Frequently Asked Questions

There are two ways of accessing placements for the return to practice programme:

• If your registration lapsed, you may apply for a Band 3 Healthcare Assistant position at Medway community healthcare through NHS jobs website www.jobs.nhs.uk
• Medway Community Healthcare is able to support Return to Practice Nursing students to complete their practice hours without having to be employed by the MCH. The placement will be arranged after the individual interview has been completed.

We have number of specialist areas where students may find it more challenging to achieve the basic skill requirements for re-entry to the register. When this is the case we will work closely with the student and the placement/workplace areas. We will ensure that we look at opportunities to visit these areas and complete some of the practice hours (during placement) within specialist areas if this is of interest to the student.

The number of hours required to complete the return to practice programme depends on the number of years away from practice:

Nursing

• Up to 5 years out of practice: 100 hours
• 6-10 years out of practice: 100 hours
• 11-15 years out of practice: 150 hours
• Over 16 years out of practice: 200 hours

AHP

• 0 to 2 years out of practice – no requirements
• 2 to 5 years out of practice – 30 days of updating
• 5 or more years out of practice – 60 days of updating

Before you start your placement or join in Band 3 Healthcare support worker role you will have access to our organisational and clinical induction.

Nursing:

All staff in the placement area are able to provide information and knowledge to return to practice students. However, each student will be allocated practice assessor who will supervise and assess the student’s ability to complete the standards required for re-entry to the NMC register.

Students will also receive supervision from our Practice Development nurses who work closely with the Workforce and Clinical Education Team. Access to our simulation room will also be available.

Shifts patterns depend on where you will be based. Our community teams all work differently, but shift patterns can consist of Early, Late, Nights and long days. Return to practice students can opt to work any combination of shifts as long as there is time spent with their practice assessors. All duty planning is completed by the placement/workplace managers and start times vary for each placement/workplace area.

Return to practice nurses are students from Canterbury Christ Church University or University of Greenwich. Whilst completing placement hours nurses will wear the Canterbury Christ Church University or University of Greenwich student uniform.

Nursing:

Once return to practice students have completed the course and all placement and university assessments have been graded, the students will be informed of their results. Those that have been successful will be able to re-register with the NMC, this is completed through the university not by Medway Community Healthcare. It is at this time return to practice nurses can apply for registered nurse jobs.

AHPs:

Once you have completed the return to practice requirements you will need to apply for readmission to the HCPC register by completing the application form. The HCPC aim to process all applications within 10 working days, if you are successful you will have your details added to the register automatically. At which point you will be eligible to apply for qualified AHP roles within MCH.

Medway community Healthcare will support you through a six month preceptorship programme to help with the transition back to the registered nurse/AHP role.