Factors affecting the retention of healthcare assistants in English mental health services: a qualitative interview study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the UK, healthcare assistants (HCAs) work alongside registered nurses and other clinicians to provide frontline clinical care. HCAs provide a considerable amount of essential direct patient care which, dependent on the setting, can include monitoring of temperature, pulse, respirations and ECGs, support with daily activities, emotional support and facilitating communication with other health professionals. In 2019, the leaver rate of HCAs and support workers in the UK was 13.4%. In many Trusts this was higher than the leaving rate for nurses. The aim of this study was to explore HCAs' experiences and their perceptions of the reasons for poor retention rates.

Methods

We recruited HCAs from three English mental health Trusts. Recruitment information was circulate

SUBMITTER: Senek M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11972535 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature