We are really honoured that Skills for Care has awarded Care First 24 with a Gold Standard Commendation in recognition of our work to be more inclusive of social care in Nursing Education and to meet the recommendations of the ‘Strategy to enable social care placements for student nurses and nursing associates.’ Our commendation is also live on the Skills for Care website: Celebrating excellence in supporting nursing education
Jayne Easterbrook, Development Director at Care First 24, commented, “At Care First 24 we are incredibly proud to have met the recommendations for the student strategy, as a complex homecare provider. Enabling practice learning in people’s own homes is in our view essential to understanding high quality person-centred care.”
Meeting the recommendations is part of a step-change in recognising social care settings as valued and vibrant learning environments, but also as a career option for our future nursing graduates.
Skills for Care commented that they are proud to recognise social care providers, universities, and colleges, that demonstrate exceptional commitment to developing future nursing professionals who understand the value social care as part of an integrated health and care system.
By meeting the Strategy to enable social care placements for student nurses and nursing associates recommendations, these organisations show strong leadership, innovation, and dedication to delivering high quality practice learning environments and curriculum content aligned to the ambitions of the 10-year plan for health.
“Their efforts are giving nursing students valuable hands-on social care experience and helping to build a more confident, capable, and highly-skilled nursing workforce for the future.”
There is no better time to work as a nurse in social care, with so many opportunities and a wide range of experience available in the sector. Care First 24 now offers a rolling apprenticeship programme. A four-year degree to become a registered nurse or a two-year degree for a Nursing Associate. Candidates must be employed by Care First 24 at the start of the apprenticeship and work solely for Care First 24 on a PAYE contract. The benefits are that the student will earn a wage while they learn, with no student loan to pay back, and ongoing support from Care First 24.