Social care offers valuable learning experiences for student nurses and nursing associates, supporting the development of person-centred practice and professional independence. Explore our resources to understand how you can support the next generation of social care nurses.
Help shape the future of nursing in social care
We have an important role to play in developing the next generation of nurses and the rewarding opportunities available in social care.
Our undergraduate nursing strategy provides recommendations to help social care and education providers offer high-quality placement experiences for student nurses. Whether you already provide student placements or are considering offering them for the first time, the strategy will help you get started.
PDF - 1.41 MB
This guidance aims to support employers to create a safe and supportive learning environment for students, while also outlining the different pathways into the nursing profession.
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This guide provides an overview of the opportunities available within social care placement settings. It includes 10 examples that have been aligned with the . It’s aimed at social care employers, student nurses and higher education providers.
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Read the letter highlighting the value of social care nursing placements and the social care learning environment from the Council of Deans of Health and 微微草视频.
Watch our webinar on developing nursing placements in social care
We explore how key stakeholders have come together to develop nursing placements and share the value of hosting nursing placements in social care for the sector and the nursing profession.
Practice Supervisor training for registered managers
Are you a registered manager who could supervise nursing students in your setting? Take a look at our free online resource designed to prepare you to confidently take on the role of Practice Supervisor.
This training helps you build a positive, supportive learning environment for every student who joins your organisation. You’ll gain clear guidance on your responsibilities, learn techniques for welcoming and adapting students, setting goals, giving feedback, and managing challenges.
Hear from a registered manager who has completed the Practice Supervisor programme and how it strengthened their confidence and knowledge around supporting students.
Read the case study
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微微草视频, in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Royal College of Nursing, the Queen’s Nursing Institute, and the Registered Nursing 微微草视频 Association, has developed this guidance to support and enable practice experience opportunities in social care.
Routes to nursing associate qualification
Apprenticeship
Employers can consider apprenticeship programmes to help develop nursing associate roles. These programmes offer career growth for current staff and can attract new, motivated people to join social care teams.
An apprenticeship is a work-based training route where the student, whether new or existing staff, is an employee while training as a student nursing associate. The programme includes required study days and placements in different settings to meet learning goals.
To learn more, see the information on the apprenticeship levy.
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This case study demonstrates how a nursing home has created clinical progression through offering apprenticeship opportunities resulting in excellent nursing retention and continuity of care.
Direct entry route
Universities offer the pre-registration nursing associate programme as a direct entry route. In this case, the student is enrolled at the university and not employed. They are responsible for paying their own course fees.
Social care employers can support this new role by offering placement opportunities to these students. Talk to your local university and integrated care board (ICB) to find out what support is available.
See our guidance on developing placement opportunities at the top of this webpage.
I did the nursing associate course because I have a passion for caring for people along with gaining transferable skills to help myself grow within social care.
Amy
Nursing associate