Local people are being offered the chance to start a paid career in the NHS through the healthcare support worker apprenticeship at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust is recruiting 35 apprentices to join a paid route into healthcare at the QE Hospital in Gateshead, with training and support to help them build their skills and progress into a higher-level healthcare support worker role.
Successful applicants will earn over £25,000 a year while they learn on the job, gain hands-on experience with patients and work towards a Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship with Derwentside College.
This means people will start in an entry-level healthcare support worker role and be supported by experienced NHS staff while they learn. Once they have completed the apprenticeship and built the required skills in the workplace, they will be able to move into a higher-level healthcare support worker role, with a salary increase.
The apprenticeship is part of Gateshead Health’s work to support the Trust’s role in the local community by opening up NHS career opportunities for people who may not have considered healthcare before, or who were unsure where to start.
Healthcare support workers are an important part of our clinical teams. They spend time with patients and support them with everyday care, including washing, dressing, moving safely, eating and drinking, and helping staff monitor how they are doing.
Beth Swanson, interim chief nurse at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “This is a good opportunity for people who may have thought about working in healthcare but weren’t sure how to take that first step.
“You do not need to have worked in the NHS before. What matters is that you are caring, reliable, willing to learn, and want to make a difference for patients and their families.
“Healthcare support workers are a vital part of our teams. They support patients every day with care, dignity and compassion, and play an important role in helping us provide safe, high-quality services.
“Through this apprenticeship, people will be supported to build their skills, confidence and experience, with a clear route into a long-term career in healthcare.”
Nicola Raine, Assistant Principal for Derwentside College, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Gateshead Health to create a high-quality and accessible route into NHS careers for local people.
This apprenticeship combines real-world clinical experience with structured learning, enabling individuals to develop the skills, confidence and behaviours needed to thrive in a healthcare environment.
It also reflects our shared commitment to supporting the local workforce pipeline, opening up meaningful career opportunities and helping to meet the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals across the region.
Healthcare support workers play a vital role in patient care, and we are delighted to support learners as they take their first step into a rewarding and progressive career within the NHS.”
Antonio Mabanza, who completed an NHS healthcare apprenticeship and is now a registered nurse in day surgery, said the route helped him build his career.
Antonio said:
“My healthcare apprenticeship was an important step in my career. It gave me the opportunity to work closely with patients and learn first-hand what it means to provide compassionate, person-centred care.
“One of the biggest benefits of doing an apprenticeship in the NHS is being able to learn while working. You gain real-life experience, earn a salary and develop your skills in a healthcare setting at the same time.
“Working alongside experienced healthcare professionals helped me build my confidence and put my learning into practice. It also gave me a clear pathway to progress, which helped me work towards becoming a registered nurse.”
The apprenticeship includes workplace learning, regular study days and training delivered by Derwentside College. Applicants will need to be able to work shifts, including weekends, and employment will be subject to a successful DBS check.
Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 21 June 2026.
Apply for the Healthcare Support Worker development post apprenticeship: Derwentside College | Health Care Support Worker x35 – Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust