HC-One is proud to have launched its Pre-Registered Nursing Degree Programme in conjunction with the Open University to colleagues working in Scotland and Wales.
HC-One is working in partnership with the Open University to offer colleagues the opportunity to gain a fully funded Pre-Registered Nurse Degree. This will enable health care workers e.g. Senior Care Assistant, Care Assistant and Nursing Assistant to access a blended study programme to become a Registered Nurse in Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability nursing whilst still working in their care home. The qualification gained will be a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Nursing leading to Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The training takes four years to complete with colleagues working a minimum of 26 hours per week. The programme involves a blend of online and practice-based learning (50% theory and 50% practice) which consists of 4,600 hours of learning. The training includes hands-on experience in the workplace, clinical placements and virtual theoretical learning in the classroom.
A Practice Tutor (from the Open University) will support the learner and the Home Manager throughout the programme. The Practice Tutor arranges meetings during placements and supports with competency assessments and completion of documentation. At home level, the learner will also be allocated a Practice Supervisor (PS) and Practice Assessor (PA) in line with standards for student supervision and assessment – The Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The Registered Nursing Degree Programme is currently only available to HC-One’s current colleagues working in its care homes located in Scotland and Wales. HC-One hopes to look to expand this offering to external candidates in the future.
In England, HC-One already offers colleagues with the opportunity to complete a Nursing Associate Apprenticeship Programme and a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Programme.
The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship aims to bridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses. The Registered Nursing Associate (RNA) is a new member of the nursing team in England and the role will contribute to the core work of nursing, freeing up the Registered Nurse to focus on more complex clinical care and leadership. This can provide progression into degree graduate level nursing if the Nursing Associate wishes to develop further.
The Registered Nursing Degree and Nursing Associate Apprenticeship is a means of training to become a graduate registered nurse or nursing associate through an apprenticeship route. It offers flexibility and enables people to work at the same time. This will provide the apprentice with the same standards as other traditional student nurses.
Kelly Smith, Head of Nursing at HC-One, commented:
“HC-One’s suite of Nursing Programmes offers our colleagues with the opportunity to grow in their careers – offering them the opportunities, support and skills needed to bridge the gap between our carers and registered nurses, allowing our Registered Nurses to focus on more complex clinical care.
“We are really proud to be working in partnership with the Open University to launch our Pre-Registered Nursing Degree and Nursing Associate apprenticeships to our current colleagues. We are fully committed to supporting the students throughout the programme to achieve this qualification.”
If you’d like to find out more about a career in nursing with HC-One, please visit
apply.hc-one.co.uk