18 May 2010
More than 100 healthcare assistants in Jersey who perform some of the most vital roles in healthcare will attend a conference to help enhance their skills and knowledge this week.
The day-long conference, called ‘Adding Value and Feeling Valued’, is being run in Jersey by the Royal College of Nursing in partnership with Health and Social Services on Thursday 20 May.
The conference, at the Royal Yacht Hotel, will enable healthcare assistants and social care support workers from the department, private care homes and Family Nursing and Home Care to fully use their skills, and think about patient-centred care.
Health and Social Services, the Care Federation, Family Nursing and Home Care and the Registration and Inspection Team work together throughout the year to develop and offer a wide variety of training opportunities. This conference will highlight the benefits of such training and professional development to care workers and service users
Head of education, learning and development at Health and Social Services, Julie Mesny said “This is the second conference we have organised for health care assistants in Jersey following the success of the first one 2 years ago.
“Colleagues from the Royal College of Nursing are coming across to celebrate the important role health care assistants play in the Island. We are working in partnership with Pamela Massey, CEO of Family Nursing and Home Care, and Christine Blackwood, Registration and Inspection Manager, to ensure the message of 'Adding Value and Being Valued' is articulated by everyone.”
Topics for the day include acting in the best interests of the patient, dignity, dealing with risk, ethics, and empowerment and accountability. In the afternoon, 4 nurses who began their careers as healthcare professionals will speak to the delegates about their own journey and learning.
Chairman of the Royal College of Nursing (Jersey Branch), Kenny McNeil, said “The Royal College of Nursing are happy to be working with Health and Social Services to deliver this conference. Nurses have always valued the role that health care assisatants play in the delivery of care, no matter where they work. This was recognised by the RCN and for sometime now they have embraced Health Care Assistants to join us and become part of the biggest professional nursing organisation in the world."
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