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Coventry University Group and St Cecilia’s strengthening social care nursing workforce in North Yorkshire
The programme will enhance the skills of registered nurses working across St Cecilia’s Care Group
CU Scarborough / Health and Community Wellbeing
Wednesday 22 July 2026
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Coventry University Group is working with an award-winning care group to address the challenges facing the UK's social care sector including workforce shortages, staff retention and rising demand due to an ageing population.
The education group has partnered with St Cecilia’s in North Yorkshire to help registered nurses working in social care in Scarborough and the surrounding areas, access vital professional development opportunities.
The pilot programme is delivered through CU Scarborough, which is part of the education group, and has been designed to update and enhance the skills of registered nurses working across St Cecilia’s Care Group, while also preparing them to support the next generation of nurses through student placements.
The programme will see nurses attend a series of workshops and skills sessions at CU Scarborough, covering priority areas including end-of-life care, dementia care, wound care, catheterisation and practice assessor training.
Participants will receive continuing professional development (CPD) recognition to support their Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation requirements and will be supported in applying their learning back in the workplace by St Cecilia’s clinical leadership team.
There are significant workforce challenges across the social care sector and we know that many registered nurses working in care homes and other social care settings can sometimes feel professionally isolated.
By opening up access to the expertise, facilities and clinical skills training available at CU Scarborough we can help nurses maintain and develop their skills while also strengthening links between higher education and the social care sector.
This programme is about much more than professional development. It is also about showcasing the rewarding career opportunities available in social care and helping our nursing students see it as a destination career alongside more traditional healthcare pathways.
Ultimately we want students to experience the excellent work taking place in social care settings and recognise the diverse and fulfilling careers available to them after graduation.
Claire Barwick, Deputy Director for Health and Care Education at Coventry University Group
The initiative is expected to increase placement opportunities for student nurses while providing learners with greater exposure to social care environments and the complex clinical care delivered within them.
Working with Coventry University Group is a fantastic opportunity for our nurses, our residents and the wider social care sector. Nurses working in social care do not always have the same access to training and development opportunities as those in other settings, so having support from university experts to build knowledge, reflect on practice and share experiences is incredibly valuable.
Every day is an opportunity to learn, and by investing in our nurses’ development we can continue to enhance the experience of our residents. This collaboration is a real win-win, it supports our existing workforce while also creating opportunities for student placements, helping future nurses understand the important role social care plays.
Isabel Santos, Group clinical manager at St Cecilia’s care group
The pilot scheme will also help Coventry University Group explore how similar programmes could be rolled out more widely across the region's social care sector.
We see this as the start of something much bigger. If the pilot proves successful there is potential to expand the programme and create a sustainable model of support for the wider social care workforce.
Claire Barwick, Deputy Director for Health and Care Education at Coventry University Group
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