Midlands Advanced Practice Commissioning Update
The Midlands Regional Faculty for Advancing Practice, the funding expressions of interests (EOI) first round has now closed and we will shortly be opening the second round. These are for Advanced Practice programmes commencing in the 2025/26 financial year. The faculty have been in touch with Advanced Practice Leads, Training Hubs and organisations. Deadlines and timelines can be found in emails that we sent to lead advanced clinical practitioners.
You can find more information within the guidance “A guide to implementing and funding advanced practice education and training in the Midlands”. Should you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at england.apfac.midlands@nhs.net
Regional Advanced Practice Leads Forum – 6th May & any future dates
The Regional Faculty are excited to announce a new regional forum for Advanced Practice Leads. Following feedback in the region, there was overwhelming support for this. We were delighted to have our first forum on the 6th May, 2025.
Advanced Practice Leads should already have received an invite to the forum. If you’ve not yet received an invite and think we’ve missed you off, please get in touch.
We look forward to bringing together Advanced Practice Leads from the whole region along with the regional faculty where we can share updates and best practice. You will receive further information and dates on this new quarterly forum as soon as possible.
Launch of the Refreshed Multi-professional framework for advanced practice in England (2025)
The landscape of advanced practice in England continues to evolve, and 2025 marks a significant milestone with the launch of the newly refreshed Multi-professional framework for advanced practice.
The refreshed framework is the result of extensive collaboration between healthcare professionals, educators, and key stakeholders. Guided by NHS England’s Centre for Advancing Practice, the framework has been designed to ensure alignment with the evolving demands of modern healthcare while maintaining the highest standards of practice.
Key Features of the Refreshed Framework
The 2025 framework builds on the strong foundation of its predecessors while incorporating key updates that reflect the changing landscape:
Introduction: The introduction has been completely reworked to improve clarity and ensure that it is up to date.
Supporting material: Clear implementation resources are included or signposted to enable practical implementation on this refreshed framework.
Language inclusivity: Language has been amended to be more inclusive. From ‘advanced clinical practice’ and ‘advanced clinical practitioner’; to ‘advanced practice’ and ‘advanced practitioner’.
Emphasis on equity and diversity: The framework champions inclusivity, ensuring that the principles of equity, diversity, and cultural competence are embedded within advanced practice roles.
“The Framework is a fundamental underpinning resource in both programme accreditation and practitioner recognition.”
View Multi-professional framework for advanced practice
Workplace supervision for advanced practice: Edition 2
The release of Edition 2 of Workplace Supervision for Advanced Practice marks an exciting new chapter in the ongoing development of advanced practice across England. This refreshed guidance is the product of a huge collaborative effort, with input from healthcare leaders, practitioners, educators, and stakeholders from across the sector.
What’s New in Edition 2?
The significant changes in Edition 2 reflect a commitment to making the guidance more accessible, relevant, and aligned with current healthcare needs. Here are the key updates:
- Retention of 7 Fundamental Considerations: While the core principles of workplace supervision remain steadfast, the updated document ensures these are expressed in a manner that reflects contemporary practice.
- Updated Language: Terminology has been modernised, transitioning fully to the use of “advanced practice” to maintain consistency with national standards and frameworks.
- Improved Readability: The document has been shortened and made more concise, enhancing accessibility for supervisors and practitioners alike.
- Stronger Links to the Health and Care Act 2008: Employer responsibilities under the Health and Care Act (HSC Act) are now clearly outlined, emphasizing the importance of organizational accountability in providing effective supervision.
- Updated Links to Supporting Resources: Hyperlinks to guidance, templates, and tools have been refreshed to ensure supervisors have easy access to the latest resources.
- Appendices Transformed into Resources: Previously included appendices have been converted into stand-alone resources, streamlining the document while maintaining comprehensive support.
- Aligned with NHS England Branding: The refreshed document aligns with NHS England’s current branding, ensuring consistency with other national publications.
- Condensed Supervisor Development Section: Guidance on supervisor development has been condensed and linked directly to the Supervisor Capabilities Guidance, making it easier for users to navigate and apply in practice.
A Testament to the Suite of Supervision Resources
The changes in Edition 2 highlight the robust suite of supervision resources now available for advanced practice. These resources, including the Minimum Standards for Supervision, Supervisor Capabilities Guidance, and other tools, provide a comprehensive framework to ensure high-quality supervision across all advanced practice roles.
Why This Matters
Workplace supervision is a cornerstone of advanced practice, supporting practitioners to deliver safe, effective, and innovative care. By strengthening the links between guidance, employer responsibilities, and national policy, Edition 2 empowers organizations and supervisors to create environments where advanced practitioners can thrive.
Looking Ahead
The launch of Edition 2 is not just a milestone—it’s a call to action for all involved in advanced practice to embrace and embed these updated standards. Whether you are a supervisor, practitioner, or employer, these resources are designed to support you in delivering the highest standards of care.
For more information and to access the full suite of resources, visit the Centre for Advancing Practice website.
Workplace supervision for advanced practice
National Education and Training Survey (NETS) 2024 Results
The results of the national education and training survey (NETS) 2024 are now available. NETS is the only national survey of learners across all healthcare education and training settings providing valuable insights into their experiences.
NETS results provide critical insights into the quality of the learning environment through the eyes of the learners. Questions are organised around the five themes: induction, clinical supervision, facilities, learning opportunities and teamwork. For the first time this year there were questions relating specifically to those in advanced practice training programmes.
This information helps us work collaboratively, both regionally and nationally, with education providers and placement organisations to enhance learning conditions for all healthcare learners.
These insights will play a vital role in shaping future enhancements to healthcare education and training. It will ensure that learners receive the support they need to thrive. Such improvements are essential for creating a highly skilled and motivated workforce. This is a cornerstone of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.
We invite you to explore the results and see how learner experiences are shaping the future of healthcare education.
The Midlands Faculty would like to thank learners who took the time to complete and share their valuable insights. Alongside our practice and academic partners in their promotion of the survey to their learners.
Thank you for your continued support in improving healthcare education and training.
Area Specific Capability and Curriculum Frameworks
New area specific capability and curriculum frameworks are available on the Centre for Advancing Practice’s website. These were added over the last few months. The area specific capabilities now available include; Musculo-skeletal conditions, Paediatric and Child Health, and Respiratory. You can access more information and details on all Centre-endorsed area specific capabilities on the Centre’s dedicated webpage
Centre for Advancing Practice Masterclass Series
Join us for an inspiring materclass series hosted by the Centre for Advancing Practice, designed to support the continued growth and excellence of the advanced and consultant practice workforce. This series brings together national leaders and subject matter experts to explore the latest developments in policy, practice, and professional development.
You can read full details on the dedicated Masterclass Series webpage.
Information on some upcoming webinars are below.
Webinar 1: Centre for Advancing Practice – Unlocking Potential
3rd July 2025 12:30 to 13:30
Join us for an energising opening session that sets the stage for this year’s series of Advancing Practice Master classes with a deep dive into the evolving landscape of advanced practice in England. Katie Cooper and Julian Barratt from the Centre for Advancing Practice will introduce the new Masterclass series—designed to inspire, inform, and elevate advanced practice across the NHS.
Webinar 2: Raising the Bar: Advanced Practice Supervision
5th August 17:00 to 18:00
Supervision is a cornerstone of safe, effective, and sustainable advanced practice. This session introduces the national minimum standards for supervision, providing clarity on expectations for both supervisors and supervisees across the advanced practice workforce. Attendees will explore the principles underpinning high-quality supervision, the structures that support it, and the role it plays in professional development, clinical governance, and workforce retention. Whether you’re new to supervision or refining your approach.
Webinar 3: Governance Matters: Building Confidence in Advanced and Consultant Practice
15th September 15:00 to 16:00
Effective governance is the backbone of safe, high-quality advanced and consultant-level practice. This masterclass will explore the essential components of the minimum standards guidance. Including the upcoming developments of the governance maturity matrix. Attendees will gain clarity on how robust governance supports role development, service impact, and patient safety—while aligning with national expectations. Whether you’re developing governance structures or refining existing ones, this session offers practical insights and strategic guidance.
Upcoming Advanced Practice in Midwifery Conference
A conference will take place in September 2025 at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire for Advanced Practice in Midwifery. It will be an all-day event, bringing together qualified advanced clinical practitioners in Midwifery from across the country. They will give accounts of their role and demonstrate the benefits that it has to patients, employers and colleagues. All stakeholders are welcome, but limited places are available. This conference is independent to NHS England.
For further information please contact either Elizabeth Bennett Hayes e.bennetthayes@nhs.net or Pippa Clark Pippa.Clark4@nhs.net.
Case Study: Lead Surgical Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Annalie Baker is the lead surgical advanced clinical practitioner at South Warwickshire University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She has been able to grow the team over the last six years. It was just her and one other trainee to begin with, they are now a team of three qualified surgical advanced clinical practitioners, and three trainees. Read Annalie’s case study to find out more.
Midlands Advanced Practice Forum – Conference 2025 Update
We held our third regional Conference on Friday 21st March 2025 at The Studio, Birmingham for a whole-day in-person event.
We would like to thank all our delegates who attended from across the Midlands. With almost 140 delegates in the room from a multi-professional background, there were Physiotherapists, Pharmacists and Paramedics included with our many Nurses, working as Advanced Practitioners across the region.
Many contemporary issues were addressed for our multi-professional practitioners, educators and employers.
We would like to thank Natalie Ruscoe, the Midlands Faculty Lead for providing the regional update. We also had the pleasure to hear from Katie Cooper, Head of Multi-Professional Advanced Practice who presented an update on NHS England National Standards of Advanced Practice Governance. Professor Rob Crouch also presented on Consultant Level Practice.
It was a great success, and we have had great feedback from delegates, speakers and sponsors, who supported our event on this occasion.
We will continue to provide the opportunity to network and support advanced practitioners across the region, with our next virtual event on the 2nd July 2025, with a Primary Care focus. Following this, at our next roadshow in person event in October 2025, details and date to be confirmed.
We have our Forum website which you can visit – The Midlands Advanced Practice Forum. The website includes resources relating to previous activity and a live membership database of advanced practitioners. To enable administration of the website and database, there is a membership subscription fee of £40/annum (£10/quarter) for those who consent to join.
We look forward to seeing you at our next event and as always, a big thank you from Mary Hutchinson, Forum chair and myself Hirminder K Ubhi, Forum Co-chair.