Always a Nurse

Once a nurse Always a nurse A return to practice guide • Reasons to return What we offer • The return journey Four steps to re-registration • Flexible options The range of local roles available • Choosing a job Vacancy finding, hours, funding and contracts • Looking ahead This is only the first step - future career paths Read on! Visit Return to Practice - Professional course - UWE Bristol: Courses We want you back! Reasons to return

Thank you for all the years you’ve already put into nursing, and thank you for considering a return to practice course. If you decide to put your hard-won skills back to work, here’s what we can offer you:

■ Manageable learning programme: don’t be daunted by the prospect of picking up your studies again. Hosted by the University of West of England, the academic programme is broken down into manageable modules, with individual support and specialist help with any learning needs. ■ Manageable work placements: your 450-hour return to My experience practice working placement can be completed between three months and a year. ‘One of the nurses asked me recently what I ■ More flexibility: we’ve been listening closely to what have been doing for the past 18 years... ‘I had staff say, particularly when it comes to work life balance. children and worked many different jobs; Our health and care employers offer increasingly flexible I’ve been a mother, a painter and decorator, I terms. trained in midwifery and I volunteered. ■ Help to find the right role for you: our return to practice leads will do everything they can to find you a position, a All that time makes me the person I am today working environment and a contract that meets your needs. and adds to what I bring to my job now.’ Clare, Return to Practice Nurse, Pre-Assessment Clinic We’ll support you all the way My experience The return journey Julie To return to practice you need to complete two stages ‘If it’s something you’re – a theory module run by the University of the West of thinking of doing then England; and a practical placement. The programme is: go for it. It’s funny I’ve ■ Funded: Your academic fees will be paid for by Health talked to people recently Education England (HEE). You may also be eligible for a bursary to help with childcare, travel and book costs – who have known me for please check with HEE or our Return to Practice leads (p11). a long time and they always ■ Supported: Your Academic Personal Tutor will give you knew I’d go back to it because individual support throughout the programme. During your placement, you will also be assigned a practice supervisor they just knew that that’s who I am.’ and assessor who will support your clinical practice. Julie, Return to Practice Nurse, ■ Personalised: There are many employers you could work Burns and Plastics with in our area (described on pages 6-8). You might want to return to a specialism you know, or we can help you explore other options.

Apply for Complete theory Complete Return to placement course (UWE) placement hours practice!

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6 weeks 3-12 months NMC registration 450 hours 3-10 days More opportunity Flexible options ‘The best thing about returning to practice? Realising I’m still a The way we are organising health and care is changing so we can offer better, more joined up patient care. In our region good nurse and I can make – Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – this partnership of organisations is called ‘Healthier Together’. a difference.’

Mental Adult Secondary Emergency Community Primary Health Social Care Services Care Care Care Care

University 250 + voluntary, Hospitals Bristol Independent GP independent and and Weston Avon & Wiltshire South West Sirona Practices publicly funded North Bristol Mental Healthcare Ambulance (Community organisations Trust Partnership Services Trust Interest Company)

44% 1% 3% 41% 18,784 roles 400 roles 1,099 roles 17,100 roles

Roles in health (NHS funded) Roles in adult social care

Five sectors make up the health system, listed above. Each is 5% 6% Partially funded (and operated) by local councils, adult social funded by the NHS nationally. Community Care services and GP 2,136 roles 2,511 roles care is managed in partnership with hundreds of independent practices are contracted out to not-for-profit organisations. organisations running residential homes and specialist services. We’ll listen Choosing a job We understand that the decision to return to nursing 's important to me practice is a big one – and that you still may be juggling What lots of other commitments. Not all employers or teams offer the same terms or levels of flexibility, but our return to practice leads have a good overview of what’s I can work: available and can help you think through: Shifts to fit my ■ What hours can you work and which employers/teams can accommodate this? other responsibilities ■ What kind of environment would you enjoy? Do you Nights want to return to a setting you know you love or try something new? Days ■ Do you like working independently or as part of a team? ■ Which part of the patient journey would you find most I can’t work: enriching – from supporting acute needs, to helping people work through rehabilitation or planned healthcare 12 hour shifts programmes, the beginning, middle or end of life. Weekends School holidays ‘The support I have had has Nights been excellent - it really helps Days build your confidence again.’ Choosing a job

Mental health care Secure Services My experience Provider: Avon and Wiltshire Mental Healthcare Trust Providers: Hanham Secure Health

What we do: We provide inpatient and community- What we do: Hanham Secure Health is a Michelle based mental health care for people living in Bath private healthcare organisation providing NHS- and North East Somerset (B&NES) as well as Bristol, commissioned primary care services to patients ‘I feel like I’ve North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon within secure environments. We work in partnership fallen on my feet, and Wiltshire. We also provide specialist services with Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership like I’ve come home extending throughout the south west. NHS Trust to deliver holistic healthcare services to people in prisons and [other criminal justice to nursing.’ ‘The training We employ over 4,000 dedicated members of system settings]. At the moment we work across all staff who deliver services from more than 90 course helped me realise that I secure settings in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and locations, working in approximately 150 teams for a didn’t want to work in wards but Wiltshire area. population of approximately 1.8million people. really enjoyed being community based. I had previously worked in a deaf service and can sign in British Sign Language, so decided Requirements: You must have previously trained as Requirements: You must have previously trained as to look into whether AWP had a a mental health nurse. an adult nurse. local deaf service… taking up a Specialties include (but are not limited to): inpatient Specialties include (but are not limited to): substantive post when a position services; community; services; specialist services; drug vaccinations and immunisations; sexual health; and alcohol; children and young people. drug and alcohol; emergency response; long- became available.’ term conditions; wound care including suturing; phlebotomy; discharge planning; ear care. Michelle, Return to Practice Nurse

WantCallWant 0800to find to 676065out find more? out if Contact youmore? are our Contact interested Return to our Practice andReturn leadswe to canto discussPractice guide opportunities youleads through (see in theirpage the organisation xx current for details) options(page 11). Choosing a job

We have two acute hospital trusts providing care within Bristol, My experience North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Secondary care/Acutes Secondary care/Acutes Clair Provider: North Bristol NHS Trust Employers: University Hospitals Bristol and Weston ‘My experience What we do: North Bristol NHS Trust is a centre What we do: University Hospitals Bristol NHS on the wards at of excellence in acute and trauma services and a Foundation Trust and Weston Area Health NHS Trust range of specialist services. We have over 8,000 UHBW has been very joined as one ‘Outstanding’ organisation on 1st staff delivering exceptional healthcare for patients positive. The ward sister and April 2020. The Bristol city centre hospitals include across multiple sites, including Southmead Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol Royal Hospital For staff are incredibly supportive Cossham Hospital, Bristol Centre for Enablement Children, St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol Haematology and within the local community of Bristol and South as is the matron in my role as an and Oncology Centre, Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Gloucestershire. We are a regional specialist audit nurse. I wanted to work in Eye Hospital, and University Of Bristol Dental centre offering pioneering and internationally Hospital. Weston General Hospital provides general an acute setting with evidence- acute services for Weston locality; South Bristol based practice as I particularly Community Hospital provides day care facilities and enjoy a dynamic work place Requirements rehabilitation for residents in South Bristol. You must have previously trained as an Adult nurse. where there are constant learning opportunities. I am Specialties include (but are not limited to): major Requirements: You must have previously trained as trauma; burns; renal; vascular; neuromuscular; an Adult or Paediatric nurse. really glad that I am returning stroke and neonatal care. to nursing as I am thoroughly Specialties include (but are not limited to): oncology and haematology; respiratory; cardiac and cancer enjoying the practical work.’ services; vascular surgery; children’s services; maternal medicine. Clair, Return to Practice Nurse

Community care Care sector Primary care My experience Provider: Sirona care & health Provider: Local authorities and Provider: Approximately 80 independent providers independent GP practices

What we do: We look after What we do: With over What we do: We serve 1 million Julia adults and children at home and 250 providers across Bristol, patients across Bristol, North I am really at school, supporting patients North Somerset and South Somerset and South Gloucester. and their families where they Gloucestershire, we play a key Our GP practices aim to create enjoying my new need us most and helping our role in supporting people to rewarding working environments post as a Community patients stay as independent as maintain their independence at for nurses: the hours are family- Nurse. The role is so very varied possible. We are very proud that home, and live in residential and friendly and you’ll be at the heart our most recent Care Quality nursing care homes. of a closeknit and supportive and the shift flies by. Plenty Commission rating for the care multidisciplinary team. has changed and progressed in our staff provide is Outstanding. terms of the nursing role, but I expected that ... yet there is Requirements: You must have Requirements: You must have Requirements: You must have knowledge and skill that has previously trained as an adult, previously trained as an adult, previously trained as an adult remained with me, and I feel children’s or learning disabilities children’s or learning disabilities nurse. like I am once again developing nurse. nurse. Specialisms include (but are these and making a positive Specialisms include (but are Specialisms include (but are not limited to): Cytology and contribution. not limited to): Inpatient not limited to): Acute, general sexual health screening; travel services, MIU, urgent treatment, or elderly nursing, children’s health; long-term conditions Julia, Return to Practice Nurse long-term chronic condition nursing, community psychiatric management; wound care; management, end of life, nursing. removal of sutures; ECGs; family discharge planning, outreach. planning; immunisations; COPD.

If you want to progress, you can plot a career along one of our pillars of advanced practice.

Leadership Clinical practice Research Education Leadership skills are integral Every employer will strive Research roles can be an Maybe student supervision to a range of nursing roles. to support you if you exciting option, informing is where your passion lies. You can take continuing choose to specialise, with the advances we make in We are always looking professional development opportunities for funded clinical practice. Why not for registered nurses to modules to prepare you for advanced clinical practice consider working with a support students, with roles greater responsibilities, for training across a whole research team or taking the including the preceptor role, instance becoming Ward range of specialisms in lead on an improvement Practice Teacher, Practice Manager or District Nurse, or acute, community and project in your area of Facilitator, Nurse Educator even your way up into senior general practice. practice? and even Nurse Lecturer. leadership or executive roles.

‘I was in oncology nursing for many years but have taken the opportunity to try a new specialism.’

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Explore placement options Apply for and complete the Complete 450* work Resume your nursing career All Return to Practice opportunities UWE RTP programme placement hours Once you have successfully are advertised by individual Apply for your place on the UWE You can can complete your completed the programme, we employers – but our leads will be theoretical Return to Practice (RTP) placement hours on a full time will recommend that you can able to give you an overview of programme. This runs over six or part time basis, which we will re-enter the Nurse and Midwifery the opportunities (see overleaf). consecutive weeks with live online agree with you at interview stage Council Register. Your new pin Once you have been offered a sessions on Mondays and Fridays (1). During your placement, you should take around two weeks to placement the organisation will between 09:00 and 12:30. There is will build up a practice portfolio, come through and you can now complete the Return to Practice a numeracy test in week three and, completing a practice assessment resume your nursing career. The Placement information form, from September 2021, you have document and working through Return to Practice leads (see page which you will need to apply to to complete your OSCE (Objective your competencies with your 11) will help you find the best the UWE programme. Structured Clinical Examination). supervisor and assessor. permanent position for you.

6 week academic 6 week academic 6 week academic There are three cohorts a year on the programme programme programme academic programme

Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Return to practice placement: 3-12 months, 450 hours *You may need to do additional hours if dual qualified. Please speak to our Return to Practice leads for information What are you waiting for?! Take the first step Get in touch Mental Health: Provider: Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Email: [email protected] Secure Services Provider: Hanham Secure Health Email: [email protected] Acutes: Provider: North Bristol NHS Trust Email: [email protected] Provider: University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust Email: [email protected] Community: Provider: Sirona Care & Health Email: [email protected] Social Care: Provider: Multiple providers across the BNSSG Contact any one of our return to practice contacts Email: Please put ‘Return to Practice’ in the header of your (emails on the left) who can explain Return to Practice email to [email protected] or proudtocare@ opportunities in their organisation and also give you an southglos.gov.uk or [email protected] overview of opportunities across our partnership. Primary Care: Provider: Multiple providers across the BNSSG Email: [email protected]

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