Healthcare assistant (OSS) cover letter: complete example 2026
An example cover letter for healthcare assistants (OSS in Italy) to send to care homes, hospitals, clinics and cooperatives. It shows how to present your qualification, experience with residents and shift availability in a few clear lines.
Example letter
Application for the Healthcare Assistant position – [Facility Name]
Dear Nurse Manager,
I am applying for the Healthcare Assistant position at your care home. I obtained my healthcare assistant (OSS) qualification in 2020 and for six years I have worked in care homes and in an internal medicine ward.
In my current facility I look after 18-22 residents per shift with different levels of dependency, many of them with dementia. I provide personal hygiene, moving and handling with hoists, pressure ulcer prevention and support with eating, including for residents with dysphagia, and I write careful handover notes for the team.
I know your facility has a dedicated Alzheimer's unit: it is an area where I have gained experience and where I would like to keep growing, including through internal training.
I am available for day, night and holiday shifts and can start with [number] days' notice. I would welcome an interview or a shadowing day.
Kind regards
Short version for email or job portals
Hello, I am applying as a healthcare assistant at your facility. I have been qualified since 2020 and have six years of experience in care homes and a medical ward, with dependent residents and people with dementia. I am available for day, night and holiday shifts. Please find my CV attached. Thank you.
Why this letter works
- It puts qualification and years of experience first, the first things the nurse manager looks for.
- It describes concrete tasks with realistic numbers (residents per shift, equipment).
- It links experience to a specific feature of the facility (Alzheimer's unit).
- It closes with shift availability and a clear notice period.
How to adapt it
- For a hospital: mention the wards, hygiene protocols and patient transport.
- For home care: say whether you have a car and how you organized several visits a day.
- If you have just qualified: describe your placement, with hours and facilities.
Mistakes to avoid
- Not stating your qualification, or stating it without the year.
- Claiming tasks reserved for nurses, such as administering medication independently.
- Forgetting your shift availability.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a cover letter to work as a healthcare assistant?
Not always, but many cooperatives and private facilities read it. A short letter with qualification, experience and shift availability sets you apart from those who only send a CV.
Who should it be addressed to?
The nurse manager or the facility's HR office. If you do not know the name, use “Dear Hiring Manager”.
Need the CV too? See the CV example for this profession
