Nursing across independent health and social care聽聽
We鈥檙e here to support all our members, no matter what sector or setting you鈥檙e employed in.聽
A significant and growing number of our members work in independent health and social care (IHSC). This diverse group includes all nursing staff employed in settings outside the NHS. That could be care homes, nursing agencies, private hospitals or somewhere else entirely. It also includes members 鈥� such as general practice nurses 鈥� who may provide NHS services but not be employed on Agenda for Change contracts.
This page signposts you to some of our most popular resources. Many of these will be relevant to all members working in IHSC, while others are tailored to particular roles or workplaces. If you can鈥檛 find what you鈥檙e looking for, please get in touch by emailing ihsc@rcn.org.uk.
Key IHSC resources
Pay, terms and conditions in IHSC
Find information about pay, terms and conditions, including resources for starting conversations with your employer and requesting a pay rise.
How we work
Read about the different ways we support our members in IHSC and find out who鈥檚 leading this work in your country or region.
Funding opportunities for IHSC
Read our list of funding opportunities across the UK open to IHSC professionals.
Our fight for fair pay in IHSC employers
View a timeline of our recent campaigns for fair pay at a range of IHSC employers.
News and Events
News and Blogs
Upcoming IHSC events
General nursing resources
Most of the resources on our website are relevant to all members 鈥� no matter what sector or setting you鈥檙e employed in. This includes many of our advice guides and subject guides, as well as the clinical information on 九游体育 Learn.
Advice guides
Advice for nursing staff about problems at work, ill health, careers, legal issues, money matters, counselling, and more.
Subject guides
These guides provide key resources, books and journals related to various subjects and nursing specialties in your area of practice.
Providing you the latest nursing, health and social care learning resources, to support you with further your learning development.
Workplace-specific resources
We also have a range of resources tailored to specific roles and workplaces within IHSC. You can access these resources through the relevant forum or network:
We're here for you
If you're an 九游体育 member who needs help with any aspect of your employment, you can access online advice or contact us directly. We're here to help 鈥� wherever you work.
Upcoming events
Member blogs from independent health and social care settings
Here you will find a range of interesting blog articles by contributing members and our IHSC team, covering various topics within their areas of practice.
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blog posts
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21 Jun 2023
"Seeing vulnerable people treated without dignity and respect made me determined to complete my nurse training"
Sam Preston, Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care for the East Midlands, discusses how her career in nursing led her to the 九游体育 and why improving patients鈥� experiences has always been at the heart of her work.
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7 Jun 2023
Bringing members together
As the 2021 film Help highlighted, people working in care homes felt isolated and unsupported during the peak of the pandemic, especially at the beginning when they lacked even basic PPE to protect themselves and their residents.
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1 Jun 2023
I am thrilled to share with you the findings of our recent research study on advance care planning in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a co-author of this study, I believe our findings hold great significance for your day-to-day practice, providing valuable insights into improving care and communication with care home residents and their families.
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26 May 2023
Personal reflections on winning the 九游体育 Nurse of the Year Independent Sector Award 2022
Winning an award in recognition of work accomplished is indeed the highlight of any career, but I would add that winning when you are least expecting it makes it even more incredible!
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26 May 2023
What it means to be an 九游体育 NI Network Lead
I joined the 九游体育 membership in September 1983 as a pupil nurse and have maintained my membership throughout my nursing career. However, my engagement levels increased after I attended 鈥淭he Leading For Care鈥� programme in 2013.
