Developing an electronic database to support healthcare assistants' training needs in Ireland

Background/Aims In Ireland, variation in education, lack of regulation and unclear role definition for healthcare assistants create challenges for workforce planning and safe care. This study aimed to establish a baseline profile of healcare assistant education and training in a large acute teaching hospital, focusing on completion of the Quality and Qualifications Ireland Level 5 Major Award. Methods A two-phase workforce analysis was undertaken. Phase 1 involved a baseline audit of healthcare assistants using surveys and focus groups to identify training needs. Phase 2 involved migration of the database to a learning management system to enable real-time monitoring from recruitment onwards. Results At baseline, 69% of healthcare assistants had completed a Quality and Qualifications Ireland Level 5 Major Award, with one-third holding the Health Service Skills Major Award. Completion rates varied across modules, with lowest uptake in activities of daily living, infection prevention and control, and care of the older person. Following targeted education initiatives, training compliance increased from 14.4% in 2023 to 22.7% by April 2025. Conclusions Implementation of the learning management system provided a sustainable mechanism to monitor qualifications, identify training gaps and support workforce planning. Implications for practice Wider adoption of similar systems, alongside national regulation and structured career pathways, could enhance consistency, professional recognition and patient care outcomes.