Devon care provider gains top nursing endorsement for diploma
A Devon care provider has gained an endorsement from the world’s largest nursing union and professional body for their advanced diploma.
Southern Healthcare’s Advanced Diploma (CPD) in Adult Social Care Nursing has secured accreditation from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which represents more than half a million nurses, student nurses, midwives and nursing support workers in the UK and internationally.
The diploma was developed by a senior nurse lecturer, Shaun Kershaw, from North Devon and Margot Whittaker, Southern Healthcare’s Director of Nursing and Compliance and a recipient of the prestigious Queen’s Nurse award. The diploma has also been accredited and approved by the University of Greater Manchester.
Margot said: “The RCN accreditation marks a significant endorsement for a programme designed to strengthen nursing practice in nursing homes.”
She continued: “At the heart of this evolution in social care nursing is emotional intelligence, compassionate and supportive leadership, and person-centred practice. These are not ‘soft skills’, they are essential skills that can help transform peoples’ lives.”
The diploma supports nurses, nursing associates and assistant practitioners working in nursing homes. The aim of the course is to strengthen their skills, support their professional development and help them to progress in the increasingly complex field of adult social care nursing.
Among the first learners to complete the course was Phillip Adams, an Assistant Practitioner at Parkwood House Nursing Home in Plymouth, who described the diploma as “eye-opening”. He commented: “After working in social care for more than ten years, I thought I knew the role inside out, but the diploma was genuinely eye-opening.
“There are many challenges within the sector and it’s not unusual for professionals in the NHS to overlook those working in nursing homes. The course gave me a much stronger knowledge base in social care and, as a result, it helped me to speak with more confidence in professional settings.”
The programme is already helping learners progress in their careers. Francis Agyei, a nurse at The Old Rectory Nursing Home in Exeter, moved into a senior nurse role after completing the diploma, while Philip Yeboah said it gave him a deeper understanding of how adult social care operates in the UK and helped strengthen both his clinical judgement and confidence as a registered nurse.
Margot continued: “The most effective social care nurses understand that care is not simply about what we do for people. It is about how people feel and their experiences with us every day. Nurses are also encouraged to reflect on their own values and reactions, and how these shape the way they care for and support others.”
The aim of the course is to help professionals move beyond task-based care towards a deeper understanding of the people they support, recognising both the challenges individuals face and what gives meaning to daily life in a care setting.
Margot added: “We created this course to reflect the unique and holistic direction social care nursing is taking. The Advanced Diploma (CPD) in Adult Social Care Nursing offers a strong values-based pathway that helps nurses build skills in clinical care, relational practice and confident leadership.”
For more information about the diploma or other Southern Healthcare training, contact Margot Whittaker on 07939 577788 or email margot.whittaker@southernhealthcare.co.uk.
Pictured: Southern Healthcare nurses celebrate completing their diploma. L-R Margot Whittaker with Phillip Adams, Francis Agyei, Philip Yeboah, Cosmin Lupoi and Geoffrey Cox.
