Hartford Care launches New Care Practitioner Development Programme

Hartford Care has launched its brand-new Care Practitioner Development Programme.

This intensive six-month Development Programme focuses on upskilling experienced care staff with the in-depth skills, knowledge and competencies required to meet the sometimes evolving needs of individuals living in the Hartford Care family.

Once the programme is completed, care practitioners will work in Hartford Care homes, carrying out basic clinical responsibilities, providing effective leadership to the team and ensuring each resident receives the highest standard of care, particularly where individual’s needs become more varied and complex.

At the end of the internal Hartford Care Development Programme, Care Practitioners can also undertake an Assistant Practitioner Qualification to further improve their knowledge and skills.

Following a successful trial at Highfield Nursing Home on the Isle of Wight, the Care Practitioner Development Programme has now been rolled out to four more homes in the Hartford Care family.

They are Bethel House in New Milton, Woodlands House in Southampton, and The Elms and Springfield Nursing Homes on the Isle of Wight. Those who have successfully been selected to undergo this new Development Programme are experienced Senior and Care staff who have undergone a robust interview and selection process.

The programme comprises workshops, coursework, competency assessments and knowledge checks in a variety of topics including:

• Direct Clinical Observations

• Understanding Infections and Sepsis

• Having Difficult Conversations

• Acute Medical Conditions

• Advanced Medication Awareness

• Initial Assessments and Care Planning

• Diabetes Awareness

• Mental Health First Aid

• Getting the best out of Staff and Teams

• Tissue Viability and Basic Wound Care

• Catheter and Stoma Care

• End of Life Care

Leah-Marie Smith, Hartford Care’s HR Director, says: “By rolling out the Care Practitioner Development Programme, we are providing a new career path for our team members while at the same time ensuring our residents continue to receive high-quality care and support from knowledgeable and professional staff. Following the very successful trial at Highfield Nursing Home on the Isle of Wight where Care Practitioners are now embedded within the home, we are excited to be rolling this out to the rest of the Hartford Care family and look forward to seeing the impact this new programme has on the lives of our residents as well as team members.”