There are a range of additional learning and development resources in addition to mandatory training, post registration academic, and post registration clinical education. Employing organisations will have resources to support the continuing professional development of staff. If there is a topic or programme of particular interest, the first point of contact should be either a line manager or a designated person within an organisation for education.
Within HSC Trusts Organisational Development (OD) teams support vocational learning programmes such as the Open College Network (OCN) Diploma in Health and Social Care (NI) Level 2 and 3 and the OCN Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in HSC. For staff employed by Independent Sector or Community and Voluntary Sector organisations these programmes may be offered via Further Education Colleges.
Open University (OU) Theory Module K102
Unison partner with the HSC Trusts and Independent Sector organisations to fund the OU Stand Alone theory module K102. This is the first module of the nursing programme and can be used towards the OU pre-reg degree programme through a process of credit migration/transfer. Students can also self-fund their K102 with OU directly.
HSC Trust OD teams along with Further Education Colleges across Northern Ireland provide Essential Skills courses. Essential Skills course help to improve :
- reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- working with numbers.
- use of computers and technology.
All Essential Skills courses are free. You can do them in a college, at work or with a community organisation at different times of the day. The classes are small and informal. In particular for OU, Essential Skills Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy can meet the qualification equivalency requirements to support entry requirements. Details can be found at through your HSC Trust or at Essential Skills | indirect
The OU provide a wide range of modules, certificates, diplomas as well as fee CPD courses and resources;
- Health and Social Care Modules | Health and Social Care | The Open University
- The home of free learning from the Open University | Open Learn – Open University
There are 6 Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland with courses applicable to health and social care, they are listed below.
- Belfast Met
- From Here To Career | North West Regional College
- Northern Regional College
- South Eastern Regional College – SERC
- SWC | South West College
- Southern Regional College
HSC Leadership Centre
The HSC Leadership Centre is committed to providing products and services to deliver outstanding leadership across the HSC. The work of the Centre focuses on four key areas:
- Consultancy – support and products tailored to your needs
- Leadership and Management Development programmes generally delivered to staff working in the HSC at Band 6/7 and above.
There is a specific leadership development programme, delivered in collaboration with the Clinical Education Centre, aimed at Band 6/7 nurses and midwives.
- Digital Services – a wide range of products from basic IT training, Learn HSCNI support, to digital solutions tailored to meet your needs
Coaching – can be used to help individuals, teams and organisations improve their culture, performance and confidence. Coaching helps to create a culture of openness and is recognised by Investors in People as best practice in managerial effectiveness.
Further information on available programmes can be found in the HSC Leadership Centre Portfolio.
Operations and Business Manager Paula.Taylor@leadership.hscni.net may be contacted to help with any queries or signpost to programmes. Alternatively use the Contact Us link.
Health and Social Care Quality Improvement (HSCQI)
HSCQI Network provides a supportive multi professional and inclusive infrastructure for quality, improvement and innovation across the NI HSC system. The work plan for HSCQI is aligned with system priorities and is set and overseen by a group of senior system leaders, known as the HSCQI Leadership Alliance. This workplan includes the delivery of quality Improvement training programmes aligned to the Quality 2020 Attributes framework.
The HSCQI Network deliver a range of improvement training programmes and staff development events which include organisation based learning and regional programmes such as the Scottish Improvement Leadership programme. The Network also hosts HSCQI community events to support improvement activities and shared learning.
Further details and links to improvement tools, activity and partners can be accessed through the HSCQI website www.hscqi.hscni.net
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
The core function of the RCN is to represent and support nurses, midwives, nursing support workers, and student nurses in the UK and internationally. It acts as both a trade union and a professional body, focusing on improving working conditions, influencing policy, and advancing the nursing profession.
RCN Networks – RCN Northern Ireland Networks consist of RCN registered nurse, nursing student, healthcare assistant and nursing assistant members from Northern Ireland with an interest in a specific field or area of nursing. Further details can be found via the link.
RCN NI provide education, learning and development opportunities for the nursing workforce including nursing assistants and healthcare support workers, supporting and delivering nursing care across all programmes of care and care settings. RCN is commissioned to deliver programmes to health and social care trusts, primary care and the independent sector. Details regarding education, learning and development opportunities can be accessed here
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) also offer a range of clinical education programmes alongside those relating to professional development opportunities, specifically for colleagues within Primary Care.
Examples of programmes offered to the nursing workforce:
- Leadership and development programmes
- Patient and client focus programmes
- Safe and effective care programmes
- Programmes for primary care nurses
- Programmes for nursing assistants/healthcare support workers in HSC Trusts
- Programmes for independent sector nurses/nursing assistants
- Bespoke programmes are also available.
Commissioned programmes are accessed through the HSC trusts and Public Health Agency(PHA)/Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) processes, non commissioned courses such as network events and professional masterclasses can be accessed: Events | Royal College of Nursing
Royal College of Midwifery (RCM)
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is the professional association and trade union for midwives, maternity support workers (MSW) and midwifery students in the UK. The RCM is the voice of midwifery, providing excellence in representation, professional leadership, education and influence for and on behalf of midwives.
RCM support members to be the best midwife, MSW or student they can be, through the provision of guidance, support and advice on professional development, as well as representation should they need it.
RCM provide education, learning and development opportunities for the midwifery workforce. Some examples of programmes offered include; –
- RCM i-learn is the RCM’s e-learning platform. It has modules to support practice as a midwife, MSW or midwifery student.
- Leadership and development programmes.
- Syndeo Band 7 Leadership Programme.
- Aspiring Head of Midwifery.
- Aspiring Director of Midwifery.
- Bespoke programmes are also available.
Further information at RCM Homepage – Royal College of Midwives or annemarie.oneill@rcm.org.uk may be contacted to help with any queries or signpost to any programmes.
Northern Ireland Social Care Council
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council, is the public body, established by the Department of Health, to support high-quality standards of social work and social care in Northern Ireland.
The Social Care Council’s core functions are centred around ensuring high standards of care and support, professionalism and accountability.
The core functions are;-
- Registers social workers, social care workers, and students to ensure accountability and public protection.
- Sets standards of conduct and practice for the social work and social care workforces.
- Regulates education and training for social workers and promotes continuous professional development.
- Investigates fitness to practise concerns and takes action when standards are not met.
- Supports workforce development and collaborates with partners to improve care and support outcomes.
The Social Care Council offers a range of resources for Social Care Practitioners. There are Social Care Practitioners e.g. Care Assistants in Nursing Homes whose line managers are nurses. Line Managers must be aware of the learning and development opportunities available through the Social Care Council to support colleagues. Some learning and development resources are listed below:
- Offering free, flexible access to quality-assured digital learning resources on the Learning Zone. The Learning Zone provides free, open access e-learning courses on a variety of topics such as Infection Prevention and Control, Promoting Good Nutrition, and Safeguarding. A full list of resources is available at Learning Resources List – NISCC Learning Zone.
- Supports reflective practice and professional growth, through the Care in Practice Framework. The Care in Practice (CiP) Framework has been designed to help Social Care Practitioners progress through two interlinked parts: a continuous professional learning pathway and/or a qualification pathway.