The Foundation of Nursing Studies

This phenomenally successful and bespoke 3-year programme, in partnership with the Burdett Trust for Nursing began in November 2024. Each year, eight registered nurses, health visitors and midwife leaders are supported on a 9-month journey to develop skills to facilitate person-centred culture change. 

What makes this programme unique is that it is tailored to the needs and requirements of the participants. Their learning is underpinned by theoretical knowledge, models and frameworks to inform and guide a participatory learning approach throughout the workshops. It draws on FoN’s significant expertise in person-centredness and culture change within health and social care. 

A huge strength of this programme has been the growth in self-confidence and self-awareness participants have gained as facilitative leaders of person-centred culture change. Participants continue to share their impact stories captured throughout the programme on how this opportunity has cemented a continuing journey for further self-discovery and curiosity about Person-centred cultures, care and practices.  

You can read the collective Impact story from year one participants here.

Cathy Freeman-Pates, a year one participant based at Sirona Care and Health, shared her experiences on how this programme differed from others. She said: 

“Traditional leadership and management courses tend to be very academic, and they deliver the theory and you learn it. The learning from this course was participatory; looking at problems with the other people and getting their perspectives helped me understand things a lot more and I think that was more powerful than being talked at and reading articles.” 

You can read more about Cathy’s Journey here.

The programme is now in it is second year.  

Through on-going evaluation, participants are already sharing how the programme has given them time to stop, pause, critically self-reflect in a safe and brave space. This space is opening new insights and possibilities in relation to being and working in a more person-centred ways within their services and the teams they lead. This is aspiring participants to develop new ways of working which are compassionate, inclusive and more person centred for all.  

More information regarding the The FoNS Person-centred Cultures Nurse Development Programme can be found at here.