Social Care Nursing

24th Sep 2023

1–2 minutes

At this time of year, we see many opportunities for nurses to continue with post qualification learning. A number of nurses working in social care apply and take on this development. What is unclear, though, is how this increased knowledge is used within the sector. There seems to be little opportunity for career development within most of the sector unless a nurse moves into management. So, what could a social care nursing career structure look like? And would this mean improvements in recruitment and retention? Would it also see more support for nurses in the sector to take up these opportunities?

4 responses to “Social Care Nursing”

wanderingaroundwildlife

Sep 25, 2023 at 6:29 am

Bigger companies obviously have the benefit of being able not only to house a career structure but also to afford one. It’s frustrating that so many supportive roles for care homes could have been created for care home nurses themselves with less knee jerk reactions post COVID and more appreciation of what was there all along. And I caution that experience is sometimes the biggest qualification anyone requires and potentially what is being missed in the race to the top!

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1. teamcornford
  
  Sep 25, 2023 at 7:09 am
  
  Do you suppose that the National Care Service will be able to do something about this. Certainly there is no sense that the current funding model will support anything other than nurses get paid at band 5. The only option open to many for career development lies in the NHS or academia
  
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Aly

Sep 25, 2023 at 8:01 am

There could be progression possibilities but these aren’t woven into the sector norms and relay on progressive providers to consider how/what these skills can bring to their organisations. There are some good examples out there but as they aren’t specifically funded as such it means those without means can’t afford to. How could we create a funding model that supported more advanced structures but also conscious if we can’t fill them how do we manage without?

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1. teamcornford
  
  Sep 25, 2023 at 12:50 pm
  
  Do you think that having similar banding as NHS would assist recruitment and retention? Providing a funded structure won’t be easy, but surely not be beyond our talents. I think having similar to band 6/7 will not be problematic to fill. Though it may mean that entry level roles may be affected
  
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