A joint scheme between NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS South Sefton CCG has been shortlisted in the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards 2016.

The CCGs have made it into the final round of the ‘Student Placement of the Year – Community’ category, after becoming the first accredited hub in the country to offer bespoke placement opportunities to student nurses.

Through the scheme the CCGs provide students with a structured learning environment, offering them the support and experience they need for their future careers.

The placements that the CCGs offer introduce pre-registration student nurses, student quality ambassadors (SQAs) and care makers into a commissioning setting in order to improve quality of care. 

The collaborative work the CCGs have been doing with Edge Hill University and the North West Placement Development Network (NWPDN), means that students are mentored by the quality team at the CCGs with the opportunity to interact with board level professionals and attend high level strategic meetings. They are also given the opportunity to input into the development of the CCGs' strategic plans and commissioning priorities to ensure that quality of care of patients remain at the centre of what they do in a complex commissioning environment.

Brendan Prescott, deputy chief nurse for both CCGs, said: “We are so pleased to be shortlisted in the Student Nursing Times Awards. We have worked extremely hard to put the student placements together working with Edge Hill University and NWPDN, so it means a lot that this has been recognised.

“The feedback that we get from our students is that there is nothing better than getting that hands on understanding of becoming a nurse and here at the CCGs they have the best of both worlds. They can see how it works from the CCGs' offices and attending high level meetings then they can go into practices to get the wider experience of a nurse’s role. It is invaluable experience for them.”

These awards are the only one of its kind to celebrate the very best in student nurses and nurse education. They pay tribute to student nurses who have demonstrated the academic achievement, clinical prowess and personal qualities that will make them brilliant nurses.

The awards ceremony will take place on 28 April 2016 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Visit the awards website for more information.