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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

Many of these will be relevant to all members working in IHSC, while others are tailored to particular roles or workplaces.

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Pay, terms and conditions in IHSC

Find information about pay, terms and conditions, including resources for starting conversations with your employer and requesting a pay rise.
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Our work for members in IHSC

Read about the different ways we support our members in IHSC and find out who’s leading this work in your country or region.

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Funding opportunities for IHSC

Read our list of funding opportunities across the UK open to IHSC professionals.
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Our fight for fair pay in IHSC employers

View a timeline of our recent campaigns for fair pay at a range of IHSC employers.

News and Events

Here you can find out all about the latest news, read insightful member blogs and view our related IHSC upcoming exciting events held at the RCN.

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News and Blogs

Read the latest online member blogs and news across all nursing specialities within independent health and social care.
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Upcoming IHSC events

Register your interest to attend a range of in-person and online events held at the RCN across independent health and social care.

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.

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Advice guides

Advice for nursing staff about problems at work, ill health, careers, legal issues, money matters, counselling, and more.

Advice guides

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Subject guides

These guides provide key resources, books and journals related to various subjects and nursing specialties in your area of practice.

Subject guides

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Providing you the latest nursing, health and social care learning resources, to support you with further your learning development.

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 ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ 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.

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Upcoming events



52 blog posts
  • Lisa Kieh Lisa Kieh 23 Aug 2023

    Raising the voice of independent health and social care staff in Wales

    Lisa Kieh, our Independent Sector and Community Adviser for Wales, discusses the challenges faced by members in independent health and social care and the work she’s been doing to support them.

  • Carol Dale Carol Dale 2 Aug 2023

    Using technology to improve pain management in care homes

    Carol Dale, Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care in Scotland, discusses how independent care nurses are exploring ways to improve pain management, including using digital technology.

  • Carol Dale Carol Dale 23 Jun 2023

    Time to highlight the value of nursing in care homes

    While the NHS is very much part of everyone’s life, most of us don’t engage with care homes until later in life. This may be during a crisis when a friend, relative or indeed we are in need of support and subsequently make contact with social care services. 

  • Sam Preston Sam Preston 21 Jun 2023

    "Seeing vulnerable people treated without dignity and respect made me determined to complete my nurse training"

    Sam Preston, Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care for the East Midlands, discusses how her career in nursing led her to the RCN and why improving patients’ experiences has always been at the heart of her work.

  • Woman wearing mask outside looking up at buildings Sarah Winfield-Davies Sarah Winfield-Davies 7 Jun 2023

    Bringing members together

    As the 2021 film Help highlighted, people working in care homes felt isolated and unsupported during the peak of the pandemic, especially at the beginning when they lacked even basic PPE to protect themselves and their residents.