Are you a nurse that left the profession and are now looking to return to practice?
Did you return to the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic and now wish to renew your registration?
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust works with a number of different university partners to support you in this transition to your return to practice.
Whether you have recent clinical experience or not, we have a variety of clinical teams ready to help you to build upon your previous clinical practice giving you the opportunities to achieve the requirements to return to practice and to support your ambitions.
Successful applicants will be offered an honorary contract and will be enrolled onto a university return to practice course. This course will give you the opportunity to work closely with academic and clinical teams to achieve the NMC requirements for return to practice. We currently work with Bournemouth University and the University of Plymouth and would consider other partnerships.
Course fees are funded by Health Education England and a bursary will be available to cover travel and other expenses.
You may have some initial nerves, or you might find that everything comes flooding back, either way you will be supported every step of the way to deliver high quality care whilst supervised by your practice assessor throughout your course who will be dedicated in supporting your return to practice.
If you have been out of practice for fewer than 7 years, you may be eligible for the NMC Test of Competence route to re-registering instead of a University course. We would be happy to discuss this alternative option with you and can offer you support to prepare for the OSCE.
On completion of the course and re-entry requirements, you will be offered a Band 5 Nurse interview for a role within the Trust.
For more information and to find out how to apply please contact learningenvironment@hhft.nhs.uk
Further information is also available here:
Bournemouth University: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/ | Call +44 (0)1202 966764 | Email askBUenquiries@bournemouth.ac.uk
University of Plymouth: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/cpd/return-to-practice | Email pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Further information is also available from the Health Education England website.
FAQs
Q: I am thinking about returning to practice but don’t know where to start- how can you help?
A: Have a look at some of the resources on this page and then email learningenvironment@hhft.nhs.uk We will arrange for you to talk to one of the team about how we can support you to return to nursing.
Q: Will I get paid while I complete the RTP course?
A: If you return to practice via the university course route, you will receive a bursary from Health Education England. This is currently £1,000 (correct as of 1/3/2022) towards expenses. We would encourage you to consider joining our Health Care Support Worker Bank before you start the course so that you can get some clinical experience. You may wish to continue to work part-time on the HCSW bank during the course to earn money while you study. If you return via the Test of Competence route, we may be able to offer a Band 4 post while you prepare for the OCSE.
Q: I need a clinical placement as part of the requirements for the RTP course- how do I organise this?
A: The Learning Environment Team manage practice placements. When we talk to you about how we can support your return, we will try to identify a practice placement area which will support your career aspirations.
Q: I would like to study with another university not listed here- can you still help me?
A: Please contact us so that we can see if we can help.
Q: If I complete the RTP course with Hampshire Hospitals, do I have to take up a registered nurse post at the Trust when I re-register with the NMC?
A: Our primary aim is to support nurses to return to practice in the NHS. We do ask though that that before you apply, you consider working for the Trust once you are back on the register. Our practice supervisors and assessors invest a lot of time and effort in supporting learners who they hope will become new colleagues when they complete their courses.
