THE FIRST group of new trainee nursing associates have graduated from the University of Chester.

Cheshire and Wirral Training Nursing Associate Partnership worked with the faculty of health and social care to develop the nursing associate foundation degree which saw 40 graduates complete the two-year work based programme.

The nursing associate role was created in 2017 in a bid to close the gap between health care assistants and registered nurses.

They are trained to work with people of all ages in a range of settings and will enable registered nurses to focus on more complex clinical duties by helping meet the changing health and care needs of patients.

It is hoped the new role will create better educated and skilled support staff.

Director of nursing at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Avril Devaney said: “We are absolutely delighted that the first ever cohort of trainee nursing associates in England is graduating this week.

"Nursing associates are already making a really positive impact on the wider nursing family by supporting person-centred care – and our graduates can be really proud of their achievements.

“The hard work that they as individuals - and the wider partnership - have achieved is also being recognised nationally with three shortlisted entries in this year’s Nursing Times Awards.”

Cheshire and Wirral was one of the first 11 pilot sites across the country selected by Health Education England to pioneer the training in England.

A further 7,500 are planned to start programmes this year.

Katie Mansfield-Loynes, senior lecturer at the University’s faculty of health and social care and programme leader for the nursing associate foundation degree, said: “The initiative was aimed at care workers within six local trusts, and while these workers already had caring experience, academia was new to them.

"The University has a long and proud tradition of working with employers in regard to health and social care programmes.

"The collaborative partnership development to support the nursing associate foundation degree course locally was recognised at the 2018 Educate North Awards – when the partnership was shortlisted for the Employer Engagement Award.

“Now they have successfully completed their initial training, the nursing associates will take on a variety of hands-on roles, ensuring patients receive compassionate, person-centred care.”