STUDENTS on health and social care programmes at the City of Oxford College will be able to put their skills to the test at a new high-tech care suite from September.

An existing section of the campus in Oxpens Road is undergoing a £400,000 makeover to make way for the new facility.

It will include a hospital training suite in the form of a simulated hospital ward and a home care training suite that mimics a residential care home.

Health and Social Care foundation degree programme co-ordinator Shelly Everett said: "We are very excited about it.

"It gives the students the chance to practice their skills – not on real patients, and me the ability to see them in a workplace, and their mannerisms.

"It's all very well being able to teach a skill theoretically, but to perform that and be able to watch them has loads of opportunities."

Facilities will include a welcome area and a six-bed simulated ward, with dummies for practice and one glass wall so students can be observed.

There will also be a home care room, medicine and equipment storage areas and breakout learning zones.

Ms Everett added: "They will also be able to practice non-invasive stuff on each other, which gives them the patient's perspective as well."

Between 40 and 50 health and social care (HSC) students will be using the facility but it will be available to other students if required, as well as people working at local care homes or home care companies. The facility was funded by a grant from the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and aims to address a skills shortage in the sector.

Paul Newman, executive director for the services to the public faculty at Activate Learning, said: “Oxfordshire is facing major challenges in terms of the future capacity and capability of the adult social care workforce. There is rising demand for care services as a result of an ageing population.

“It is estimated that the social care workforce needs to grow by 750 new jobs every year to 2025 to keep pace with demand.

"We believe that this new care suite will help to attract more young people to consider working in the sector, and will offer them an excellent preparation in the realities of working in hospital and residential settings.”

The opening of the suite will coincide with the launch of the college's new technology campus in Blackbird Leys.