Royal College of Nursing Mission The RCN represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies

The common criteria across all initiatives: 1.The WiPP resources fit with the business objectives and ethos of the organisation  The RCN represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies.  2008/2009 specific RCN business objectives to ensure we can support HCSW within the college

The common criteria across all initiatives: 2.The organisation has the infrastructure, capacity, capability and determination to maintain and develop the resources  UK wide organisation with a regional structure  High quality activist learning and development programmes which provide local support to members  Designated unit to provide support for HCSW, alongside a designated primary care advisor  Identified staff lead to develop learning and development services and resources for HCSW that are quality assured  The largest nursing library in the world  Virtual learning communities  Strategic Alliance with Open University offering discount to members  Learning Zone with public and member access  Every operational plan has had to demonstrate a commitment to the support and development of HCSW 2008/9

The common criteria across all initiatives: 3.The target audience/end user can be accessed, and the organisation is considered appropriate to the end user  All of our learning and development resources are tailored to the needs of the end user.  The RCN has extensive relationships and networks with healthcare employers and employees  We have a large data base where we can access the nursing family  Our own designated events department and Accreditation unit

The common criteria across all initiatives: 4.The organisation has a credible history and long term future  The RCN was established in  We have an international reputation with a very strong brand.  With a membership of nearly 400,000 the RCN is financially stable.  Our General Secretary was named in the top 50 Healthcare Influencers in the Health Service Journal this year

Health Care Support Workers – additional criteria: 1.Organisation ensures that resources are freely accessible and available to general practice and other interested parties for three year period  The RCN will ensure that the resources from WiPP can be made freely available on the public part of our web site  The RCN will also market the resources produced by WiPP at local and national events

Health Care Support Workers – additional criteria 2.Organisation has the capacity and willingness to answer questions and provide online and telephone support to general practice  The RCN has a telephone support service called RCN Direct where we can provide tailored telephone support  We also have our website and Learning Zone which provides online support  Designated advisors in primary care, healthcare support workers and learning and development

3.Leadership for the HCA role – organisation has identified key people to champion the work and take forward the achievements of the WiPP HCA initiative.  Paul Vaughan designated HCSW Advisor  Lynne Young designated Primary Care Advisor  New appointment of Public Health Advisor  Jane Newton designated marketing Advisor  Louise Garrett designated communications  Sue Antrobus designated activist development  Market research Nationally and Eastern region which has identified needs of Health Care Support Workers and being translated into our operational plans 2008/2009