Hear from Claire on all things health and social care

Welcome to my new monthly blog series. As 2024 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the impactful and inspiring work of the IHSC team.

One of the standout achievements of 2024 was our commitment to delivering accessible, high-quality learning opportunities. We’ve hosted virtual, and in person events on a number of topics including End of Life Care, Improving Digital Confidence, Driving This year, we witnessed incredible progress, collaboration, and achievements across the UK, and I’m delighted to share some of the highlights that have made this year so memorable.

I can’t pull together everything that we’ve worked on this year, but have some highlights that I want to share with you all. Quality, and Fundamentals of Nursing. These events, often co-designed with members, received excellent feedback, influencing future topics and ensuring relevance to our members’ needs.

The breadth of other events we have attended and supported this year has been remarkable:

• Presenting at external live events: We’ve had stands, and presented at events up and down the country, including: The Care Show; Best Practice in both London and Birmingham; Care Roadshows; The Primary Care Show; and The Wound Care Today conferences. The inaugural meetings of the Northern and Yorkshire & Humber Independent Sector regional networks were a resounding success, fostering connections and shared learning.
• Holding our own events: We’ve also supported a number of RCN events including the Nursing Support Worker Conferences in London HQ, and Wales; The Equality Diversity and Inclusion conference; and the Research Conference.

"This year underscores how impactful content drives engagement and builds a stronger IHSC community."

Celebrating care homes and building relationships

Care Home Open Week was a time of celebration and connection. IHSC Lead Nurses supported workplace visits across the UK, strengthening ties and supporting staff. One visit resulted in a new learning agreement, opening the door to continued collaboration with an independent sector employer. These visits also allowed us to explore critical topics like nurse prescribing, with future work in progress to spotlight these initiatives.

Additionally, our collaboration with the Social Care Nursing Advisory Councils (SCNAC) in England ensured that care home nursing remained a key focus, driving discussions on pay and career frameworks for social care workers. The ongoing RCN Scotland care home study aims to illuminate the excellent practices and challenges within care homes, focusing on professional practice, policy, education, and regulatory issues.

Showcasing excellence: Black History Month and the Nurse of the Year awards

Black History Month was another shining moment, with vibrant celebrations and positive feedback from attendees from our events. We celebrated Rising Star winners, at our London event whose contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion set an inspiring example.

Similarly, the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards saw increased nominations from the IHSC sector, reflecting the growing recognition of excellence within our field. Promoting these awards was a priority, and we look forward to even greater participation in 2025.

Strengthening and building partnerships

This year marked significant growth in networks and collaborations:

• Regional Networks: The inaugural meetings of the Northern and Yorkshire & Humber Independent Sector regional networks were a resounding success, fostering connections and shared learning.
• Community Engagement: Collaborations with groups like West Midlands Hong Kongers Support CIC and UK Welcomes Refugees raised awareness of RCN immigration support, increasing membership and showcasing the inclusivity of our profession.

Influencing policy and practice

The IHSC lead for Scotland, working with the RCN Scotland team made significant strides in influencing policy, particularly with the implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, delayed due to COVID but now in effect. This work ensures safe, high-quality health and care services for all in Scotland.

Elevating members' voices

Throughout 2024, we worked tirelessly to spotlight the incredible contributions of our members. From blog features and magazine articles to increased social media engagement, we celebrated the vital role of IHSC nurses. Workplace visits not only strengthened relationships but also inspired members to contribute as speakers and writers, enriching the RCN’s digital and print platforms.

Extending our reach

Over the past 12 months, we’ve achieved remarkable growth in engagement across our IHSC web and digital platforms.

Key Highlights:

• We hit 21,475 total page views with an impressive 72% engagement rate.
• New hybrid magazine blog: Our new hybrid magazine blog, launched just four months ago, gained 1,093 views and over 2,939 clicks.
• Our newsletter campaigns reached 93,000 members.

This year underscores how impactful content drives engagement and builds a stronger IHSC community. 

Looking ahead...

This year’s successes affirm the growing recognition of the IHSC Lead Nurse roles within the College and beyond. As we continue to advocate for our members, build partnerships, and drive positive change, I’m filled with hope and excitement for what’s to come in 2025. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making 2024 such a transformative year—your dedication and passion inspire us all. The IHSC Executive Lead – Rita Devlin, Executive Director of RCN Northern Ireland said of the 2024 achievements: 

"I am pleased to see such growth in activities to support our IHSC members, and incredibly proud of the team’s achievements. However there is still so much to be done and I am looking forward to 2025."

On a final note

We'd love to hear from you in 2025! If you have any ideas, for what you’d like us to do to support you in 2025 please get in touch at ihsc@rcn.org.uk