Why social care placements matter for nursing
Skills for Care’s Strategy to enable social care placements for student nurses and nursing associates aims to champion social care as a rich practice learning environment and embed it in the nursing curriculum. It supports the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England which emphasises the need for health and care delivered outside hospitals. Supporting people to live well, independently and in a place they call home is core to the shift from hospital to community and from treatment to prevention.
Skills for Care’s latest strategy aims to promote social care placements for nursing students and nursing associates as a rich practice learning environment
Skills for Care was delighted to launch the first Strategy to enable social care placements for student nurses and nursing associates earlier this year, developed with the Council of Deans of Health and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.
Created in collaboration with the sector and universities, the strategy aims not only to champion social care as a rich practice learning environment, but also to embed it in the nursing curriculum so that every nursing student recognises the value of learning in social care.
‘Supporting people to live well, independently and in a place they call home is core to the shift from hospital to community and from treatment to prevention’
This is not a ‘tick-box exercise’ requiring every student to have a placement in social care, nor is it only about creating extra capacity for practice learning environments or encouraging all students to choose social care as their career. Instead, it is about shifting how future nurses perceive the sector and its vital role in supporting people’s health.
Social care placements allow nursing students to see how they can influence outcomes
The strategy aligns with the new 10 Year Health Plan for England which places greater value on health and care delivered outside hospital walls. Supporting people to live well, independently and in a place they call home is core to the shift from hospital to community and from treatment to prevention.
Placements in social care allow students to see first-hand how they can influence outcomes across the lifespan and contribute to healthier, more independent living.
Recommendations are set out for universities and colleges, care providers and nursing professionals. Meeting them will make this ambition a reality, with Skills for Care recognising exemplary environments with a gold commendation.
Finally, Skills for Care is hosting events to support implementation and help embed the strategy. You can register at Student nurses and nursing associates.
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