Registered Nursing Associates in Social Care

In 2023, I was on secondment as a Workforce Modelling Lead for social care. My new role was to work collaboratively with social care colleagues and undertake a workforce modelling exercise for the nursing associate role in social care settings across my area of work. This would enable a better understanding of how the qualified nursing associate role fits within adult social care. 

Prior to starting this role, my knowledge about the Nursing Associate role was limited. I knew that they were regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council  and that they were accountable for their own actions. I understood that they bridge the gap between Registered Nurses and healthcare assistants. However, I did not hear much about them and I didn’t know how many nursing associates were working in social care across my area of work. I was worried that I would not hear from any nursing associate in care homes or that they would not engage with me. But I was wrong. It was the complete opposite. I heard from them, and they were enthusiastic to share their journey and achievements. The registered nursing associates I met were ambitious, driven, resilient and passionate about social care and improving their residents’ quality of life. They were happy, supported and clear about their role and responsibilities. 

They felt that the Student Nursing Associate programme through apprenticeship suited them because of their personal circumstances, which gave them the opportunity to develop their career and achieve their goals. They were all homegrown and the residents, staff and managers knew them very well. Most of them worked as senior carers and team leaders. 

I learned many things about the Nursing Associate Role. Most importantly, I was privileged to know those nursing associates working in social care. They do not just bridge the gap between the nurses and the Health Care Assistant, but as to quote a registered manager I met while doing this evaluation ‘they enhanced the nursing team’ and enabled them to deliver high-quality patient centred care. 

They contribute to all aspects of care and free up the nurses’ time, so that we can continue to lead, manage, and coordinate complex care. However, as the care home landscape is changing, with the level of needs increasing and becoming more complex, the Nursing Associates play an important role in supporting nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team in providing care to residents with complex needs in social care. They are an essential part of the multidisciplinary team. Hence it is vital that their contributions are recognised, and that they receive continuous support and access to preceptorship, clinical skills training and clinical supervision.

Find out more about the nursing associate role.