New qualification to boost critical care workforce on track for roll out from September

Health Education England (HEE) is today providing an update on progress with the recently announced new qualification for staff working in critical care. 

The qualification for nurses announced in March has been released for tender with Education providers and system providers invited to bid to run a standardised critical care training programme from as early as September 2021.  

HEE wants to support a standardised blended learning training course which will offer participants greater flexibility of access particularly those who will have to balance commitments such as having a young family or a caring role, challenges in relation to travel and will be available 7 days a week.  

Training for the standardised qualification is expected to take between 6 to 12 months and will provide a nationally recognised pathway for a career in Adult Intensive Care Units (ICU) whether that is becoming a pod or shift leader, becoming a clinical educator or leading nursing research. 

HEE has secured £10m funding to deliver this key training which is aimed nurses working in critical care as well as Allied Health Professionals. The funding will support as many as 10,500 nursing staff in furthering their careers in ICU. 

James McLean, Deputy Chief Nurse, Health Education England said:  

“I am delighted we are on track to get this much needed training starting later this year.   

“This is fantastic news for the NHS and for patients and their families, the pandemic has highlighted just how important critical care is and the need to increase workforce numbers and support the clinical skills required in this field of Nursing care. Intensive care units are a key service in hospitals and this new standardised qualification will help to meet the challenge and providing a robust career pathway for staff." 

It will be a blended learning training programme that will offer participants greater flexibility of access particularly those who will have to balance commitments such as having a young family or a caring role, have challenges in relation to travel or the remoteness of where they live and available 7 days a week.

The successful bidders will be announced by early August.