LSBU announced as a training site for new HEE Nursing Associate role

Over 1,000 Nursing Associates will begin training this year in a new role that will sit alongside existing nursing care support workers and fully-qualified registered nurses to deliver hands-on care for patients.

The Institute of Vocational Learning (IoVL) at London South Bank University (LSBU) will lead on two training programmes, collaborating with Bart’s Health NHS Trust alongside other organisations in East London in a rounded program that will give trainees experience in mental health, community health and secondary care. As well as partnering with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Foundation Trust to deliver a Nursing Associate programme that will focus on children and young people.

Professor Warren Turner, Dean of the School of Health and Social Care at LSBU, said:

“I am delighted that LSBU will be supporting two of the national test sites for the Nursing Associate role. We are all very excited to be working with our colleagues in both Bart’s Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital as well as other partners to make these courses and roles a success. This is a great opportunity to shape the future of support work in nursing and to improve the qualifications and skills for staff.”

The role was developed based on recommendations made through the Shape of Care review, to create a new type of care worker with a higher skillset that will assist, support and complement the care given by registered nurses.

Professor Ian Cumming, Chief Executive of HEE, said:

“We are at a pivotal point in determining what the future nursing and care workforce needs to look like for now and in the years to come. I passionately believe that this new role will help build the capacity and capability of the health and social care workforce and allow high quality care to be delivered to a diverse and ageing population. Over the last few months we’ve seen widespread support for such a role and we will now move swiftly to make this role a reality and a success.”

The training will begin in December and run over a two year period, with the plan to eventually create 2,000 Nursing Associate roles across England.

Find out more about the Institute of Vocational Learning (IoVL) at LSBU.