Exemplar Health Care celebrates first cohort of nursing associates
Specialist care provider Exemplar Health Care is celebrating its first cohort of nursing associates – a role vital to the development of the nursing workforce.
In 2019, nine trainee nursing associates, who worked in frontline support roles across four of Exemplar Health Care’s then-32 care homes, started their two-year apprenticeships at the University of Sheffield.
Since then, they have completed the programme, delivered via an apprenticeship route, which involves attending university alongside on-the-job learning in an Exemplar Health Care home and completing placements in other health and social care settings.
In November, two years later, seven Exemplar Health Care colleagues celebrated graduating from the programme and qualifying as nursing associates.
This group of learners will be the first colleagues to work in the company’s newly-formed nursing associate role.
About the nursing associate role
The nursing associate role was introduced by Health Education England almost three years ago. It was designed to bridge the gap between healthcare support workers and registered nurses, and help build the capacity of the nursing workforce, providing a progression route into graduate-level nursing for those wanting to continue learning and develop their career.
Exemplar Health Care’s head of learning, culture and engagement, Claire Fretwell, says adopting the role will help grow talent from within, support retention of care colleagues and offer service users continuity of care.
“Many health care providers continue fishing from the same pond of qualified nurses,” says Claire.
“However, the current talent pool does not offer enough registered nurses to enable us to keep delivering the highest quality of person-centred care that we aspire to provide for all our service users, and support the ambitious growth of the company.
“The trainee nursing associate programme enables us to develop existing colleagues, so that we can continue grow our nursing workforce internally.”
Overcoming the challenges of the pandemic
During the pandemic, learners on the trainee nursing associate programme have overcome the challenges of not being able to complete face-to-face learning and doing placements in a range of health and social care settings.
They’ve utilised online platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet to attend lectures and meetings.
Many of the trainees also have young children, which made the balance of juggling home schooling with full time education and on-the-job learning, much more difficult.
Victoria Parkes, senior practice learning facilitator at Exemplar Health Care, shares: “The pandemic stopped placements for a time, which meant organising alternative opportunities for our learners, to ensure that they met the programme requirements for qualification.
“All graduates have had to juggle family life, learning and working though this pandemic.
“They have met these challenges head-on and have shown dedication, commitment, resilience and amazing strength throughout difficult times.
“They really have given their all and we would like to express our admiration in all they have accomplished.
“I am proud to have supported them over the last two years, and know they will do some amazing things in their new profession as Exemplar Health Care’s first nursing associates.”
Learn and earn as a trainee nursing associate
The trainee nursing associate programme gives colleagues the opportunity to continue learning and progress in their career, whilst still working and earning a wage.
This is what attracts a lot of people to do the programme.
“When I heard that Exemplar Health Care were offering an opportunity to boost my skills in care, I jumped at the chance,” said Gemma Walker, a recent graduate from Dearnevale.
“I’ve got a mortgage and a family to support. I’d never be able to train as a qualified nurse by taking three years out of work to be at uni. So, training as a nursing associate while staying in my role means I can learn and earn – which is key for me.”
A route into nursing
The trainee nursing associate programme and nursing associate role is a great route into nursing for those who are interested in progressing their career.
Jack Cooke, one of the recent graduates, shares: “When I started my career with Exemplar Health Care, I had great career ambitions. After 18 months of working as a support worker, I applied for the role of team leader.
“And when the company started offering the trainee nursing associate apprenticeship, I knew that I had to apply.
“This is one of the best opportunities that I’ve had to work full time and also study to progress in the area of work that I love doing.
“In the future I would love to become a registered nurse and continue providing the highest standards of nursing care to our service users – and the trainee nursing associate apprenticeship will help me to achieve this.”
This sentiment is echoed by Rachel Westbrook, who says: “I’d always showed an interest going into nursing long-term. Doing it this way is doing it in a place that I know I’m comfortable.
“The benefit is that it’s a full-time job. I don’t have the financial implications of being in university. Because I know the home and I worked here a long time, it seemed like the next natural step.”
Career development in the care sector
The trainee nursing associate programme offers a progression route for health care assistants and activities coordinators working in one of Exemplar Health Care’s 35 specialist care homes.
They support adults living with a range of complex needs including brain and spinal injuries, complex mental health needs and complex dementia.
Exemplar Health Care is recruiting for a range of roles including health care assistants, nursing associates, registered nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Visit the website to find out more and apply: www.exemplarhc.com
