The training costs are funded via the apprenticeship levy and employers can currently receive a support package of £8,000 per Apprentice from HEE or £15,800 for TNAs spending over 50% of their time supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Entry requirements to train as a Nursing Associate:

(Note: Entry requirements may vary, please check with your University for their specific entry requirements)

1. Level 2 Maths and English qualifications (Functional Skills, GCSE a-c or equivalent)

2. Relevant work experience may be required

3. Demonstration and understanding of the appropriate values and attitudes required of a Nursing Associate

4. Have UK or EU passport or right to work in the UK

5. Evidence of satisfactory DBS and satisfactory completion of occupational health checks by employer (up to date)

6. Understanding of the Nursing Associate role and the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme

7. They must have the ability/potential to undertake foundation degree level learning, including practical ability to prioritise learning alongside work and non-work commitments over the 2 years of the apprenticeship 

Further details:

- The course leads to a Level 5 Foundation Degree.

- Runs for 2 years plus 3 months (approx.) for NMC registration and apprenticeship End Point Assessment.

- Includes one day a week plus 675 hours of placements away from the workplace in different settings to meet NMC requirement of gaining experience covering adult, mental health, learning disability and children’s services.

- Placements are usually on a block release model over several weeks at a time.

- Increasing capacity of your service to deal with service users’ clinical needs

- They can undertake some tasks currently carried out by a Registered Nurse, freeing up time for the RN to care for your more complex service users

- Potential increase in hospital discharges to your service

- Cost-effective nursing team, working together to maximize skills

- Promoting career progression from care staff towards nursing supports staff retention, as well as attracting good quality staff

Decision Making Checklist

Things to consider when deciding whether to support a staff member to join the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship Training:

1. Does your organisation want to, and have you the capacity to incorporate the new Nursing Associate role into your nursing team in two years’ time?  A CQC statement about this role can be found here

2. Do you have a staff member that you feel would be a suitable Nursing Associate after completing the apprenticeship?  If not do you want to recruit someone to support on this apprenticeship?

3. Does the staff member you have in mind meet the entry criteria? Do they have the right experience and values?  You should only support staff you feel will succeed with the training and make excellent Nursing Associates once qualified.

4. Does your organisation have the capacity to support your staff member on the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme, remembering that:

   a. You will need to employ them on a full-time basis (or at least 30hrs – check minimum working hours required with your chosen university).

   b. They will attend the university and attend external placements for an average of 40% of their paid working hours (based on 37.5 hours a week employment).

   c. Your Registered Nurse is required to supervise and support your Nursing Associate Apprentice and any other Nursing Associate Apprentices for whom you are providing a placement for.

You can find additional information from Skills for Care about this role here 

What is the salary during training and once registered?

The suggestion would be to keep the senior care worker on their current salary whilst they are in training. You will lose some of their time in learning, but you’ll be gaining their increased skillset. 

In the NHS training nursing associates are generally paid at Band 3 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales. 

Once registered and working in the role, Nursing Associates in the NHS are paid at Band 4 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales.

If you think you would like to put a staff member forward for the programme, or want to know more please contact: 

Jason Greasley - Jason.greasley1@nhs.net 

University Contacts:

o Buckinghamshire New University, Joanne Bartlett: Joanne.Bartlett@Bucks.ac.uk 

HEE Contacts:

o Claire Wardle – Programme Lead (Nurse Expansion) South East Region, Claire.Wardle@hee.nhs.uk  

Useful Links:

Skills for Care – Nursing Associates

-Films about the nursing associate role

-Training and standards of proficiency 

-Community of practice 

Nursing and Midwifery Council – Nursing Associates

-What is a Nursing Associate?

-How do we regulate the nursing associate profession? 

-Standards for nursing associates 

-Information for employers 

-Nursing associate case studies 

Health Education England – Nursing Associates Case Studies

-Training Nursing Associates 

-Social Care Deep Dive – Evaluation of the Introduction of Nursing Associates (pdf)