Conyard, KarlCodd, MaryMetcalfe, AlisonCorish, SiobhánFlannery, JackieHannon, PaulRusk, BrianYeates, SimonBahramian, Katayoun2020-03-272020-03-272020-03Conyard KF, Metcalfe A, Corish S, Flannery J, Hannon P, Rusk B, Yeates S, Codd MB. (2020) Healthcare assistants and qualified carers, A Trained, but untapped underutilised resource: A population-based study in Ireland. Dublin : HCA and Carers Ireland & Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research, University College Dublin.http://hdl.handle.net/10147/627406This report addresses aspects of the function, wellbeing and satisfaction of healthcare assistants and qualified carers in Ireland. The study on which it is based was undertaken under the auspices of the Irish Healthcare Assistants and Carers Ireland Social Association. It set out to elicit the views of carers about their background, training, skillset, work environments and conditions, career satisfaction and aspirations and is based on responses from almost 2,000 healthcare assistants and carers. It is the first study of its kind in Ireland. The report provides a historical perspectives on the evolution of the caring role in Ireland and internationally with the development of hospitals and healthcare. In parallel with this there have been changes in the perception of the role and those who carry it out, the training required and in the value placed on it by society. Education of nurses emerged primarily from the wartime experiences of the 19th and 20th centuries and has evolved into specialists areas over the ensuing time period in the last three decades healthcare assistants (HCAs) have become a distinct group and a career track in its own right. Formal training for HCAs and Carers in Ireland began in the 1990s with the Vocational Educational Committee’s National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA). With the training of this new group of health care workers, the grade of Health Care Assistant (including maternity HCAs) was introduced in 2001. These were incorporated as members of the healthcare team to assist and support the nursing, midwifery, medical and allied health teams.enHEALTHCARE ASSISTANTSCARERSWELLBEINGPROFESSIONAL ROLECAREER DEVELOPMENTReport