|
experience has helped her develop a successful programme : ‘ When I moved to Spain I thought , I ’ m a nurse , I can work anywhere . I think you take for granted that how you train is how they do it everywhere .’
She also recognises the importance of providing placements for university students , saying : ‘ If we don ’ t make available opportunities for students to come into our workplace , they won ’ t know what social care nursing is about – and they are our nurses of the future .
‘ Social care has always had to compete with the NHS for attractiveness . But we have people coming in who wish they had done so sooner . It ’ s about a person ’ s life and contributing to that person ’ s life . Assisting someone at mealtimes isn ’ t just about giving them food . It ’ s about looking at their posture , seeing how comfortable they are , whether they have a risk of choking or weight loss .
‘ Everything is about understanding a person , which in a hospital you don ’ t have . That ’ s the luxury of nursing in social care and those are the additional skills people don ’ t consider . When you go home at the end of the day , you know you made a difference .’
|
|||
|
‘ Unique skillset ’ Walter Chikanya is head of care quality for Royal Star and Garter , a charity providing care to veterans with disability or dementia , which runs three homes .
He has supported various innovations in response to recruitment challenges , including upskilling staff .
‘ We have created clear pathways for our care staff for career progression . We upskill our staff internally , which can lead to further qualifications and an increase in pay to acknowledge that ,’ he says .
‘ We have some of the best rates of retention and our own staff are filling the gaps we had .
Mr Chikanya adds : ‘ Social care is looked down upon and that ’ s what I ’ m trying to address . Nurses working in ICU or A & E think social care is somewhere a nurse comes to retire , not realising that the nurses who work in social care have a specific skillset that is quite unique .
‘ Deborah Sturdy recognises that we play a crucial role and she is driving to ensure we are represented and our voices are heard . I ’ m hopeful of change .
‘ The benefits are giving someone a better quality of life . I think there ’ s nothing more rewarding .’
This has a positive impact on the whole health sector , says Mr Chikanya . ‘ It ’ s helping the NHS because we are trying to make sure our residents are cared for by us , which avoids admissions to hospitals .’
Some care homes are turning to overseas recruitment to address the shortage of nurses .
Marisa Spice , is a Queen ’ s Nurse and learning development manager for major care provider Nellsar Ltd , which employs 900 staff across 13 homes .
Ms Spice qualified 25 years ago and worked for the NHS for six years before moving to Spain and then returning to the UK in 2013 .
Her experience of working abroad has helped her recruit and train nurses from overseas , although she says this is not without challenges .
‘ There ’ s a lot to consider with people coming from so far away . The biggest thing is explaining what a care home is because they don ’ t have social care . You have to educate them about a whole system .’
In the past six years , Ms Spice has recruited 50 nurses from overseas , including from India and Nepal . Her own
|
What ’ s amazing is the breadth of talent in social care . People who are the absolute future leaders in the sector Professor Deborah Sturdy
References 1 Skills for Care . Workforce intelligence : regsitered nurses . 2022 . tinyurl . com / SfC-nurses 2 Hft . Sector Pulse Check 2022 . tinyurl . com / Hft-sector BMA . Quality and outcomes framework . Updated April 2023 . tinyurl . com / BMA-QOFguide 3 DHSC . Next steps to put People at the Heart of Care . 2023 . tinyurl . com / socialcare-plan 4 University of Bolton . AdvDip Principles of Adult Care Home Nursing . tinyurl . com / Bolton-AdvDip
|
‘ Creativity and flexibility ’ George Coxon , director at Classic Care Homes , is optimistic about the prospects for change .
He is working to raise the social care profile and said : ‘ Implying it ’ s a job you do at the end of your career is an insult and perpetuates the myth that social care is the end of the road for your career .’
He says nurses in social care setting need a different skillset to those in the NHS : ‘ You can ’ t train a nurse in the NHS and drop them into a care home . It ’ s like training an electrician and asking them to be a plumber .
‘ I ’ m keen to change the language and recognise the different environment and image and culture . We need people to enthuse about the values of social care nursing and why it ’ s a better option , and I really believe it is a better option than working in the hierarchy of the NHS .’
Professor Sturdy believes people ’ s perceptions of social care are beginning to change .
‘ Nursing in social care resonates with people ’ s core values and the longevity of the relationships you build up with people . You develop those relationships with families . It ’ s about the autonomy of your practice and the creativity and flexibility . You can make things happen quickly because you don ’ t have layers of bureaucracy . You are helping people to live their best life until the end .
‘ The complexity and diversity appeal to people ,’ she says . ‘ We are on a journey of making a difference ... the future is challenging , but I do think it ’ s bright .’
Anita Astle MBE has been a nurse for more than 30 years and is a huge advocate for social care nursing . Now managing director of Wren Hall Nursing Home in Nottingham , she is keen to highlight the importance of nurses in social care .
‘ To manage the complexity of people ’ s needs you need people with the knowledge base and understanding . I think that ’ s why we need nurses in social care because it is nurse led and it is delivering and maintaining quality of life , despite increasing complexity and frailty .’
Ms Astle adds : ‘ People need to live well . We have got an ageing population with complex needs . Their complexity of need is increasing . But people need to live well , despite those needs .
‘ They don ’ t necessarily want a medicalised model they want a social care model and the only way that can happen is if nurse-led care is delivered .’
Emily Roberts is a freelance writer
|
ALAMY |