Royal College of Nursing

1. Royal College of Nursing Mission The RCN represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies

2. The common criteria across all initiatives: 1. The WiPP resources fit with the business objectives and ethos of the organisation • The RCN represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies. • 2008/2009 specific RCN business objectives to ensure we can support HCSW within the college

3. The common criteria across all initiatives: 2. The organisation has the infrastructure, capacity, capability and determination to maintain and develop the resources • UK wide organisation with a regional structure • High quality activist learning and development programmes which provide local support to members • Designated unit to provide support for HCSW, alongside a designated primary care advisor • Identified staff lead to develop learning and development services and resources for HCSW that are quality assured • The largest nursing library in the world • Virtual learning communities • Strategic Alliance with Open University offering discount to members • Learning Zone with public and member access • Every operational plan has had to demonstrate a commitment to the support and development of HCSW 2008/9

4. The common criteria across all initiatives: 3. The target audience/end user can be accessed, and the organisation is considered appropriate to the end user • All of our learning and development resources are tailored to the needs of the end user. • The RCN has extensive relationships and networks with healthcare employers and employees • We have a large data base where we can access the nursing family • Our own designated events department and Accreditation unit

5. The common criteria across all initiatives: 4. The organisation has a credible history and long term future • The RCN was established in 1916. • We have an international reputation with a very strong brand. • With a membership of nearly 400,000 the RCN is financially stable. • Our General Secretary was named in the top 50 Healthcare Influencers in the Health Service Journal this year

6. Health Care Support Workers – additional criteria: 1. Organisation ensures that resources are freely accessible and available to general practice and other interested parties for three year period • The RCN will ensure that the resources from WiPP can be made freely available on the public part of our web site • The RCN will also market the resources produced by WiPP at local and national events

7. Health Care Support Workers – additional criteria 2. Organisation has the capacity and willingness to answer questions and provide online and telephone support to general practice • The RCN has a telephone support service called RCN Direct where we can provide tailored telephone support • We also have our website and Learning Zone which provides online support • Designated advisors in primary care, healthcare support workers and learning and development

8. 3. Leadership for the HCA role – organisation has identified key people to champion the work and take forward the achievements of the WiPP HCA initiative. Paul Vaughan designated HCSW Advisor Lynne Young designated Primary Care Advisor New appointment of Public Health Advisor Jane Newton designated marketing Advisor Louise Garrett designated communications Sue Antrobus designated activist development Market research Nationally and Eastern region which has identified needs of Health Care Support Workers and being translated into our operational plans 2008/2009