates are highly recommended for the these topics:
- Asthma
- COPD
We have a range of other courses to complement existing practices. Explore our catalogue to discover the following topics of interest:
- Mental Health First Aid
- Personalised Conversations (Health Coaching Skills)
- B12 and Pernicious Anaemia
- ECG Workshop
- Supporting Patients with Sleep