Speaking at the NHS Employers conference in Liverpool, he set out plans to develop a code of conduct and minimum training standards for healthcare support workers and adult social care workers in England.
The project will be taken forward jointly by Skills for Health and Skills for Care - in partnership with unions, employers, regulators, educators and others It will focus on areas like communication, confidentiality, nutrition and hydration, and basic observations,
It has been designed to help nurses know which tasks they can delegate and which they shouldn't. And it will bring clarity to the training assistants need where they deliver more advanced tasks.
Skills for Health and Skills for Care will present their recommendations to the Department by September next year. The findings will be used to during 2013 to establish a voluntary register(s) for healthcare support workers and adult social care workers in England as part of its standards for inclusion on a register.
Lansley said: "Every day in England, hundreds of thousands of healthcare assistants aim to give the very highest quality of care to patients. The job they do can be rewarding but it can often be demanding too. It is essential they are supported to deliver the best care possible.
"Good local supervision offers support everyday. Distant national regulation can often only react after the event.
"Employers must always take responsibility and be accountable for the staff they employ. But , we recognise that more can be done to support employers in this and a code of conduct and clear minimum training standards will provide important clarity in this area.
"These measures will help employers to better consider the skills profile of potential employees and ensure that patients and service users get the care and support they need."
Commenting on the announcement, Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, added: "The changes that the Government has announced can help ensure we retain the flexibility within roles but develop consistent standards between organisations, which can only be a good thing for patients.
"There is scope to reduce much of the duplication that happens as healthcare assistant move between organisations. Processes are important, however they must be accompanied by good local leadership and a clinical environment committed to improving quality and standards of care.
"It is absolutely critical that employers take a leading role in supporting Skills for Health and Skills for Care in developing any standards to ensure they meet the needs of service and patients.
"The NHS Employers discussion paper published today outlines the role of employers in recruiting and employing a safe and high quality workforce. The guidance will help employers in the development of minimum standards of education and the role of a Code of Conduct."
