Modernising the NHS school workforce using a rapid rollout approach, nurses perceptions of being part of the programme

The school health workforce has been subject to numerous policy statements and reviews aimed at defining their involvement in pursuing healthier lifestyles for school children. To contribute to this health improvement agenda school nurses will need to embrace new ways of working (DfES 200�,2004;DofH 2004 a,b). The School Health Workforce Rapid Roll-out Programme was established as part of the Changing Workforce Programme aiming to accelerate the pace for role re-design and spreading tested and effective roles. �� teams across 8 Strategic Health Authorities across the North of England engaged with the programme. The programme was independently evaluated using pragmatic stakeholder evaluation, which is extensively used in education, health and policy underpinned by the need for utility, rather than purity of methodological quality (Rossi et al �999). Data was collected from multiple sources obtaining an overall picture of the programme, this included: electronic questionnaires distributed to all �� participating teams with �6 responding (50%); to all new post holders (n=�0) and their managers (n=5); 6 interviews with members of the project steering group and 5 case studies of different teams. Data was analysed using a content thematic approach. Findings demonstrated changes in working practices enabled post holders to develop and in some cases expand their roles, examples included freeing up time spent on administration and appropriate staff doing appropriate tasks. This change in working resulted in increased capacity across services, and increased job satisfaction. Generally respondents identified participating in the programme as extremely positive providing resources, support and direction, opportunity to develop new skills, enhanced multi professional knowledge and providing networking and partnership opportunities. This paper discusses the programme and the findings from the study along with suggestions for further research into the long-term impact of the roll out programme