Analysis of CQC ratings in Essex show Nursing homes have a lower percentage of good or outstanding Quality ratings (67%) compared to Residential care homes (82%). There is a far greater reliance upon agency staff and often a Nursing home may only have one registered nurse on shift, which is still in compliance with regulations.  Registered nurses in a nursing home environment do not have the clinical backup that is readily available to registered nurses in a hospital environment which means they are in a very isolated position. At a recent community of practice event for the Prosper project a nurse stated that sometimes she just wants someone to run something by and give a second opinion, she knows her field of work but on occasions needs that extra peer support.  Nurses in Nursing homes have to delegate tasks to care staff which requires Nurses to have leadership skills in managing care staff who are undertaking tasks that ultimately the RN is still responsible for, very few will have undergone any kind of leadership programme. Nursing home RN’s are also required to undertake procedures that they may only come across once every six months or longer and are unable to build up a confident level of competency.  The idea of the RN leadership forum is based upon the existing My Home Life Leadership programme for care home managers and the Prosper Community of Practice for Care homes. The leadership programme will meet on a monthly basis with peers and have facilitated reflective learning, explore leadership skills and Quality Improvement methodology but most importantly build up a network of peer support whom they can call upon when needing advice and support. The ultimate goal is to create a self sufficient Nurses forum.

The Leadership programme will run alongside a CPD series of conferences for Nursing home RN’s which will include core capabilities, quality improvement methodology and refresher training where competency needs updating.  The CPD conferences are already funded by Essex County Council as part of their Quality Innovation programme of work, working with the 5 CCG’s in Essex.