RCN Wales Healthcare Connect Programme
HEIW is working in partnership with RCN Wales, health boards/trusts, colleges and universities to offer a 6-month programme aimed at bridging the gap between level 3 qualifications and a nursing/midwifery degree.
Key benefits of the programme include:
- Employed as a band 2 Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) for the duration of the programme (subject to successful interview and recruitment checks) within NHS Wales.
- Attend college to gain an accredited level 3 qualification. This qualification is recognised by the partner universities as a bridge between existing level 3 qualifications and access to their nursing/midwifery degree programmes.
- Successful completion will guarantee an interview with a partner university for their nursing/midwifery degree programmes.
The programme runs from September to March. During this time, you will be employed as a Healthcare Support Worker in one of the partner NHS Wales health boards/trusts working between 12 – 30 hours. In addition to the contracted employment hours, you will attend college one day a week and university one day a month for 7.5 hours. Assessments will take place both in college and the workplace.
Whilst working to complete the level 3 RCN Wales Healthcare Connect qualification you will apply to a partner university to study on their nursing/midwifery degree course for the Spring intake, following successful completion of this programme in March. The partner universities which recognise the RCN Wales Healthcare Connect Programme as a bridging qualification are University of South Wales, Bangor University and Wrexham University.
- The Trainee Handbook will provide more details of the programme.
- Answers to common questions can be found on the FAQ sheet.
For further information contact one of the partner colleges:
Cardiff & Vale College
Coleg Gwent
Grwp Llandrillo Menai
Our education partners include local colleges and universities.
Colleges
Trainees will attend college one day a week for 7.5 hours to study the level 3 RCN Wales Healthcare Connect qualification. Assessment for this qualification will take place both in the workplace and in college. A workbook has A workbook has been created by RCN Wales to help.
In addition to supporting the trainee to achieve their qualification the college will support in the direct applications to a partner university for entry onto their nursing and midwifery degree programmes, with a focus on the March/April intake.
Universities
Trainees attend university one day a month to gain valuable experience of higher education establishments and gain confidence in these settings.
Upon successful completion of the programme, trainees will be guaranteed an interview for the nursing/midwifery degree programmes run by the university.
- The Education Partner Handbook will provide more details of the programme.
- Answers to common questions can be found on the FAQ sheet.
- More details on the roles and responsibilities of our education partners whilst collaborating with HEIW in this programme can be found in the Governance document. Our education partners will be requested to complete a Service Level Agreement.
- A guide to the timeline for the programme can be accessed here.
- This diagram provides an overview of the process involved in the collaboration of the programme.
For further information please email: heiw.healthcareconnectenquiries@wales.nhs.uk
Trainees will be employed by the partner health boards / trusts as a band 2 Healthcare Support Worker. Following a successful interview with the health board / trust trainees will be offered fixed term contracts for the duration of the programme. The programme runs from September to March. In addition to being contracted for between 12 and 30 hours a week, trainees will receive a study day of 7.5 hours.
- The Health Board Handbook will provide more details of the programme.
- Answers to common questions can be found on the FAQ sheet.
- More details on the roles and responsibilities of our health board/trust partners whilst collaborating with HEIW in this programme can be found in the Governance document.. Our health board/trust partners will be requested to complete a Service level agreement.
- A guide to the timeline for the programme can be accessed here.
- This diagram provides an overview of the process involved in the collaboration of the programme.
For further information please email: heiw.healthcareconnectenquiries@wales.nhs.uk