We're up for a Student Nursing Times Award

We’re proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for a prestigious award, recognising the relationship we have with the University of Northampton.

The Student Nursing Times Awards 2019 has shortlisted St Andrew’s Healthcare and the University in the ‘Partnership of the Year’ category.

Over the last seven years, we have worked closely together to develop and facilitate a variety of educational opportunities. These have opened doors for many of our staff - in particular Healthcare Assistants who have been out of education for a while, or those who did not have a good experience in education the first time around.

The ASPIRE programme is one of the highlights. Launched in 2016, the ASPIRE programme allows our Healthcare Assistants to combine their learning and experience and undertake a University special admissions module to gain entry into the second year of the University of Northampton’s Mental Health & Learning Disability Nursing degree – completing a nursing degree in two years. While they are studying, St Andrew’s supports them with a £15,313 per annum salary support initiative, in addition to pastoral support.

The two organisations undertake joint interviewing for places, ensuring we have the perspective from both a person-centred and academic point a view. This means that the staff who join ASPIRE are both what the University are looking for as students, and what the charity are looking for in potential applicants.

In addition, last year saw the first cohort of Trainee Nursing Associates (TNA); this is a level 5 qualification and meets the need for highly trained and competent staff to bridge the gap between Healthcare Assistants and registered nurses. This programme is approved and awarded through the University of Northampton and on completion, staff will be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as Nursing Associates.

Ged Rogers, Clinical Education Manager for St Andrew’s Healthcare, explained: “The educational and career opportunities we provide through this partnership are life-changing.  It is an opportunity for Healthcare Assistants to be the best they can be.  It makes us incredibly proud but also provides evidence that the ability is out there, you just need to give people the chance with an educational framework and support. It is great to have this hard work recognised and to be shortlisted for these Awards.”

Donna Bray, Subject Lead for Nursing at the University of Northampton, added: “The close working relationship between the University and St. Andrew’s has yielded many success stories. For us to see the development of each new nursing and healthcare professional is reward enough, but it’s wonderful to also have this recognised with a nomination from the Student Nursing Times Awards.”

The winners will be announced at an afternoon ceremony in London on Friday 26 April. The 2019 shortlist is available on the Student Nursing Times Awards 2019 website.