Devon is now home to a groundbreaking, and currently free, Advanced Diploma (CPD) in Adult Social Care Nursing for care home workers.

The training has been designed by Southern Healthcare Wessex Ltd, a care provider with four award-winning care homes in the county, including The Seaton Nursing Home.

The innovative scheme was developed in collaboration with a satellite centre of the University of Bolton, based at Petroc College in north Devon and is supported by NHS England.

Open to registered nurses, registered nursing associates and assistant practitioners in nursing and care home environments, the scheme is mainly an online programme, also offering in-workplace face-to-face assessments of practice and competencies.

Ten face-to-face clinical days at either Southern Healthcare’s dedicated training centre, Eden House in Dawlish, or at Petroc College, Barnstaple form part of the training.

Guiding participants through critical practice and skills are clinical nurse tutors and invited specialists.

Studies are supplemented with an interactive learning application accessible on the learner’s mobile phone.

Southern Healthcare’s director of nursing and compliance, Margot Whittaker, said: "We are very excited to be launching the Advanced Diploma (CPD) in Adult Social Care Nursing.

"This course has been created to help aid nurses, nursing associates and assistant practitioners within social care to understand the complexity of their job role, and supports them towards reaching nursing wellbeing, not only for themselves but also for residents and families through person-centred approaches and high quality clinical practice.

"This course is ground-breaking and has been designed to address sectorial changes within the health and social care environment."

Ms Whittaker believes that promoting values such as kindness, compassion, and relationship/person-centric well-being, explores all aspects of adult social care nursing.

The programme was put together in cooperation with Shaun Kershaw, senior lecturer in Nursing at the University of Bolton Satellite Centre for Nursing at Petroc College in Barnstaple.

Mr Kershaw said: "Proficiency within clinical skills and competency within identified elements of professional practice will be gained with the support of employer-led supervisors and assessors.

"Putting the course together since its inception five years ago has not been without its challenges, but we are thrilled that the programme is now coming to fruition.”

The diploma course commences in August 2024 and then again in December 2024.

Those interested in joining can contact Ms Whittaker (Margot.whittaker@southernhealthcare.co.uk) or Mr Kershaw  (s.kershaw@bolton.ac.uk.)

The programme has gained support from key figures within the NHS.

Darryn Allcorn, chief nurse and director of Integrated Professions, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said: "There is a significant gap in developing the skill sets and investing development in social care nursing.

"This programme addresses the gaps and will go a significant way to address the current recruitment and retention strategies, whilst enhancing the skills within social care and specifically residential settings."