CCCU Nursing Associates visit Strode

Strode Park Foundation welcomed a group of Canterbury Christ Church Nursing Associates to the foundation to gain hands-on experience with residents and service users with mental disabilities.

The Nursing Associates who are ending their two-year course have struggled throughout their qualification to get placements due to COVID-19. The six students will be qualified to work with a whole range of people from children to adults, including those with mental disabilities and therefore hands-on experience was vital for them as they come to the end of their course. Many of the students who visited our services noted that the day helped them challenge their assumptions around those with mental disabilities.

The students spent the morning with many of the service users at the foundation in both our Green Room and the Porter Club House, joining in with crafts and games and chatting to the service users and Care and Support Workers.

Students Lynne and Chelsie spent the morning with service user Stuart, playing snakes and ladders with himself and his Care and Support Workers. The students not only had the opportunity to get to know Stuart but also gained the opportunity to speak to our Care staff on how they accommodate to each individual user to help them gain the best experience from their visits they can get.

The rest of the Nursing Associates spent the day with clients in our Porter Clubhouse chatting to residents and joining in with the service users’ arts and crafts. One nursing associate said: “the day brought it home that there is a person underneath the diagnosis”.

Rachel, the Nursing Associate’s lecturer said: “I thought it was wonderful.  Although brief, the students really gained an insight into the clients and had the opportunity to reflect on better ways to meet their needs in a health care setting.  They felt the day was really beneficial and were very interested in expanding their knowledge further.”

The day was very relaxed and focused on the students being able to talk to the service users and engage in fun activities together to gain a better understanding of individuals with mental disabilities. The Care and Support Workers on the day where a great support and helped fill questions the students had.

Sam Stuart, Strode Park Foundation Learning and Development Lead, said: “This has been a tough year for students on practical courses and I’ve been delighted to work with Canterbury Christ Church University to support their Trainee Nursing Associates in gaining the necessary experience to graduate this year. I’d like to thank the Day Services team who did a great job of hosting the students and making this a positive experience for all involved.”