Leadership Training at Caring Homes, Accredited by the Royal College of Nursing
Two of our Leadership Academy programmes have now been accredited by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). If you already work for Caring Homes, it means the development you can access has been independently reviewed and recognised. If you're thinking about joining us, it shows how seriously we take helping people grow.
What the accreditation means for you
Before accrediting Leading with Vision and Leading Clinical Excellence, the RCN carried out an independent external review. It looked at the content, learning outcomes, how the programmes are delivered, the evidence behind them and how we evaluate their impact.
Put simply, these are not in-house courses that only mean something to us. They are leadership programmes that have been checked by one of the most respected names in nursing.
Leading with Vision: for team members who want to lead
Leading with Vision was the first programme in the Leadership Academy, which launched last year. It is made up of practical learning sessions designed so you can use what you learn the next time you're back in your care home.
The aim is to develop our own future leaders. We would rather grow strong, values led leaders from within our homes than rely on bringing them in from elsewhere.
One team member who took part told us: "The programme helped me recognise my own potential and gave me the confidence to take the next step in my career."
Leading Clinical Excellence: for our nurses
Nurses have clear, valuable skills, but they don't always get a structured route into leadership. We created Leading Clinical Excellence to change that.
We developed it with Pauline Shaw from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and built it specifically for our own clinical teams. It reflects the day to day reality of nursing in a Caring Homes care home, not a generic course.
Leadership that starts with listening
The people who have completed the programmes describe a real change in how they work:
"I've stopped feeling that leadership means having all the answers. Sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is listen."
"I'm coaching rather than instructing, and I'm seeing my team take greater ownership as a result."
"I'm more reflective, more considered in my decisions and more confident in the way I lead."
That matters for residents too. Better leadership means more confident teams, and more confident teams give better care.
What's coming next
The Leadership Academy is still growing. We are already planning further programmes, including one for team members who work directly with residents, and another to build a talent pool of future Home Managers.
Lucy Hoddy, our Talent and Development Manager, led the accreditation process. She said: "I wanted to build meaningful development opportunities that challenge colleagues, strengthen their confidence and help them recognise their potential as leaders."
Our CEO, Peter Hill, added: "Making Caring Homes a great place to work is a pillar of our mission and offering accredited career development is fundamental to that."
Thinking about joining Caring Homes?
Whether you're an experienced nurse, a care professional ready to step up, or someone considering a first role in care, it helps to know there is a path forward once you're here. Explore the careers available across our homes, then find a vacancy near you.
Explore careers at Caring Homes
Related reading: From The Philippines To Dorset – Deputy Manager Gen's Nursing Journey and Nursing Associate Apprenticeship: The Perfect Progression for Senior Carer Liam
This story was first shared on the Caring Homes news page: www.caringhomes.org/news/accreditation-success-for-the-caring-homes-learning-development-team
