A nursing associate is a new member of the nursing team who can provide care and treatment in a wide range of health and care settings. The role is being used and regulated in England and it’s intended to address a skills gap between unregulated health and care assistants and registered nurses.

The benefits of having a Nursing Associate include:

• Increased capacity of a Care Home to deal with patients’ clinical needs
• Reduced emergency admissions and potential increase in hospital discharges to the Care Home
• Provides a cost effective nursing team, with the team working together within the care plan to maximize skills
• Promoting career progression from care staff towards nursing will help to support staff retention, as well as attracting good quality staff.

Our project will develop and test a workforce model for ‘arms-length supervision’ for the providers. This will look at integrating and collaborating with healthcare professionals currently involved within the care home and domiciliary care to provide support for nurse supervision. This will enable domiciliary care and care home providers without Registered Nurses on the team to employ Apprentice Nursing Associates (ANAs) and subsequently Registered Nursing Associates.  

The model will support care providers to remodel their workforce to include clinical staff and support the development of a learning culture regarding work-based learning, supervision and support. In addition it will provide professional development opportunities for existing Registered Nurses which link with care providers to provide clinical supervision and support in line with Nursing and Midwifery Council standards and university requirements for the Apprentice Nursing Associate programme. Benefits include:

• An approach to undertaking educational audit and supervision to support Apprentice Nursing Associates within the new settings of care homes and domiciliary care. 
• Registered Nurse professional development in relation to supervising and supporting learning for pre-registration nursing associates, applied to these non-traditional settings.
• Detailed workforce planning in relation to these new nursing roles in care homes/domiciliary care. 
• The extension of ANAs into new settings, and a mechanism through which they can grow will be a key driver of the creation of integrated health and care teams, enabling the care sector to lead.
• The new role – together with other local work – will create a distinct care career path into nursing.

Ann Chege

I am currently working for The London Borough of Barking Dagenham in Health and Social care sector, Adult and Community Services (ACS). I work as a care assistant based at Kallar Lodge Residential Care Home for adults with Dementia.

 I have over 18 years’ experience working in different fields within care sectors like Adults with Learning Difficulties, Vulnerable Adults, Adults with Mental Health issues like Dementia and Alzheimer’s in both community and residential homes in the different boroughs.

In the last 10 years I have been working in Kallar Lodge providing care, support and promoting Independence to residents of different ages and with different stages of Dementia. Areas of support are mainly during personal care, mealtimes and daily activities like quiz, bingo, socializing or shopping for their toiletries among others for them live their lives to the fullest. I also care and support residents during End of Life path (Palliative care). Am conversant with religion beliefs and cultural value and their impacts on residents, am fully aware and understand the importance of assessments and apply them accordingly to safeguard the residents.

The reasons for choosing to participate in the ANA project is that I like new challenges, I want to learn more, progress and become competent so that am able to  provide the best care service in the field of healthcare, enhance my career and earn a good salary.

This was part of my Personal Development Plans (PDP) supervision, among my other set goals that am planning to achieve now and in future.

The skills, knowledge and qualifications will benefit my client group and enhance their health and wellbeing. As I do all these things, I am aspiring to obtain a full degree in Nursing in future.

Idowu Alegbe

I am a care assistant with over ten years of work experience caring for the elderly. I have gained various skills, knowledge, and qualifications in health and social care up to NVQ level 5. I am presently working for Kallar Lodge care home owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

I am a team player with good communication skills and I love reading, singing, and listening to music.

I am a very compassionate person and this has helped me to excel in my chosen career. For this reason, I have chosen to participate in the ANA Programme to enable me to develop in my role and gain practical experience and qualification to support my service users professionally and to improve their care.

I look forward to building upon my knowledge in health and social care and expect to be able to gain knowledge, skills, and competence and also work with other professionals to provide a good and comfortable experience for my Service users which will be of immense benefit to my employer.

Ajeesh Thomas

Currently I am working as a Senior Care Coordinator in Ebury Court care home. I have started this job in 2015 as a care assistant.

I have completed my graduation in accounting from India. When I was here at Ebury Court I have completed many trainings including; Level 5 Diploma in leadership and management in health and social care, NVQ level 4 in health and social care, Level 3 in palliative care and many other courses.

I want to join ANA study because I really want to help people through some of their most vulnerable moments. I wanted to do something in my career that is challenging, interesting, and makes a difference in people’s lives daily. Once I complete this ANA course , I can deal with many aspects of patient care, and I enjoy the variety in the routine, including, dealing with patients and their families and helping them through what is often a difficult time for them is extremely satisfying for me .And also I love learning new things. Through this ANA program I can provide the best care to my patients. Nursing is all about the patient. It’s a career that helps me save lives, bring happiness to individuals and their families, and comfort to those in need. While caring for patients fighting for their life can be a challenging experience, and I can deliver an outstanding support to them thorough this ANA study.

Gisele Bolozi

II have been a carer for 20 years. I love my job and the feeling of looking after others and making a difference on a daily basis I wouldn’t change. I have learnt so many skills over the years, and worked my way up to a senior carer giving me more responsibility and sharing my skill and knowledge with new staff.

I am so excited to start the ANA programme as I feel this is the next step for me in my career, and with having a young son I felt that I wouldn’t be able to go to university. However the ANA programme has given me the opportunity to progress into a role I have always aspired to do.