Social enterprises schemes create nursing job opportunities in primary care services

Nursing Times has looked into where social enterprises schemes are to be created following the split of PCTs into purchaser and provider arms.

It is thought that these will create new nursing job opportunities in primary care services.

Most trusts have opted to keep their 'provider' arms as separate NHS bodies. But some have decided to create social enterprise schemes, which are not-for-profit companies that provide services to the NHS, usually under a specialist provider of medical services (SPMS) contract.

Nursing Times contacted all 10 strategic health authorities in England asking them how the split would affect nurses working in PCTs in their region.

There are at least 10 social enterprises in various stages of development, from those in the early stages such as Kingston PCT to those that are fully operational such as Central Surrey Health.

Liz Redfern, director of patient care and nursing at South West SHA, said: 'Nurses can run social enterprise programmes - nurses can lead on some of these issues.

'They need to recognise there are more ways than being an employee of the NHS.'

She added: 'Nurses need to ensure that their services are fit for purpose so there is no question when competition comes along that they can compete with another organisation.'

Jane Cummings, director of nursing, performance and quality at North West SHA, said: 'We are looking to create a social enterprise in Blackpool.

'We have a nurse-led rehabilitation service managed by a matron. It takes patients from the hospital and the local area. They are looking at going down the social enterprise route. That is a really good example of nurse-led services.'

Encouraging nurse-led social enterprise schemes - by relaxing pension transfer rules - was set out in the NHS Next Stage Review, as reported by Nursing Times in June.

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