Independent Health and Social Care strategy 

The plan sets out our priorities to: 

• work more closely with independent health and social care employers 
• better represent and support our members who work outside of the NHS 
• shout about the contribution those members make to society
• hear more from members in independent health and social care roles through forums, networks, branches, boards, and committees
• offer a better membership experience for those members.

Here for you

The RCN represents members working  for over 25,000 different employers across independent health and social care. We expect at least equivalence with NHS pay, terms and conditions and have made this clear to all employers. RCN membership will provide the same value to all members, regardless of their employer. 

Investing in you

12 new Independent Health and Social Care Lead Nurse posts have been created in our teams in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and in each of the nine England regions. This will create a network of skilled, knowledgeable staff who can inform, influence and lead in developing excellence in independent health and social care within the RCN.

Through this work we will stand alongside you to fight for better working conditions, safer staffing levels and fairer pay. It’s important that the RCN understands and recognises that not all our members have the same requirements. There is no defined ‘independent sector’, rather a vast, diverse, interconnected web of employers and staff working across every area of nursing you can name. And others you may not even be aware of. Using better insights, we can ensure that the RCN is able to effectively respond to the needs of specific groups working in independent health and social care.