Important update

Nursing Associate Update.
 
This information is for employers and all Stakeholders of the role.
 
NHSE have revised the job title of the Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) in line with the guidance and expectations of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Effective immediately, the new job title will be Student Nursing Associate (SNA), all communications, policies and procedures should reflect these changes going forward. Existing resources from professional organisations will transition to the new terminology at the review date. 
 
These changes do not affect the protected title of the Nursing Associate (NA). If you require any more information please contact the Nursing Associate Practice Education Facilitator Jay Blackshaw – [email protected]

PROGRAMMES & ROLES

Student Nursing Associate (SNA) & Nursing Associate (NA)

Nursing Associate is a protected title and may only be used by someone on the nursing and midwifery council register

Nursing Associates bridge the gap between healthcare Assistants / Support Workers and Registered Nurses to deliver hands-on, person-centred care as part of the nursing team.

They work with people of all ages in a variety of settings in health and social care. HEE’s animation showcases the role across different settings giving practical examples of the duties being carried out and the benefits they bring to employers.

These benefits include improved service delivery and patient care, improved staff retention through career progression and contribution to widening participation.

On this page you will find SNA/NA options, information, updates, webinars, events and links to resources.  This page will cover both Apprenticeship, ARRS and Traditional Direct Entry routes within primary care. Please access additional Information by clicking the Link.

If you have any questions please contact Jay Blackshaw, Primary Care Practice Education Facilitator [email protected] 

..................................................................................................................................................................Follow the link to a single point of access for all NHSE Northwest resources ..................................................................................................................................................

What is FutureNHS?

FutureNHS is a collaboration platform that welcomes everyone in health and care. Please note that you will be required to sign up and agree to the terms and conditions of the site – this will be a one time expectation.  None NHS emails will have to email a workspace manager to be invited.

It’s the leading space for secure collaboration across different organisations, and the best part? It’s completely free!

FutureNHS_SingleChevron_RGB_OnWhite-01 FutureNHS is a network of workspaces: online communities and working groups set up by you and your peers

FutureNHS_SingleChevron_RGB_OnWhite-01 A workspace can be open or private, and has features such as forums and the ability to share and edit files

FutureNHS_SingleChevron_RGB_OnWhite-01 Once you’ve registered, you can join workspaces and create your own

TNA and NA Support Team

Meet Our PC SNA PEF

Jay Blackshaw

Primary Care Student Nursing Associate Education Facilitator

Welcome

My name is Jay Blackshaw BSc RN, I've recently been appointed to the new Health Education England pilot role of Student Nursing Associate Practice Education Facilitator for L&SC Training Hub. This coincides with a relocation for me and the family to the South Lakes area and a big transition from secondary acute care to primary care. My experiences as a bedside nurse, Emergency Department nurse, and nurse educator have all shaped my practice to be patient focused as I strive for excellence. I hold a strong passion for education, designing, developing, and supporting safe systems along with coaching learners in practice to become the best workforce they can be. I have planned, implemented, and evaluated continuing education activities for nurses, SNA, NA, Student Nurses and Medics. During the Pandemic of Covid 19 I implemented a structured upskilling programme to support the struggling workforce. My aim is to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to embed the SNA/NA role within our Primary Care workforce. Therefore, supporting effective patient care and enhancing their experience. This 12 month opportunity is an equally challenging and exciting time for me to draw upon my skills and knowledge to improve our Primary Care. I have 17 years’ worth of experience in leadership and healthcare ranging from the military, the emergency department, surgical and educational settings. I look forward to working with learners, HEI’s and practice partners. For more information on expanding SNA/NA workforce and an informal chat please contact me on [email protected]
Click Here

Table of Contents

Support from the Training Hub

On this page you will find information and resources for digital training, events, apps, websites, portals and more. As well as, contact details for our Digital Champion Locality Leads.

Find all Health and Wellbeing helplines, training, opportunities and resources for those in primary care.

You will find useful Portals and Platforms available and free to all Primary Care staff. We also keep this page updated with newly released programmes. 

On this page you will find information on the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, created by the  workforce development managers.
What's happening

News & Events

CPD Cytology offer

All localities have commissioned a Cytology Programme via Liverpool University at a reduced-price using the CPD allocation and there will be several places throughout the year.

For those wanting to apply for a place please complete this Application Form and return it to [email protected] who can then inform you of any upcoming dates.

Increase your workforce with Student Nursing Associates

The Nursing Associate role is an integral part of a General Practice Team. NHS England is pleased to announce the continuation of the national cohort offer of  Student Nursing Associate places for General Practice  with distant programme providers. These places are open to any new or existing staff within your Primary Care Network or General Practice.

Local and regional options are available as normal.

Student Nursing Associates commencing the apprenticeship programme within Primary Care will be fully supported with the following 2023/24 funding:

· Employers will receive total funding of £8,160 over two years (£4,080 per year) per Student Nursing Associate.

· Employers may receive an apprenticeship levy funding of up to £15,000 (subject to conditions)

· Each Primary Care Network may be able to claim 100% of the SNA salary through ARRS

Educational requirements for the Student Nursing Associate programme are either, functional skills Maths and English level 2 or GCSE Grade  5-9 or C and above.

In addition to the above, for Student Nursing Associate spending 50% or more of their time working with people who have a learning disability and/or autistic people may be eligible for additional funding for the duration of their course (subject to conditions). 

This is a fantastic opportunity to increase your General Practice workforce. Please forward to your networks and send your expressions of interest to the NHS England National Nursing and Midwifery Team by return at england.national[email protected]. or contact your local Training Hub.

Training Hub Webinars 2023

Training Hub Information Webinars are available to find out more about some of the main apprenticeships. Application requirements and how the Training Hub will support you with your application will be covered. Please view the flyer for details and booking instructions.

Nursing Associate Apprenticeship:

Wednesday 8 February 2023    1 – 2pm (Autumn 2023 intakes)

Future date and dates for 2024 to be announced shortly.

CNO 002 Discovering a Nursing Career in General Practice

Discovering a Career in General Practice Nursing (CNO 002) is a single module available to nurses or nursing associates, either qualified or in training, who are looking for a real kickstart to their career by providing information and insight into the role of a General Practice Nurse (University of Cumbria).

Nursing Associates in Numbers

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Fylde Coast (PCN)

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Morecambe Bay (PCN)

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Pennine Lancashire (PCN)

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Central (PCN)

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West Lancashire (PCN)

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Fylde Coast (Practice)

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Morecambe Bay (Practice)

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Pennine Lancashire (Practice)

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Greater Preston, Chorley and South Ribble (Practice)

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West Lancashire (Practice)

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Fylde Coast

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Morecambe Bay

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Pennine Lancashire

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Greater Preston, Chorley and South Ribble

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West Lancashire

Student Nursing Associates in Numbers

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Fylde Coast

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Morecambe Bay

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Pennine Lancashire

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Greater Preston, Chorley and South Ribble

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West Lancashire

SUCCESS RATES

Trainee and Nursing Associates

Performance86%
Ave Increase33%
Promotion100%
What's happening

Resources & Videos

Please find useful updates, information and resources below 

Nursing Associates (NAs) are registered healthcare professionals, in Primary Care, they assist in expanding the capacity of nursing teams. This increases the amount of complex patient care being transferred into primary care settings. 

NAs are well placed to assist with some of the routine and fundamental work of GPNs. Student and qualified NAs support, not substitute, Registered Nurses. They contribute to ongoing patient care and can recognise when it is necessary to refer to others for urgent reassessment.

There may be opportunities for further development in this role or it may also be a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse if you decide to follow this route.

This document from HEE explains the role and function of Nursing Associates in General Practice to view Click here

The role was introduced by the UK Government who created the Nursing Associate (NA) role in response to findings identified in the Shape of Caring Review (2015), to help build the capacity of the nursing workforce and the delivery of high-quality care. It will be a vital part of the wider health and care team and aims to:

  • support the career progression of healthcare assistants
  • enable nurses to focus on more complex clinical work
  • increase the supply of nurses by providing a progression route into graduate-level nursing.

The Health Education England trainee nursing associate programme

In January 2017, Health Education England (HEE) launched a trainee nursing associate programme, with the first two waves of trainees based at 35 partnerships that delivered a programme of education and training in academic and work-based settings.

2017 TEST SITE PARTNERSHIPS

Each partnership was aligned with a Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) footprint and composed of at least one employer and one education provider (Higher Education Institution). Employers included care homes, acute, community and mental health trusts and hospices, and primary care (GPs), representing the variety of settings in which nursing associates will provide care for patients. Two thousand trainee nursing associates joined the programme within waves 1 and 2.

NURSING ASSOCIATE ROLLOUT 2018 ONWARDS

Expansion of the role has continued into 2018 (wave 3) and 2019 (wave 4). In 2018 around 5,000 Trainee Nursing Associates were enrolled onto programmes. HEE is committed to a further 7,500 starting the programme by March 2020.

EVALUATION

Health Education England (HEE) commissioned an independent evaluation of the first two years of the programme to June 2019, which was published in October 2019. Read the evaluation here.

Traverse has been commissioned by HEE to continue evaluation of the introduction of nursing associates in 2019-20. This has included a ‘deep dive’ into how organisations involved in the programme have deployed nursing associates in different sectors and the benefits and challenges associated with investing in the new role.

For the most up-to-date information,  please see the most current flyer by clicking on the link.  Click Here

Trainee Nursing Associate’s (TNA) will undertake academic learning and work-based learning (different models used by different Universities). TNA’s are employed in a specific healthcare setting such as an acute, community or mental health hospital and GP practices but also gain experience in other healthcare settings.

TNA’s will develop an understanding of all elements of the nursing process and of caring for individuals with particular conditions such as dementia, mental ill health and learning disabilities/difficulties.

Once qualified an NA will continue to develop their skills and knowledge through CPD. For more information on CPD within LSCTH please click on the link. Click Here

The nursing associate role is employed across all health and Social care services. This is a fantastic role supporting service demand, with opportunities to undertake additional role training. Once qualified, there are lots of other career development opportunities that are endless, for Nursing Associates in primary care, further extending their skill sets and enhancing primary care services. 

They can become NA Ambassadors, raising awareness of the role to future applicants. They can also supervise and support pre-registration students and HCAs in practice and become clinical educators working across PCNs.

Qualified nursing associates can also go on to train as a registered nurse by putting their training towards a shortened nursing degree or completing a degree-level nurse apprenticeship i.e. RNDA

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have published the following Standards for Student Nursing Associates:

The part of the nursing register for nursing associates opened in January 2019, this has allowed the NMC to begin accepting people onto the register to enable them to practice as a nursing associate in England. It also allows the NMC to investigate concerns about a registered nursing associate’s conduct or practice, where this is considered impaired and take action to improve care and keep the public safe if needed.

To do this, the NMC sets the following standards:

Nursing associates are broadly regulated in the same way that nurses are, which includes registration, revalidation and fitness to practice.

Additional information regarding the nurse associate framework can be found here: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/standards-of-proficiency/nursing-associates/nursing-associates-proficiency-standards.pdf

The nursing associate apprenticeship standard is available to employers and the apprenticeship levy can be used for training fees.

Employing Nursing Associate Apprentices

Employers that have invested in the nursing associate role as part of wider workforce planning and skills mix transformation have seen a number of benefits, including:

  • improved service delivery and patient care
  • improved staff retention through career progression
  • the ability to ‘grow your own’ nursing workforce
  • investing in a tried and tested training programme, accredited by the NMC.

The Nursing Associate role in Primary Care, supports the delivery of safe, compassionate
and effective care and offers numerous benefits:


• Enhanced patient care and communication – all
apprentice and qualified nursing associates
complete NMC approved pre-registration nursing
associate programmes and possess a greater range
of clinical skills and experience.


• Improved patient-centred care and greater awareness
of the holistic needs of patients.


• Nursing Associates are better equipped to identify and
escalate patients with deteriorating health.
• Improved service delivery.

Practices and Primary Care Networks Benefits


• Increased workforce retention – this route offers
comprehensive nursing career progression for existing
clinicians or people new to healthcare.


• Offers the opportunity for PCNs and practices “Grow
Their Own,” shaping individuals to fit into developing
nursing teams, to address specific practice needs.


• Provides additional nursing team capacity in areas
such as cervical cytology screening, immunisations,
and support management of chronic disease, aiding
achievement of QOF targets.


• Improved quality and standardisation of patient care,
the patient case load can be spread more widely
amongst the nursing team. This will ease workforce
pressures, making the team feel more valued and
patients more satisfied, as they have more time to
spend on patient care.


• Strengthened workforce resilience, nursing team and
wider organisation able to offer more dynamic and
varied clinics to meet evolving patient needs.

Nursing Associate Role – Wider Benefits

As Student NAs have moved across different placement
settings, they have been able to apply and exchange skills,
knowledge and good practice, which is improving the quality
of services. This enables the benefits of the role to be realised
immediately in Primary Care settings.

Employers particularly value the skills being exchanged between mental and physical health domains because mental health plays a key role in patient wellbeing

To find out more, please view:

A preceptorship is a period of support and guidance for new registrants. HEE developed best practice guidance on preceptorship for nursing associates in 2018.

The wave 2 evaluation of the HEE nursing associate programme found that preceptorship programmes can have several benefits for recently qualified nursing associates. See Introduction of nursing associates – year 2 evaluation report, Traverse, October 2019.

Please see information contained within the link

Expressions of interests for apprenticeships are now encouraged to be made at any time. Due to varying stages of practices and/or candidates, we feel this will be a more helpful approach.

Anyone who is interested in an apprenticeship (for themselves, current member of staff or to recruit for an apprenticeship position) please complete our Expression of Interest form.

New resource alert! 

Welcome to the new home of Teaching and Learning Consultation Skills (TALC Skills) and Healthy English: www.consultationskills.com.

TALC Skills covers all aspects of consulting with a patient, whether you are a GP or another healthcare professional, and aims to make consultations more enjoyable and more efficient.

These valuable free resources can be used independently by anyone who wants to learn or improve their consultation skills – or by educators. TALC Skills is an RCGP award-winner and its popular podcast has already received more than 28,000 downloads.

Healthy English has been developed to help everyone who works with patients become a better user of English. It addresses the language and communication needs of international health and care staff, their trainers and colleagues working in the UK.

Access to both of these resources is free of charge to NHS people and organisations.

Sign up and join hundreds of other colleagues across the country who are using this trending new resource. 

Community of Practice

To be added to mailing list or whatsApp, please contact [email protected]

Guidance and Governing Body

The professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates.

View it online and download on the NMC website.

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Toolkits

The Asthma and Pneumonia toolkits reflect the priorities in respiratory care including identification of risk factors, prevention, detection and diagnosis, medicines optimisation and reducing inappropriate secondary care admissions. They will support Respiratory Clinical Networks and clinical services to understand their priorities to improve patient care and outcomes.   

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Find a job

View the nursing associate roles currently available via NHS Jobs.

Apply direct to university

Visit UCAS and Search for the 'Nursing Associate' foundation degree

SHARE THE SUCCESS

Let's Celebrate Together!

If you have an amazing S/TNA or NA you wish to celebrate by sharing a few words as recognition for their hard work and improvements they have made, or you are a SNA or NA and wish to highlight someone who has helped you along your journey, please email Jay, and we can X about them via @LSC_TH and share your feedback/story on our website.