Workforce information and support

The nursing associate is a stand-alone role and can also provide a progression route into graduate level nursing. The nursing associate training programme provides a nursing pathway for both health and social care, strengthening opportunities to create a "home-grown" workforce. This enables care homes and home care providers to re-profile their workforce and support the development of their staff for the benefit of the service user, resident or patient. It is registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and is a professional registered qualification.

The nursing associate is a highly trained support role to deliver effective, safe, and responsible nursing care in and across a wide range of health and care settings. Nursing associates work independently, and with others, under the leadership and direction of a registered nurse within defined parameters, to deliver care in line with an agreed plan. Nursing associates will have a breadth of knowledge and a flexible, portable skill set to serve local health populations, in a range of settings covering pre-life to end of life.

There two funding routes:

• Levy payment - the UEA, College of West Anglia and Open University accept levy payers. Norfolk and Suffolk Care Support have successfully obtained funding from Health Education England to cover the apprenticeship funding band.
• Non-levy payment - The UEA, College of West Anglia and Open University can also accept non-levy payers directly. Non-levy payers must make a 5% contribution (£750) towards the cost. However, Norfolk and Suffolk Care support have been successful in facilitating the transfer of levy payment to non-levy payers to allow access to this programme, saving the provider the 5% co-invest route.

Norfolk County Council also provide a fund to support £5,000 per workers towards backfill costs for cohorts running up to February 2025, subject to availability.

Find out more about the role and how to access the funding.