Searching for your first role as a newly registered nursing associate

Finding the right nursing associate opportunity for you

Your education has prepared you well, and employers recognise the value that newly registered nursing associates bring to their teams working across adult, children's, mental health and learning disability services.

Nursing associate careers offer many opportunities as no nursing associate career follows the same path. This guide will help you navigate finding job opportunities with confidence and locate the right role to start your nursing associate career.

Nursing associate job search: frequently asked questions

We have gathered questions you have been asking about your first registered nursing associate role and responded to them on the nursing associate job search: frequently asked questions webpage, which covers additional guidance for finding your first nursing associate job, in addition to this student hub and signposted guidance and resources.

How to find nursing associate job opportunities

If you are a nursing associate apprentice

Discuss with your line manager

Talk to your direct line manager about opportunities within your current team as you approach qualification. Training to be a nursing associate is a brilliant way of finding out where you want to work when registered. Having practice placement opportunities outside of your 'home' environment enhances your experience of different places, types of care and patient groups.

Throughout this time, it's vital for you to remain in close touch and collaborate with your line manager, who can help you identify what opportunities exist within your team and across the wider organisation. They understand your development, strengths, and interests, making them well-placed to guide your career decisions.

Contact your organisation's apprenticeship lead

They will know about progression routes and job opportunities for apprentices becoming registered nursing associate.

Explore different departments

Consider whether you want to stay in your current area or move to a different service within your organisation.

Through your nursing associate's placement providers

Talk to your placement supervisors

Self-funded nursing associate's students can secure their first job through organisations where they completed placements. Speak to your practice supervisors and practice assessors about upcoming opportunities.

Express your interest early

Let placement providers know you are interested in working for them after qualification.

Network during placements

Build positive relationships with nursing teams during your clinical experience. They may recommend you for positions or inform you about vacancies.

Online nursing associate job search platforms

Find a Job (gov.uk)

The government's official job search service covers jobs across a range of sectors including social care, forensics, NHS, and many other public sector organisations.

You might need to be specific in your search terms, for example roles or including the setting like:

Healthcare settings

• community nursing
• mental health services
• learning disability support
• general practice and health centres (speak to your local primary care training hub)

Specialist services

• neonatal services
• substance misuse services
• rehabilitation centres
• rare disease services
• transplant services

Care settings

• social care
• care homes
• supported living
• domiciliary care
• hospice care  

Non-traditional settings

• forensic and justice care
• armed forces
• research institutions  

Independent and charitable sectors

• private hospitals and clinics
• health charities

NHS Jobs website

The main place to find NHS nursing associate positions across England. Set up job alerts for nursing associate roles in your preferred locations.

NHS Professionals

NHS bank and temporary staffing agency that offers flexible nursing associate work. This can be a good way to gain experience across different trusts and potentially lead to permanent positions.

Skills for Care

Information about nursing associate careers specifically in social care settings.

Independent and charity healthcare providers

Independent Healthcare Providers Network – a good place to find these employers is by visiting the Independent Healthcare Providers Network members page. They have over 100 independent healthcare providers registered with them, but there are many more across the country delivering healthcare.

National Voices Member directory – a good place to find charitable healthcare employers. National Voices represents over 160 health and care charities across England, but there are many more charitable organisations across the country delivering healthcare.

Mitie Careers – major provider of justice healthcare services

Other forensic roles – Metropolitan Police and individual police forces, Crown Prosecution Service and court healthcare services often advertise healthcare roles on their websites.

Professional networks and support for newly registered nursing associates

Nursing and Nursing Associate Social Care Student and Early Careers Network

Join this network which connects student and registered nurses and nursing associates passionate about or wanting to learn about social care. Benefit from peer support, career and professional development opportunities and networking with like-minded professionals across England. 

University careers services

Your university may have partnerships with local services and can help connect you with employers actively recruiting newly registered nursing associates.

Royal College of Nursing

Join the RCN to access their job board, networking events, and career support services specifically for nursing and nursing associate professionals.

Professional networks

Connect with registered nursing associates and nurses through professional events, social media groups, and local midwifery networks for job opportunities and advice.

Health Careers

Visit NHS Health Careers website and live events for career planning support.

Making the most of your search for a nursing associate job

Important note for apprentices

If you're completing a nursing associate apprenticeship, you may have contractual obligations to your current employer after qualification. Check your apprenticeship contract carefully and discuss any obligations with your line manager and HR team before considering wider opportunities.

Start early

Begin looking for opportunities 3-6 months before you qualify. Some employers have specific recruitment events for those soon to qualify.

Consider different sectors

Look at NHS, independent healthcare providers, and social care organisations to find the best opportunities.

Be flexible with location where possible

Consider roles in different areas or organisations to increase your opportunities and gain diverse experience.

Consider different settings

Look at hospital, community, primary care and social care roles.

Use multiple sources

Don't rely on just one method of job searching. Use a combination of approaches to find the best opportunities.

Types of roles to consider

Rotational positions

Some organisations offer rotations through different areas of healthcare to help you decide your preferred field of nursing.

NHS roles

Hospital, community, and primary care positions across adult, children's, mental health and learning disability services.

Social care settings

Care homes, residential homes and community social care organisations provide valuable experience working with vulnerable populations.

Independent and charity healthcare

Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers across the independent and charity sector often offer competitive packages and structured career development.

Bank work

Flexible positions through NHS Professionals or organisation banks can provide valuable experience and may lead to permanent roles.

Ready to apply?

Once you have found opportunities that interest you, the next step is creating strong applications that showcase your nursing associate education and passion for supporting patients and families across all healthcare settings.

How to apply for nursing associate jobs – get guidance on writing effective CVs, personal statements, and application forms for nursing associate positions.

Take your time to explore different opportunities across NHS, independent providers, and social care settings, and find roles where you can learn, grow and develop your nursing associate skills with good support and mentorship across the four fields of nursing.