Care home provider Colten Care has strengthened its involvement in the nationally recognised Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) programme.

This academic year, for the first time, the south coast operator has responded to demand by running two separate cohorts of participants.

Colten Care first opened the TNA role to interested team members in 2019, assembling one of the biggest individual groups of private sector trainees.

Seven trailblazers completed two years of study in partnership with Southampton Solent University, graduating in 2021, with two successive cohorts following them.

During summer and autumn 2022, a further nine colleagues began the mix of academic study and practical work. Altogether, 30 colleagues have enrolled on the programme to date.

The Nursing Associate role is intended to bridge a skills gap between carers and registered nurses.

By giving the opportunity to work while studying, the TNA programme provides an employed or apprenticed route into nursing practice that does not cost the trainee a penny. Graduates have the option of a top-up programme to become fully qualified RGNs.

Under the partnership with Solent, applications are invited with those selected for a possible place on the programme interviewed first by Colten Care then jointly with the university.

In line with NMC guidance, Colten Care involved one of its residents in the selection process for trainees ahead of one intake.  

John Arbor, a former policeman with training and career development experience, took part in interviews to give a different perspective to the process of selection.

Over the two years of the course, participants attend lectures and practice sessions, both in-person and online, and complete placements in a variety of care settings. 

Among the grades awarded to the first crop of graduates, there was a Distinction for Vicky Acott, care co-ordinator at Colten’s Poole home, Bourne View.

It meant she was one of only three trainees from the 70-strong year group to achieve more than 70% in her assessments.   

Vicky said: “It was a full-on, amazing opportunity for all of us. You have to balance work, study and home life but we had a big support network and lots of resources. We’re privileged that Colten Care funded us to do this. It’s all about gaining more skills to do nursing.”

Another of the first graduates, Ligia Dragoi, who works at the Avon Cliff care home in Bournemouth, described her support from Colten Care as both an “opportunity” and a “road map”, adding: “I have been able to acquire more skills, confidence and knowledge. I can offer a lot more at work than I was able to before. That benefits me, my colleagues and our residents.”

Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s chief operating officer and a registered nurse herself, said: “The Nursing Associate role helps us in two main ways. As well as creating a career pathway for trainees who have typically been Healthcare Assistants or Senior Care Leads, it means we can free up our registered nurses to focus on more complex clinical duties knowing they have the support of professionals who are independently recognised in their own right. This is vital for us as we care for many nursing residents with severe frailty and complex needs. To do that successfully, we need to employ excellent clinical leaders and highly skilled professionals to plan and deliver care. Supporting our team’s career development is at the very heart of that approach. It’s an essential factor in all 21 of our homes being registered for nursing care and seven of them being rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.”  

Elaine’s comments were echoed by colleague Cephanie Keightley, senior clinical skills trainer, who said: “The availability of our TNA programme is one reason team members on the clinical side are happy to build their careers at Colten Care. Having more TNAs also gives our registered nurses the reassurance of knowing they have practitioners alongside them who are highly trained and accountable professionals with their own place on the NMC register. Career development and training is so important and the standalone TNA role is a very welcome progression route into graduate level nursing.”

Clinical manager Lee Houston, who co-ordinates the programme for Colten Care, said: “It is going really well, providing us with highly skilled staff and strengthening our relationship with the university each year which is great for people’s career progression.”

Sarah Ingram, a member of the September 2022 cohort and a TNA at Colten Care’s Poole dementia care home The Aldbury, said: “It has been amazing so far, really refreshing. The lecturers give you the tools but won’t spoon feed you. They make it clear they are here to help but you need to work hard to achieve what you want. It is a challenge to get my head back into academic life, especially as I’ve not done that at this level before but I’m loving it, including the practical challenges.”

Sarah’s first placement is at Brook View, Colten Care’s home in West Moors, Dorset, which will be followed by three other placements during the two years. These can be at other care homes, hospitals, GP practices or other community settings. Sarah said: “I am looking forward to Brook View. It’s familiar to me as I went there to help the team during Covid so that removes some apprehension but I know the placement will be different.”

On the programme as a whole, Sarah said: “It’s an opportunity to learn such a lot. It’s not a walk in the park but I am resilient and I want to repay the faith that Colten Care has put in me. I want to be a nurse but you can’t run before you can walk so I will do everything I can to achieve the end result.”

Jan Parker, Solent University’s head of nursing and social care, said: “In collaboration with Colten Care, we are supporting the nursing workforce by providing a real-world curriculum and working with a clear vision of health and care needs in our society today. Colten Care have invested in their staff by supporting them on the nursing associate programme. Together we are dedicated to continuing to deliver excellent teaching and practice experiences to promote expertise of knowledge and care, supporting the individuals and communities we serve.”