Saint Cecilia's Care Group has partnered with CU Scarborough to create new professional development opportunities for registered nurses, helping to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the UK's social care sector, including workforce shortages, staff retention and increasing demand for care services.
The North Yorkshire-based care provider is leading a pilot programme designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of its nursing workforce while also creating new pathways for student nurses to gain valuable experience in social care settings.
Delivered through CU Scarborough, part of Coventry University Group, the initiative has been developed in collaboration with Saint Cecilia's Care Group to ensure nurses working across its services have access to high-quality training and continuing professional development opportunities. The programme will also equip nurses to become practice assessors, enabling them to support and mentor the next generation of nursing professionals.
As part of the programme, registered nurses from Saint Cecilia's Care Group will attend a series of workshops and clinical skills sessions covering key areas of care, including end-of-life care, dementia care, wound management, catheterisation and practice assessor training. Participants will receive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) recognition, supporting their Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation requirements.
A key element of the initiative is Saint Cecilia's Care Group's commitment to translating learning into practice. Nurses will be supported by the organisation's clinical leadership team to implement their new knowledge and skills within their services, helping to further enhance the quality of care provided to residents.
Isabel Santos, Group Clinical Manager at Saint Cecilia's Care Group, said:
"Working with Coventry University Group is a fantastic opportunity for our nurses, our residents and the wider social care sector. Nurses working in social care do not always have the same access to training and development opportunities as those in other settings, so having support from university experts to build knowledge, reflect on practice and share experiences is incredibly valuable.
"Every day is an opportunity to learn, and by investing in our nurses' development we can continue to enhance the experience of our residents. This collaboration is a real win-win. It supports our existing workforce while also creating opportunities for student placements, helping future nurses understand the important role social care plays."
By investing in its nursing workforce, Saint Cecilia's Care Group is helping to tackle professional isolation often experienced by nurses working in social care settings, while demonstrating the sector's commitment to clinical excellence and career progression.
The partnership will also increase placement opportunities for student nurses, providing greater exposure to the complex clinical care delivered within care home environments. Through these placements, Saint Cecilia's Care Group hopes to showcase social care as a rewarding and fulfilling long-term career choice, helping attract more nurses into the sector.
Claire Barwick, Deputy Director for Health and Care Education at Coventry University Group, said:
"There are significant workforce challenges across the social care sector and we know that many registered nurses working in care homes and other social care settings can sometimes feel professionally isolated.
"By opening up access to the expertise, facilities and clinical skills training available at CU Scarborough, we can help nurses maintain and develop their skills while also strengthening links between higher education and the social care sector.
"This programme is about much more than professional development. It is also about showcasing the rewarding career opportunities available in social care and helping our nursing students see it as a destination career alongside more traditional healthcare pathways."
The pilot programme reflects Saint Cecilia's Care Group's ongoing commitment to workforce development, innovation and raising standards across social care. In partnership with Coventry University Group, the organisation is helping create a model that could be expanded more widely across the region, supporting both current professionals and those entering the profession in the future.
If successful, the initiative could provide a blueprint for strengthening nursing development across the wider social care sector, further highlighting the important role providers such as Saint Cecilia's Care Group play in delivering high-quality care and developing the workforce of tomorrow.
