Nursing across independent health and social care
We’re here to support all our members, no matter what sector or setting you’re employed in.
A significant and growing number of our members work in independent health and social care (IHSC). This diverse group includes all nursing staff employed in settings outside the NHS. That could be care homes, nursing agencies, private hospitals or somewhere else entirely. It also includes members – such as general practice nurses – who may provide NHS services but not be employed on Agenda for Change contracts.
This page signposts you to some of our most popular resources. Many of these will be relevant to all members working in IHSC, while others are tailored to particular roles or workplaces. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch by emailing ihsc@rcn.org.uk.
Key IHSC resources
Pay, terms and conditions in IHSC
Our work for members in IHSC
Funding opportunities for IHSC
Our fight for fair pay in IHSC employers
News and Events
News and Blogs
Upcoming IHSC events
General nursing resources
Most of the resources on our website are relevant to all members – no matter what sector or setting you’re employed in. This includes many of our advice guides and subject guides, as well as the clinical information on RCN Learn.
Workplace-specific resources
We also have a range of resources tailored to specific roles and workplaces within IHSC. You can access these resources through the relevant forum or network:
We're here for you
If you're an RCN member who needs help with any aspect of your employment, you can access online advice or contact us directly. We're here to help – wherever you work.
Upcoming events
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blog posts
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20 Mar 2024
We come at a cost, but we have so much to offer
Iola Marie Kahn reflects on the ups and downs of working as an agency nurse.
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7 Mar 2024
Championing and supporting the independent sector
Find out what the Yorkshire and Humber lead nurse for the independent health and social care sector, Michelle Raddings, has been working on since joining the RCN in 2023.
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7 Mar 2024
Helping general practice nursing staff find their voice in Lincolnshire
Terry Vine, Deputy Director of Nursing and Quality at Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, discusses setting up an innovative General Practice Nurses Reference Group and changing the local healthcare landscape.
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19 Jan 2024
Bringing festive cheer to Wales’s most vulnerable
Homeless outreach nurse, Matthew Tovey, shows what can be achieved when a community pulls together to bring a little Christmas spirit to the most vulnerable in society.
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10 Jan 2024
The power of sharing perspectives: How a new programme empowered care workers to improve resident care
Specialist Nurse Practitioner, Lola Soloye talks about developing a new workshop that offers care workers valuable experience using blood glucose machines.
