Nursing team at University Centre, South Devon College shortlisted for prestigious national award

The Nursing team at University Centre, South Devon College is celebrating after its innovative approach to developing future Nursing Associates has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Often described as the 'Oscars' of the nursing sector, the Student Nursing Times Awards will take place in London this April, where the University Centre is a finalist for 'Nursing Associate Training Provider of the Year'.

The recognition highlights the collective effort behind the University Centre’s ‘Train and Retain’ initiative - a teaching and placement model designed by the nursing team to strengthen student support, enhance wellbeing, and improve workforce retention.

“Our initiative, ‘Train and Retain’, is designed to inspire, nurture, and develop student Nursing Associates throughout their foundation degree and beyond, including direct entry and apprenticeship,” explained Programme Co‑ordinator and Lead for Nursing Professions, Ella Reynolds. “The initiative ensures they graduate as confident, competent, and resilient professionals.”

The University Centre at South Devon College is the first Further Education College in the UK approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to deliver the Nursing Associate programme under its own Foundation Degree Awarding Powers - a milestone achieved through the dedication and expertise of its nursing, academic and student support teams.

Drawing on a wide range of practice experience, the team places great emphasis on openness, psychological safety, and preparing students for the realities of the profession. Ella, who previously worked in family liaison and end-of-life care within paediatric intensive care, openly shares her own journey with students and colleagues as part of this culture.

“I am open with my colleagues and students about the harrowing and traumatic nature of my role that led me to a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis and almost leaving nursing completely.

“Supporting families, often behind the scenes at the darkest of times, I felt isolated from my clinical colleagues who would frequently turn to me for support after a child had died – my worldview was completely unbalanced.”

Ella reflects on how her experiences have shaped the team’s commitment to student and staff wellbeing.

“I didn’t once think at the time ‘what should the organisation and system be doing better to support me’ – a thought I am now determined to keep with me and act on as a leader.”

After time away from clinical practice and receiving professional support, Ella returned to children's nursing, later transitioning into education, where wellbeing now underpins much of the programme’s design.

“I’m passionate about wellbeing within healthcare teams and believe we can be professional and maintain boundaries whilst being candid about our own mental health.

“Exposure to trauma and burnout is an occupational hazard in nursing - Universities have a responsibility to their students to prepare them for the realities of professional practice and support them psychologically"

This ethos is embedded throughout the ‘Train and Retain’ model. The team provides regular mental health check-ins, confidential counselling, peer support groups, and reflective practice spaces - all standard parts of the timetable to normalise wellbeing as core to professional development.

Dedicated wellbeing workshops equip students with stress‑management and coping strategies, while facilitated placement debriefs offer protected time for reflection, guidance, and problem‑solving.

“These initiatives are ‘business as usual’ and part of our timetable, creating an atmosphere and culture where wellbeing is the norm,” explained Ella. “We have found that these measures ensure that students feel valued and supported, reducing attrition and promoting success.”

Being shortlisted for the Student Nursing Times Awards is an important acknowledgement of the programme’s impact and is one of the highest accolades a Nursing education team can achieve.

“It recognises not just the work we’ve been doing with wellbeing and ‘Train and Retain’ but also acknowledges that College-based Higher Education in health plays an important role in increasing workforce retention.”

Many students at the University Centre are mature learners, local to the area, and often the first in their family to enter higher education, a demographic the team is particularly proud to support.

“At the heart of our success is the quality and passion of the staff."

“Our clinical lecturers are visible and in-person in every practice placement for every single student, offering real-time mentorship and a proactive rather than reactive approach to challenges that may occur."

“Their presence reassures students, builds confidence, and reinforces professional standards whilst being visible and approachable to staff and assessors. This approach ensures that students feel supported not only in the classroom but also in the clinical environments where they apply their learning.”