Heart of Worcestershire College, partners with the Royal College of Nursing to train the healthcare workforce of the future.

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Heart of Worcestershire College, partners with the Royal College of Nursing to train the healthcare workforce of the future.

23 August 2024

Heart of Worcestershire College, (HoW College) with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), will jointly co-ordinate and provide Redditch citizens access to the Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme. This will support all interested students at the College and provide an in-depth extra-curricular insight into a career in nursing and other Allied Health Professions (AHPs).

Supported by HRH Prince of Wales, the RCN Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme was founded in 2019 to provide opportunities for young people in socially deprived areas; widen participation within the healthcare profession; introduce young people to new career routes and opportunities in nursing and AHPs; and support them in future employment.

The College and RCN will combine theoretical classroom-based learning with modules in basic life support, infection prevention and control, dementia care and a practical study towards the end of the programme. This takes the form of a 20-hour work experience placement with a local healthcare provider. This structure has been devised to give cadets an overview of the wide range of career opportunities which are available to them within nursing and AHPs. Previous graduates of the scheme have gone on to pursue careers in fields including radiography and mental health nursing. The activities and extra study will assist students preparing for their placements and then into employment.

Upon completion of the course, students will receive a report which can be used in future interviews for study or jobs, showing the work the student has observed and has a greater understanding of, as well as the extra modules. Students also become members of the RCN alumni network, which links former cadets with their peers across the United Kingdom. Through the network, students can gain access to local and international alumni-only events, talks, and the opportunity to match with organisations for future employment.

Speaking about the project, Jack Parry, Project Coordinator for the RCN said:

“We’re delighted to be launching in Redditch in partnership with HoW College and our NHS colleagues. The scheme provides a fantastic opportunity for cadets to explore a career in nursing and attend a 20-hour work experience within the NHS. Our partnership also provides an opportunity for cadets to apply for a Health Care Support Worker apprenticeship with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.”

Also speaking about this project, Yvonne Thomas, Manager for Health and Social Care at HoW College’s Redditch campus, said:

“This partnership will bring a real boon and advantage to our learners across Redditch and Bromsgrove and having the RCN attached really brings a seal of approval to the projectFrom our other work with Worcestershire and Herefordshire NHS Networks, we know that there are a significant number of opportunities for our students to progress straight into work or further study in the local area and this new project will help with that. Working alongside the RCN, Worcestershire and Herefordshire Networks enables us to provide courses and qualifications that better meet the needs of employers, both locally and nationally.

What our students will especially value is the opportunity to gain hands-on practical experience, as well as a range of transferable skills that will set them up for their future careers, no matter which specialism they choose to pursue.

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is looking forward to this partnership, hosting the first cohort of cadets at Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.

 

Chief Nursing Officer, Sarah Shinglersaid: 

"We are delighted to welcome our first 20 RCN Prince of Wales Nursing Cadets. The program features a structured timetable designed to allow the cadets to participate in simulated practice training. They will then have the opportunity to shadow nurses on the wards, gaining first-hand experience in nursing and healthcare. We hope this initiative will inspire young people to pursue careers in the NHS and explore the opportunities our Trust offers."

 

Upon completing their training, cadets will have the chance to apply for Healthcare Support Worker positions and apprenticeships. These apprenticeships offer fantastic career progression opportunities, including the Nursing Associate Foundation Degree Apprenticeship and the Registered Nursing Degree Apprenticeship.

 

 

To find out more about the range of health and social care courses available at the College, where these opportunities arise, please visit www.howcollege.ac.uk.