Support matters: a mixed methods scoping study on the use of assistant staff in the delivery of community nursing services in England

BackgroundCommunity nursing (and health) services are faced with the growing challenge of caring for increasingly dependent patients with chronic conditions and complex care needs. Over the past decade there have been changes in the composition of the community nursing workforce with increasing numbers of assistants yet there is a lack of published literature on the roles, contribution and impacts of community nursing assistants to the delivery of care and services.DesignWe adopted a three-stage approach for the scoping study using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. First, we established contact with senior managers in provider organisations where we had research governance approval (n = 76; 75% of total provider organisations) to determine whether or not (a) they employ assistants within community nursing teams and (b) they would be interested in participating in the study. Second, we carried out a short telephone interview with all senior managers who indicated a willingness to participate (census approach). We also analysed secondary data (using the NHS iView data source, from the Electronic Staff Record Data Warehouse) to scope the national use of community nursing assistant roles. Finally, we conducted telephone interviews with a purposive sample of managers from 10 organisations that participated in stage two to gain an in-depth understanding of assistant roles in community nursing teamsSettingCommunity nursing provider organisations in England, UK.ParticipantsThirty-seven senior managers were interviewed for stage two (49% of all contacted). Thirty managers (20 service-level managers and 10 senior managers) were interviewed for stage three.ResultsAssistants promote flexibility in the community nursing workforce so as to respond to the changing demands on these services. However, the lack of consensus in defining the role of community nursing assistants has created inconsistency in the national deployment and development of these roles. These roles have tended to develop ad hoc, creating variations in numbers of assistants, the roles that they play and preparation for practice across different provider organisations and nursing teams. There is general enthusiasm among managers about the contribution of assistants. Their employment is regarded as fundamental to the ability of community nursing teams to deliver acceptable and appropriate services. However, the role may not always support career progression and development for those assistants who require this. The maturity and life experience of assistants is greatly valued in the nursing team to support care delivery and to offer stability and support to other members of the nursing team. Line management, responsibility and accountability in managing the work of assistants were highlighted as important for managing risk associated with an unregulated role. These have to be balanced with promoting flexibility in use and innovation.ConclusionsOur scoping study highlights the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of assistants to deliver care by the community nursing team. Further attention at national and local levels is required to support and mediate the development of these roles in the future so as to promote the delivery of quality, safe and acceptable care. As provider organisations plan for delivering an ambitious community services agenda in the future, the role of the assistant is likely to have increasing importance.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.