Nursing and midwifery students - support: 2019 to 2020

Support for NHS Employees who enter Nursing and Midwifery Education

Healthcare assistants entering the pre-registration programme after successfully completing an HNCin Healthcare may be offered the option of secondment from their NHS employers or they may applyfor bursary support. 

You may not receive your salary and a bursary atthe same time. If you opt to take your salary, andsubsequently wish to apply for a bursary, you maynot do so until the next year of the course. You maynot change your support arrangements during the year.

Secondment

NHS employers may allow staff a period of secondmentto undertake a nursing or midwifery course on the basis of their existing pay and conditions. In these cases, you will not be able to apply for bursary support. Your employer must decide whether to allow a secondment, however, employees do not have a right to secondment on these terms. If your employer is unable to agree to secondment, you may choose to resign in order to undertake the course. In this case, you may be eligiblefor a bursary. 

If you are a full-time employee secondedby an NHS Board you should:

• receive the basic pay for the post held immediately before start of training, and qualify for increments;
• keep your existing liability for tax and National Insurance;
• be eligible to join or remain in the NHS Superannuation and Injury Benefits Schemes;
• keep your existing rights under Agenda forChange Terms and Conditions of Services,with modifications to reflect your student status,e.g. annual leave; and
• be expected to undergo exactly the sameeducational programmes as other students.

You and your employer should alsohave a clear agreement about:

• whether or not you will be expected to work, or begiven the opportunity to work, for your employer as aqualified nurse or midwife on completion of the course;
• how long you will be expected to do such work; and
• what will happen if you fail to complete the course.
• Your employer must meet your travel and subsistence expenditure during practice placements. 

Part-time employees secondedby an NHS Board

Part-time employees seconded to nursing coursesshould not suffer financially. Again, it is for your employer to decide whether you should be seconded on your existing part‑time salary, or an enhanced salary, to take accountof the fact that nursing and midwifery courses arefull time.