This article outlines the development of a new way of working across a group of care homes in south east Wales, based on a philosophy of relationship-centred care and an ethos of empowerment for older people in the homes. The underpinning aim was to enable residents to have a good quality of life, reflecting recommendations made by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales in a 2014 review into the quality of life and care of older people living in care homes in the country.

After the introduction of the new way of working, the care home group were approached by a university to take part in a collaborative project offering nursing students clinical placements in the care homes, mentored by registered nurses employed there. The collaboration between the university and the care homes meant that nursing students became enveloped in the person-centred culture, receiving positive exposure to nursing older people early in their careers. It is hoped that the clinical placements may encourage them to consider careers in the specialty.