Poole care home bridging the gap between HCA’s and Nurses by adopting new Nursing Associate Degree

Birds Hill care home in Poole is among one of the first in Dorset to adopt the new Nursing Associate Foundation Degree Apprenticeship Scheme, providing the opportunity for experienced staff to develop their skills.

The Nursing Associate role has been created to bridge a gap, both in knowledge and skills, between Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses. The course is at a foundation degree level and involves those undertaking it to spend one day a week in a classroom and the other time working on the job, where they’ll be supervised whilst practising clinical aspects of the role.

Samantha Pallister, who has worked at Luxurycare group for 10 years, is one of the first apprentices on this new course. She believes her in-depth knowledge of all the care homes, their ethos and how they care for residents will help to build the foundations of her nursing practice.

Samantha said: “Luxurycare know me and my capabilities and will be able to help tailor my clinical learning to benefit them. The residents will also benefit as I will be able to be involved in all aspects of their care and be a familiar face to them.”

She also added: “I am excited to see how this role develops and fits into practice once those of us on the first wave of courses start to graduate. I have always enjoyed learning and being a role model for my kids that they can achieve what they want if they just go for it.”

The course will allow for people to earn a wage whilst learning, hopefully offering a way for those unable to achieve a traditional degree to further their education. Kevin Gunputh, managing Director and founder of Luxurycare Group, who owns Birds Hill believes the scheme will also offer an enhanced service as a result and greater continuity of care for residents as existing staff known to them will be able to deliver greater levels of care and support.

He said: “I feel enthusiastic about the opportunities it will bring for not only our homes but also our staff team, and the social car sector as a whole. It will help support more integrated work health colleagues.”