Essential Training Courses for Healthcare Assistants

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]

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: 

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 - 7th October 2025

Why 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: 

Introduction to COPD - 3rd September 2025

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 - 17th September 2025

Further development opportunities:

• Diabetes Foot Checks and Doppler Assessments
• Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Freestyle Libre Systems

Introduction to Wound Assessment and Dressings Selection

Alexandra Bishop is the Lead Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and her lively virtual presentation on Wound Assessment and Dressings Selection is an essential course for all primary care practitioners. 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:

Introduction to Wound Assessments and Dressings Selection - 9th July 2025

Further training:

• Complex Wounds Management

Introduction to Phlebotomy

Clinical Educator Sister Claire May has been taking bloods for longer than she cares to remember!  This in-person training session provides all the theory required to undertake this procedure in practice, and 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 - 8th July 2025

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:

Introduction to Ear Care - 25th June 2025

Further training:

• Ear Care Update

Hypertension

A new course date is coming soon!  Contact us to be added to the Request List for early bird bookings. 

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