Healthcare Professions' Support for England HTQ

Healthcare professions support refers to the roles that assist regulated health professionals in delivering care, enabling them to focus their specialist skills where they are most needed. Healthcare support workers operate across the NHS and independent sector in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical settings, contributing to patient care in hospitals, community services, and primary care. At Coventry University, the two-year full-time HTQ Healthcare Professions' Support for England is a Higher Technical Qualification specifically designed to develop the knowledge and professional skills that employers in the healthcare sector need from support staff at a level above that of on-the-job training.

The programme develops your understanding of the healthcare environment, including the structure and organisation of health services, the principles of patient safety, infection control, clinical communication, and the ethical and legal frameworks that govern health and social care practice. Practical skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team are central to the programme, alongside the reflective practice that allows professionals to continue developing throughout their careers. As the current description notes, the programme aims to equip you to become a professional, self-reflecting individual who can meet the demands of employers in the healthcare sector and thrive in a constantly changing environment.

The Higher Technical Qualification format is specifically aligned to employer needs and occupational standards.

Graduates of this programme are well prepared for a range of healthcare support roles within the NHS and private healthcare, including roles as clinical support workers, healthcare assistants at a higher level of responsibility, and support roles within specific clinical specialisms. The qualification also provides a foundation for further professional development and career progression within the healthcare sector. Some graduates go on to registered health profession training, using the academic level and knowledge base acquired during the programme as preparation for nursing, physiotherapy, or other allied health degrees.

Others progress within healthcare support roles towards supervisory and leadership positions. The programme is designed to meet real employer needs and to produce graduates who are ready to contribute effectively to healthcare settings from the point of graduation.