The Role of the RCN Learning Representative

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The Role of the RCN Learning Representative

• South West Region
• Learning Representative Committee

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The RCN Learning Representative

• The RCN Learning Representative is -
• An exciting role which enables you to contribute
  to the learning agenda in clinical practice
• A role that compliments other RCN Representative
  roles
• A role in which you will be well supported and
  importantly, trained locally to undertake

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Advantages of being a Learning Representative (1)

• High quality training
• Access to professional resources
• Networking with regional and national Learning
  Representative colleagues
• Personal development
• Free copy of Nursing Standard to help keep you up
  to date

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Advantages of being a Learning Representative (2)

• The role is flexible and unique to you in your
  workplace
• The amount of time and commitment you give to the
  role is up to you. You will not be asked to
  contribute any more than you are prepared or able
  to commit to
• You are entitled to time off, often with pay

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What you might do? (1)

• Support implementation of the National Key Skills
  and Knowledge Framework (KSF)
• Support RCN members Continuous Professional
  Development (CPD) requirements
• As an activist attend RCN patch/committee/board
  meetings

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What you might do? (2)

• Sit on an education committee
• This will provide the opportunity to contribute
  to your organisations education and training
  agenda
• Do a learning needs analysis
• This will provide you with data that will help
  identify the priorities for learning in your
  organisation

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What you might do? (3)

• Work in partnership with local education
  providers
• They will be able to provide guidance on module
  or study unit design, suggest credit value and
  help with validation
• Set up a learning event
• Perhaps a workshop for example on hand washing to
  alert staff, patients and relatives to the
  dangers of spread of infection

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What you might do? (4)

• Write a newsletter
• Perhaps to alert or signpost members to education
  and training opportunities within and outside of
  your organisation
• Arrange a study day
• For example around an area of practice or a topic
  that other healthcare staff would be interested
  in learning about

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What you might do? (5)

• Stand for election on a committee, board or
  council
• This will increase networking opportunities and
  enable you to represent your region
• Recruit new members to the RCN and support RCN
  members who wish to become Representatives
• Recruiting more members to become Representatives
  means that you can share responsibility within
  your organisation and be more pro-active within
  your role

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What you might do? (6)

• Be a point of contact for the RCN, Managers and
  Members within your organisation
• For the above groups this makes talking to the
  right person easier and as such improves
  communications

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Benefits for managers

• Promotes partnership working with members and
  senior staff in organisations.
• Utilising RCN resources to enhance training and
  development available for individuals within the
  organisation.

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The RCN Representative Team

• Stewards
• Health and Safety Representatives
• Learning Representatives

Working together and complimenting each others
roles in the workplace
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Want to find out more?

• Talk to a Learning Representative to find out
  more about the role and answer any questions you
  may have

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How to become a Learning Representative?

• Contact the RCN South-West regional office for an
  election form
• Ask your work colleagues to support your election
  as a Learning Representative
• Send in your completed election form to the
  South-West regional office
• Attend branch meeting for Chair to ratify your
  election paper
• You will be contacted as soon as your papers have
  been processed

Well done you have made an excellent decision
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Further information and contact details

• http//www.rcn.org.uk/aboutus/activist/learningrep
  s.php
• http//www.rcn.org.uk/southwest/resources/learning
  reps.php
• Email southwestern.region_at_rcn.org.uk
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Royal College of Nursing
• 11-15 Dixs Field
• Exeter
• EX1 1QA