Adult Social Care Nursing Workforce Development Project
Adult Social Care Nursing Workforce Development Project
Overview
The Adult Social Care Nursing Workforce Development Project is a collaborative initiative supporting the adult social care agenda in Buckinghamshire. The project brings together the Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy (BHSCA), Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) and the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) to strengthen workforce development across adult social care—particularly for entry-level and early-career pathways.
As part of BNU’s Centre for Excellence in Health Inequalities (CEHI) collaborative portfolio, this project contributes to reducing inequalities by enabling a more confident, capable, and supported social care workforce—strengthening quality, retention, progression, and care outcomes.
Why this project matters
Adult social care is a cornerstone of community wellbeing, yet the workforce often faces persistent barriers to training, progression, and development. This project focuses on:
- Understanding workforce training and development needs in adult social care nursing
- Identifying barriers to progression, with emphasis on entry-level and early career requirements
- Co-creating solutions with practitioners and stakeholders to strengthen pathways into and through the sector
Project Aim
The principal aim is to understand adult social care nursing workforce training and development needs and provision, and to identify barriers, particularly those affecting entry-level and early career staff.
What we’re building
Based on evidence and stakeholder insight, the project seeks to co-create a “gateway” that enables:
- Innovative and integrated education and training
- Knowledge transfer
- Organisational and professional development
for the adult social care workforce in Buckinghamshire.
Partnership
This is a joint venture involving:
- Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) (Lead)
- Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy (BHSCA)
- Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)
The project is supported by funding from The Burdett Trust.
A forward-looking public university committed to inclusive leadership, research excellence, and global partnerships.
Project Lead:
Project Lead:
Project Lead:
Samantha King
Head of Membership & Educational Services at Royal Society for Public Health
Workstreams
The project is delivered through four integrated workstreams:
A brief literature scope using grey literature and peer-reviewed evidence from England and the UK to understand the current adult social care landscape.
Qualitative exploration of practitioner experiences in Buckinghamshire, gathering insight from entry-level staff and managers through interviews and focus groups.
A series of workshops with expert adult social care stakeholders to identify key skills and career pathways.
A pilot training programme developed and delivered by RSPH for adult social care workers, carers and volunteers, delivered across multiple cohorts (including an e-learning cohort).
Showcase Event
Adult Social Care Nursing Workforce Development – Showcase Event (November 2025)
Buckinghamshire New University hosted a celebratory event highlighting progress and impact, including:
- Presentation of new research findings
- Launch of co-designed workforce development resources
- Introduction of a new early-career education pathway
- Networking and collaboration opportunities across nursing and adult social care
The event included a welcome from Professor David Sines CBE, Trustee of The Burdett Trust.
Resources and Toolkits
The project has an evolving suite of resources and toolkits, including:
- A literature review report
- Practitioner voices report
- Expert reference group report
- RSPH pilot training evaluation report
- Infographics, flyers, recruitment materials, posters, and an overall summary report
CEHI contribution
This project aligns with CEHI’s mission by focusing on workforce equity, inclusion, and system improvement. By strengthening early-career and entry routes, and creating structured development pathways, the project supports:
- Improved workforce retention and progression
- Increased confidence and competence across adult social care roles
- Better continuity and quality of care
- Reduced inequalities experienced by people who rely on social care services (through stronger workforce support)
Get involved
We welcome collaboration from:
- Adult social care providers and care organisations
- Practitioners, carers, and volunteers
- Local authorities and system partners
- Training and professional bodies
- Researchers and educators focused on workforce development and inequalities
Contact
Professor Adetoro Adegoke
Buckinghamshire New University
adetoroadeyemi.adegoke@bnu.ac.uk