A new generation of nurses are beginning placements at Royal Star & Garter after the charity began welcoming students studying at the University of Roehampton.

The new partnership will see the university’s Adult Nursing degree students work a six-week placement at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton.

Royal Star & Garter already offers work placements to nursing students at Kingston and St George’s Universities.

The new partnership also coincides with the World Health Organisation designating 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

The first two student nurses from the University of Roehampton to be placed at Royal Star & Garter began their placement at the end of 2019. One of them, Natalia Taylor, said: “I find as a student nurse that there’s so much you can learn here. I started off having no skills in nursing and I’m leaving after six weeks with skills and knowledge to take with me on my nursing journey.”

The Surbiton Home has been welcoming student nurses and trainee nursing associates on placements since it opened in 2013. They benefit from experiential practice, a structured schedule, and learning on the job through being mentored by the talented staff. Students also work in a multi-disciplinary environment, which includes in-house Physiotherapy, Activities, Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and a Dietician, while interaction with residents allows for interpersonal as well as clinical skills to develop.

The charity, which also has Homes in Solihull and High Wycombe, provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

Pauline Shaw is Director of Care at Royal Star & Garter, and worked with the University of Roehampton’s Head of Nurse Education Paul Newcombe to set up the partnership. She said: “Campaigning during December’s general election highlighted the country’s desperate need for more nurses, so we’re delighted to be playing our part in helping to train and inspire this new generation. Royal Star & Garter has a reputation for providing exceptional care and, in the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, we’re continuing to share our experience and learning. We’re looking forward to our new partnership with the University of Roehampton.”

Paul said: “As a university developing a new nursing programme, it was an easy decision choosing Royal Star & Garter to approach as a potential partner. Their reputation as a sector-leading and award-winning care home provider with expertise in dementia care made it an obvious choice. On my first visit to the Surbiton home I was immediately impressed by the approach to care, the staff and the general facilities. In particular, I have shared my genuine admiration for the outstanding level of personalisation to the environment with many colleagues. It is a real beacon of excellence and our nursing students are very lucky to have the opportunity to learn from Director of Care, Pauline Shaw, and her team. The feedback from students has been excellent and we look forward to sending our next group in February.”