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Nursing across independent health and social care  

WeÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™re here to support all our members, no matter what sector or setting youÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™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 whoÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™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 ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥“ no matter what sector or setting youÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™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 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 ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥“ wherever you work.

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Upcoming events



53 blog posts
  • Sarah Winfield-Davies 800x400 Sarah Winfield-Davies Sarah Winfield-Davies 11 May 2023

    Forever grateful for my YTS experience

    IÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™ve been a qualified nurse for 31 years. I originally wanted to be a policewoman, but I hated sixth form as all my friends had left school, so I left too and joined a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) working in a nursing home. 

  • Rian Gleave Rian Gleave 13 Apr 2023

    "My hamster died"

    Introducing Rian Gleave, our new Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care in the South East.

  • Linzi McIlroy Linzi McIlroy 27 Mar 2023

    Nurses working in general practice

    In RCN Northern Ireland we have a very successful General Practice Nurse (GPN) network for nurses and nursing associates working in primary care. 

  • Millie Simms Millie Simms 23 Mar 2023

    Connecting and empowering General Practice Nurses across London

    Millie Simms, our Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care (IHSC) in London, discusses her work to support General Practice Nurses (GPNs) as part of the GPN Monthly Meeting Group.

  • Melissa Stanton Melissa Stanton 22 Feb 2023

    Introducing our new Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care in the North West

    Melissa Stanton describes her journey through nursing to her new role representing our independent sector members in the North West.