HC-One has become the first care home provider to achieve a national gold standard for its Nursing Preceptorship Programme.

Preceptorship is a structured start for newly qualified practitioners, which aims to welcome and integrate them into their new team and place of work.

HC-One obtained the NHS National Preceptorship Interim Quality Mark after meeting the National Preceptorship Framework gold standard criteria six months after the programme launched.

HC-One launched its Nursing Preceptorship Programme in September 2023, aiming to develop and support new nurses and nursing associates, and to boost recruitment and retention.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which regulates nurses and nursing associates in the UK advocates a period of Preceptorship for newly-qualified nurses and those registering in the UK for the first time.

HC-One’s preceptorship programme was designed by the senior nursing team, in line with the NMC’s Principles of Preceptorship, the NHS Gold Standard Framework for Preceptorship and Scotland’s Flying Start Programme.

The programme has supported around 120 experienced nurses to become preceptors, supporting around 60 new nurses and nursing associates to work through an individual learning plan. HC-One expects most newly qualified and newly registered nurses and nursing associates to complete their preceptorship within six to 12 months.

Sharon Burlace, head of nursing at HC-One, said: “Preceptorship has been described in recent nursing press as more important than ever to ensure a variety of nurses at all levels are supported and encouraged to develop their confidence and competence. We’ve already supported 120 nurses in the organisation through our workshop to become preceptors.”