Recruitment and retention in the North West

Some resources on this page are in PDF format. See how to access PDF files.

The RCN’s strength as a professional trade union, and its ability to influence, is dependent on its membership. So the recruitment of new and retention of existing members is one of the top priorities for the North West region. Activists, members and staff alike have an important role to play in ensuring that the RCN maintains and builds on its membership strength across the region.

This page will help you find out more about the recruitment and retention work in the region.

Get involved

If you would like any advice, support, information or RCN resources to help you or your branch develop recruitment and retention activities in your workplace then contact Carole Glaister in the RCN North West office by email at carole.glaister@rcn.org.uk, or phone on 01204 5252441.

Resources to help you

If you are planning a recruitment or retention event or activity, you can download and use a selection of resources and tools to help publicise your event and recruit new members:

The RCN Activist pages on the main website contain more information and tips on recruitment and retention, organising events, and further resources to download.

All of these publications and more can be ordered from RCN Direct by quoting the publication code which is given in brackets after the name of the publication or resource. You can either email RCN Direct at rcndpublications@rcn.org.uk, or phone on 029 2054 6414 (voicemail).

Become an RCN Representative

As an RCN Representative (Rep), you have the opportunity to make an even greater difference to patients and the working lives of yourself and your colleagues, as well as increasing your knowledge, developing new and transferable skills and influencing important decisions.

It doesn't matter if you are registered nurse or midwife, or a Health Care Assistant (HCA), or whether you work in the NHS or not, you can get more involved in the RCN's day-to-day activities by becoming an accredited local Rep. Student members can also become Student Information Officers and help signpost their fellow students to sources of professional information, advice and support.

What support will you receive?

The work of an RCN Rep is often stimulating and enjoyable, but it can also be personally challenging.

However, if you are committed to helping to achieve important improvements in the working lives of nurses and HCAs, which also help patients, you are just the type of person we are looking for.

As an RCN Rep you are:

fully supported by RCN staff and other Reps who work in your area
specially trained, with your continuing learning and development needs met by a wide-ranging development programme
legally entitled to paid time off to carry out your duties as a Rep
able to access a wealth of supporting resources and information on the RCN's website
kept up to date with news and information via the monthly newsletter Activate, and invited to attend national conferences and events.

What kinds of RCN Rep are there?

There are three types of accredited RCN Rep:

Stewards - they support and represent members in the workplace and work with other unions to maintain positive employment relations with management
Safety Reps - they work to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for staff
Learning Reps - they support the learning and career development of their fellow RCN members

More information and how to apply

Download the representatives recruitment leaflet (PDF 1.55MB) [how to access PDF files] and complete the short form at the back
Contact RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 (please quote publication code 003 340).
Contact your local RCN Rep or Carole Glaister at the North West office on 01204 552441.

The completed form should be sent to the North West office who will then contact you to arrange an informal chat to discuss the role. If you decide you'd like to proceed with your application, you'll then receive an application form. To apply, you need to be nominated by two RCN members. These are people who believe you would make a good Rep, and may be colleagues from your local RCN branch, or work colleagues.

After you have completed the application form, indicating what type of Rep you wish to be, it should be sent to the Secretary of your local RCN branch. There will be a workplace election, after which the branch will ratify your nomination as an elected trade union Rep, and the regional office will inform your employer that you are an accredited RCN Rep.