How I planned the introduction of nursing associates at Kineton Manor

Paula du Rand, Registered Manger at Kineton Manor Nursing Home tells us how she identified the need for nursing associates at their organisation as part of her workforce planning.

Identifying a need for the nursing associate

When I first became aware of the nursing associate role, I was rather sceptical. My initial thought as a proud and dedicated registered nurse was that I didn’t want the registered nurse (which has a long history prior to being acknowledged as professionals with gained status) to be replaced by a nursing associate.

But after reading the proficiencies for a nursing associate I understood how I could use the role in the nursing home. Nursing associates can’t replace nurses but can support nurses, and will no doubt give more time for nurses to lead and coordinate care and to deal with more complex needs.

As a nursing home manager my role is also to manage and develop my team and I realised that the role of nursing associate is a wonderful opportunity to give senior carers the chance to obtain a qualification and for them to eventually become a registered nurse should they so wish.

Getting started with nursing associates

Having decided to get started with introducing this role into the team, I contacted Coventry University to find out more. They put me in contact with Warwick Hospital where I attended meetings regarding the development of the nursing associate programme. The learning and workforce department of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust gifted us the apprentice levy and provided placements for the students I planned to enrol along with our local GP surgery, and Coventry University approved us as a placement provider. That year I enrolled one of my team onto the programme, and the following year I enrolled the second.

It was such a reward for me personally to see how the two of them developed throughout their courses, and specifically after their placements in the hospital and GP surgery, where they grew in confidence. This confidence showed in their work, particularly in the way they applied their skills and knowledge.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, both of the nursing associate students played a major role in supporting the manager when the nurses were ill.

As far as I’m aware, Kineton Manor was the first nursing home to have members of staff taking part in the nursing associate programme in Warwickshire, with all other nursing associates being employed by the NHS. I can foresee how the people we support will benefit when both students become registered nursing associates and we’re now in the process of recruiting the next candidate.

Find out more about the role of nursing associates.

Learn more about workforce planning with our #PlanningForSuccess spotlight.

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