This is our dedicated forum ‘noticeboard’ announcing news and opportunities within our sector.
Opportunity to be chair of Shared Decision Making Councils
The Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, is working with colleagues at NHS England and across all 42 local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England, to establish Shared Decision Making Councils (SDMCs).
The purpose of these councils is to help provide a better understanding of nursing in adult social care, as well as insight into the wider adult social care sector, to Directors of Nursing in ICBs.
Deborah Sturdy is seeking expressions of interest from individuals with an active nursing registration working in adult social care to become chairs of these new SDMCs. This is an exciting opportunity to inform local understanding and recognition of their profession and the wider sector.
ICBs are responsible for planning and funding NHS services in a local area. They also have a wider role in ICSs who have responsibility for decisions around social care and health. It is vital that these organisations hear the voice of nursing in adult social care, and the voice of the wider sector.
Express your interest on the Florence Nightingale Foundation website
Who can be a chair?
Individuals with a nursing qualification and currently registered, but can have another substantive role, e.g. registered or frontline managers, directors or owners
Individuals with sit in roles not directly involved in providing care - they must be able to demonstrate how they are connected to their local sector or reflect on how they will build connections.
The role will suit someone who has connections to local groups or forums, or who is willing to build links so that they can hear a variety of different views.
How many chair posts are available?
42 Chairs posts. One for each ICB. Where more than one expression of interest is received, they will select the chair with the Florence Nightingale Foundation.
What will the role involve?
From April 2023, each SDMC will meet quarterly with the Director of Nursing for their ICB. The wider membership of each SDMC will be made up of nursing and / or adult social care representatives.
The chair will be responsible for leading and facilitating discussions, as well as agreeing an agenda with the Director of Nursing. They will represent both the nursing profession and adult social care.
Support available for chairs
Those expressing an interest in becoming a chair will take part in a development programme starting in January 2023. Delivered by the Florence Nightingale Foundation this five-day bespoke programme will enhance participants ability to lead and influence, while representing adult social care.
Apply
Express your interest on the Florence Nightingale Foundation website.
Applications are now open and close on 5th January. Shortlisting will take place on in January 2023 and notification letters will be sent early January 2023.
Download the programme flyer for further details. You can also contact the Florence Nightingale Foundation via academy@florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk for a discussion about the programme or any other questions.
Community of Practice: Wednesday 5 October, 10:00-11:30
We've established a new community of practice for nursing associates and trainee nursing associates working in adult social care.
An opportunity for peer support and also to share good practice. If you are a nursing associate or trainee nursing associate in adult social care and would like to get involved, click the link below for more information.
Learning Disability Nursing National Shared Decision-Making Council.
This is an exciting opportunity for Learning Disability Nursing to develop its own National Council.
It is envisaged the council will have representation from the diverse range of settings Learning Disability Nurses work within. Equally it will give opportunities to contribute to a national voice from the diverse range of individuals that make up this exciting profession.
Learning Disability Nursing Post-Qualification Awards
Pilot of the three awards start on Jun 30, 2021 Click to download the flyer (.pdf)
The RCN Foundation
In recognition of the significant contribution Learning Disability Nurses make to People with Intellectual Disabilities (PwID) across the lifespan, the RCN Foundation has identified Learning Disability Nursing as a key priority for its grant-making and research funding. Work is underway to develop a significant programme of grant-making in relation to Learning Disability Nursing.
To gain even greater insight into this contribution further, the Foundation has commissioned a scoping review led by the University of West London, with contributions from Edgehill University, the University of Chester and Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The review aims to understand the contribution of Learning Disability Nurses to improve the health and well-being of children, adults and older people with learning disabilities, now and for the future. The findings of this will underpin the Foundation’s future grant-making programme relating to this priority.
The Foundation is also funding the co-creation and evaluation of a resource to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake in PwID. The University of Hertfordshire are working with the charity Beyond Words to develop a resource which aims to support this patient group to consent to receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. It is hoped the findings of this work will demonstrate longer-term sustainability by supporting PwID to engage with other vaccination programmes.
Using digital innovation to improve care for people with learning disabilities.
Join CHIME International staff and faculty for a four-day online course designed specifically for Learning Disability nurses who want to use digital innovation to improve their practice.
Online course: 8 June, 15 June, 23 June and 29 June 2021
LEARNING DISABILITY NURSES! GET INVOLVED! HELP TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEARNING DISABILITY NURSES!
Please click the links below to learn more!
CALLING ALL EARLY CAREER LEARNING DISABILITY NURSES!
An exciting new development opportunity for aspiring leaders and early career frontline registered learning disability nurses:
Structured around the FoNS Creating Caring Cultures model
Open to RNLDs who are between 1-3 years post qualification at the start of the programme (working in any health or care setting - England only)
Includes virtual workshops (cohort 1: 12 January 2021 - 24 March 2021), follow up facilitated active learning sessions (April - September 2021), mentorship within the organisation, --
Mentorship at a regional/national level (career planning) and a small bursary
FoNS will support participants to begin their leadership journey by creating opportunities and space for reflection, discovery and learning. The programme (funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing and NHSE/I) will equip participants with the skills and confidence to develop into the facilitative leaders of the future. It includes mentorship and coaching support at a local and regional/national level as well as personal development planning and will enable participants to realise their leadership aspirations and develop leadership capacity within organisations.
For further information please visit: https://www.fons.org/programmes/learning-disability-fellowship
And to apply please visit: https://www.fons.org/programmes/learning-disability-fellowship/apply