The following extended blog was the substance of an address given at the second Social Care Nursing Conference, held in Edinburgh on the 4th September.
At various points today and in a lot of conversation and chat we have used the phrase ‘social care nursing.’
It is one which I first came across when Scottish Care undertook research which became when it was published, the ‘Voice from the Nursing Frontline‘ all the way back in 2017. That was the first major piece of work undertaken in Scotland to actually discover the thoughts of and issues of importance to nurses who worked in a social care setting, predominantly care homes.
But the nature and distinctive role of social care nursing is often misunderstood, sometimes undervalued, but I would argue undeniably essential.
Indeed, at a recent nursing meeting some colleagues pondered about where the phrase came from and what it meant. Why is it, for instance, that our neighbours in England have for some time an appointee who is Chief Social Care Nurse?
So, with your permission I want to briefly reflect on why I believe it is important that we use the term and more especially why we need to stoutly advocate for social care nursing.
Put simply I would contend that
“Social care nursing refers to the provision of nursing care within social care settings, primarily focusing on the holistic needs of individuals in residential or community environments.”
It involves working with people who for one reason or another are both clinically and societally vulnerable and in need of support and care, such as the elderly, those with disabilities, and individuals requiring long-term care.
Social care nurses integrate core nursing skills with an understanding of social care systems, often collaborating with other professionals to support individuals in their daily lives.
The term “social care nursing” began to gain recognition in the UK around the early 2000s. The specific term “social care nursing” is difficult to trace to a single, definitive point of origin. It emerged as the boundaries between health and social care became more integrated, particularly with the increasing emphasis on person-centred care and the growing demand for nursing expertise within social care settings. This development was part of broader health and social care reforms aimed at improving care delivery and outcomes for individuals requiring long-term support.
What is Social Care Nursing?
Social care nursing is distinctive because it blends clinical nursing skills with an emphasis on social care, focusing on the broader, long-term needs of individuals in community or residential settings. Unlike other nursing disciplines which might prioritise acute care in hospitals, social care nursing is centred on supporting people in their daily lives, often addressing chronic conditions, disabilities, and the complexities of aging. It requires a deep understanding of social care systems, person-led care approaches, and often involves working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to enhance overall well-being and independence.
The social aspect of social care nursing is critical and distinctive – it is the delivery of nursing care and support not just to an individual within a community environment, but to the community of persons within a social care setting. The collective, communal, relational dimension is key to the distinctive and uniqueness of such nursing. This is not just nursing to maintain individual health and wellbeing, but that of the wider network of relationships and community.
I am not saying that acute or indeed community nursing does not focus on the personal or is not person-led, but there is something very different about delivering nursing and clinical care within a social care setting.
Some may ask – is this not just nursing? Ordinary nursing? Well on one level yes, but on another level, it is important to recognise the distinctive aspects of different disciplines within nursing. To celebrate those differences within the one family, in order to grant to that distinctive strand a sense of value, autonomy and respect is I think critical for that discipline to have a sense of identity and to better understand its contribution to the field of nursing.
I would not say to a learning disability, a paediatric or an intensive care nurse that there was nothing ‘special’, distinctive or unique about their role. That would be to undermine their specialist knowledge, skill, aptitude and contribution to a clinical or care team.
Alas I have heard too often the phrase or equivalent that ‘you are just a care home nurse’ or that there is nothing ‘special’ about being a nurse in a care home or social care setting. Even worse that it is an ‘easier’ form, of nursing. And I do sometimes wonder if the resistance amongst some, including those in nursing education, to the specialisms around aged care, dementia, late-stage neurological conditions etc, has more to do with systemic and societal ageism and discrimination than anything else.
Social care nursing is different. It is special. It needs to be celebrated and recognised for its own distinctive contribution. But when I articulate as I will briefly why it is important and distinctive that is NOT me seeking to demean other forms of nursing.
Essential elements.
At its core, social care nursing is about holistic care. It is about providing care that is as much emotional and psychological as it is physical. It is about supporting people in their own homes, in care homes, or in their communities. It is about understanding the diverse needs of older people, people with disabilities, those with mental health challenges, and those who are living with long-term conditions. It is about helping people to live their best lives, no matter their circumstances. In that sense it is inherently social care which is about enabling the fulness of individual life and contribution.
Social care nursing is not confined by walls. It is not limited to the sterile environment of a hospital ward or the controlled setting of a clinic. Social care nurses work in the real world, in the places where people live their lives. So too do our colleagues in community nursing but the distinctiveness again is that these are nurses who work in specific social care settings. Which are not just buildings but communities of inter-relationships.
They work in care homes that become real homes. They work in a way that seeks to ensure that care must be personalised, sensitive, and respectful of privacy and dignity.
Social care nursing is vital because it meets people where they are. It supports those who are often the most vulnerable, the most marginalised, and the most in need of compassionate, human-centred care. While other types of nursing are undoubtedly critical — whether it is in surgery, in A and E, or in acute care — social care nursing stands apart because it focuses on living, not just surviving. Its focus is on how someone can achieve their potential (not just be maintained and clinically well.)
It is important because social care nurses do not just care for people; they care about people. They do not just address symptoms; they address the whole person. They help individuals manage the complexities of daily life, maintain independence, and achieve their own unique aspirations. They are the link between health and social care, bridging the gap and making the transition from one to the other seamless and person-led.
What unites many of these characteristics is that social care nursing is fundamentally about the development, nurturing and maintaining of long-term relationships. Such relational care is not always possible in other settings, but a social care nurse is (or at least should be) gifted with the ability to enable someone to tell their story, to build a relationship with someone so that trust and openness and confidence can be formed. The practitioner becomes part of the person (and their family’s) story.
But let us be clear — I really do believe that the importance of social care nursing goes beyond the care provided to individuals. Social care nursing is also about shaping communities. It is about advocating for the rights of those we serve, about speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and about ensuring that everyone — regardless of age, ability, or circumstance — has the opportunity to live with dignity and respect.
Therefore, social care nurses are champions of social justice. They challenge inequality and injustice wherever they find it. They do not accept that someone should receive less care because they are older or less attention because they live in a rural community. They believe in fairness, in equality, and in the fundamental human right to care and support.
Social care nurses are innovators. They are creative, adaptive, and resourceful. They are constantly finding new ways to deliver care in challenging environments, to meet needs with limited resources, and to bring about positive change in their communities. Partly this is because of the highly autonomous way in which they work, but if you want a problem solved get a social care nurse!
Why We Must Value Social Care Nursing
So, let us recognise the unique role that social care nurses play. Let us value their work, their dedication, and their compassion. Let us understand that social care nursing is not secondary to any other form of nursing; it is essential. It is essential to the individuals we care for, to the communities we serve, and to the society we seek to build — one that values every person, cherishes every life, and upholds the dignity of all.
Social care nursing is about the moments that matter — the moments of joy, of connection, of comfort, of companionship. It is about being present in someone’s darkest hour, about celebrating their smallest victories, and about ensuring that, whatever their journey, they do not walk it alone.
So today, I hope we can all celebrate social care nursing; recognise its importance, advocate for its value, and ensure that it receives the recognition, the respect, and the support it deserves.
Because when we champion social care nursing, we champion nursing.
Donald Macaskill
Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash
