MDX’s pioneering simulated training for adult social care nurses nets Gold Award

The programme which included vital training in Verification of Expected Adult Death left care home nurses feeling more confident, valued and rewarded 

MDX has been named joint winner in the Health and Social Care category at public service improvement and transformation social enterprise iESE Ltd’s annual prizes.

The Gold Award for the organisation making the greatest impact for health and social care customers through creative, forward-thinking services has been given to the University’s partnership with North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB), using simulated learning approaches with adult social care (ASC) nurses.,

The initiative to upskill social care nurses working in care homes across North London was devised following a 2023 survey of 48 care homes in the ICB area, which had found a lack of high-quality clinical training affected staff retention, quality of care and level of support for nursing students on placement.

380 ASC nurses have been trained at MDX’s state-of-the-art Simulation Centre at StoneX, Mill Hill. This training was initially in Verification of Expected Adult Death – the process by which a medical professional confirms someone has died – reducing the demand on doctors to perform this role and thus avoiding delays. The training was extended to cover catheterisation (a procedure that involves inserting a tube into the bladder to remove urine), handling dementia, and end-of-life care skills.

In a survey, 99% of nurses who took the Verification of Expected Adult Death course either strongly agreed or agreed that it gave them sufficient knowledge and skills to perform this vital function and the confidence to support residents, families and their team. They also said they felt better supported and significantly more valued in their role. All of the respondents said they were more confident in the delivery of clinical skills having attended the training.

Some care home residents and their relatives visited the Simulation Centre to co-produce training for adult social care staff and students in order to improve the care experience.

The project has led to MDX working with five more care home partners, providing a predicted 60 placements a year for student nurses. In June last year, the programme was highly commended for Healthcare Partnership of the Year at the London Higher Awards.

Underlining the need for further transformational training drives like MDX and North Central London ICB’s, almost 10% of ASC roles in England were vacant in 2022/23, according to research by independent thinktank the King’s Fund, with projections suggesting shortages will get worse in future.

Pam Hodge, Senior Lecturer in Practice Learning at MDX said: “Our partnership has made a significant contribution to developing the skills and confidence of ASC nurses, and to helping develop and retain the workforce in the locality. It has also enhanced the learning of our student nurses.

“We are confident our innovative partnership will continue to develop our future nursing workforce. The aim is for all ASC nurses in the area to receive the gold standard training at StoneX."

“We are honoured to pick up this award on behalf of all the wonderful and innovative work that has led to this.

“The feedback from ASC nurses resonates the positive impact this training has had in terms of feeling more confident, valued and rewarded in their clinical role; ability to deliver more competent complex care needs for residents; and empowerment of knowledge and skill, enabling the facilitation of learning opportunities for others in practice."

Carmel Fitzsimons, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing,

Dr Sinead Mehigan, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education said: “We are so proud that this joint initiative has been recognised. We are committed to working collaboratively with our local employers across health, social care and education, to support development of the local workforce in a range of innovative ways."

The award was presented at a black tie ceremony at Church House in March, and is on display this week at StoneX.

Find out more about studying Nursing at MDX