London residents can now take advantage of a new route into healthcare thanks to a partnership between The Open University and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust \u2013 one of the country\u2019s largest NHS Trusts.<\/p>\n
The London-based trust, together with the OU, is offering a Foundation Degree in Nursing Associate Practice, which is part-sponsored (the Trust is fully funding the second year\u2019s tuition fees), and delivered through the OU\u2019s flexible online learning and practice based learning at the Trust.<\/p>\n
A nursing associate<\/a> is a fairly new healthcare role in England. They bridge the gap between healthcare support workers and registered nurses and play a major role in supporting both. They help deliver care under the supervision of a registered nurse.<\/p>\n Jan Webb, the OU\u2019s Associate Head of School, Nursing and Health Professions, School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, said: \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to be working with Imperial College Healthcare in an innovative way of developing nursing associates for the organisation, providing flexible education to support the Trust to develop a sustainable local workforce.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jan Goldsmith, the Trust\u2019s Lead Nurse for Education and lead for the Nursing Associate Programme, said: \u201cWe are delighted to give members of our local communities the opportunity to begin a career in nursing with us.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe are one of the biggest NHS trusts in the country with a fantastic tradition in nursing practice, education and research.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Annually, the OU will work with the trust to offer two enrolment opportunities for cohorts of up to 26 London-based applicants. \u00a0It\u2019s a scheme that will run for the next five years. The first applicants will be interviewed in August for a start date in the autumn of this year.<\/p>\n The OU\u2019s Jan Webb added: \u201cThis is a unique partnership that is reaching out to the London community and one that we are able to deliver at scale. It sits fairly and squarely within our core values of offering education to all.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSome of the people accessing this course will have never had the opportunity to enter Higher Education, so it\u2019s exciting that the OU will have such a hand in shaping their future careers. The OU\u2019s flexible learning model also opens up a career route to those who need to fit their learning around personal commitments \u2013 such as part-time work, family life or caring responsibilities.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n To be eligible to apply for this opportunity, applicants must live within the London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham; Westminster; Kensington and Chelsea; Brent; Harrow; Ealing; Hillingdon; Wandsworth; Camden; Hounslow; Richmond upon Thames; Barnet; Lambeth or Islington, or be able to provide evidence of relocation prior to the course start date. Visit our website for more details about the programme entry requirements at open.ac.uk\/courses\/choose\/imperial-nursing<\/a>.<\/p>\n Students will have:<\/p>\nTwo annual enrolment opportunities<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What\u2019s on offer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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