Thursday, 29 October 2026
The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) is inviting experienced health visitors and school nurses to become Leadership Mentors for its popular Leading Excellence in Practice Programme.
The programme equips health visitors and school nurses with the confidence, skills and capability to lead effectively, influence change and help shape the future of both professions. Through focused learning, reflection and practical application, participants are supported to turn leadership theory into meaningful improvements in practice.
Mentorship is an important aspect of the programme - and this is where you can make a difference. By sharing insight, offering constructive challenge and creating a trusted space for reflection, each mentor helps an emerging leader grow in confidence, identify solutions and put learning into action. Mentors also gain valuable mentoring experience, reciprocal learning and an opportunity to strengthen leadership across health visiting and school nursing.
Could you make a difference as an iHV Leadership Mentor?
Expressions of interest close at 5pm on 22 January 2027. Applicants must be experienced health visitors or school nurses with at least three years’ professional experience and be available for the online mentor preparation workshop on 1 March 2027, 2–3pm.
Ready to develop your own leadership impact?
Book onto the iHV Leading Excellence in Practice Programme and take the next step towards leading with greater confidence, influencing positive change and improving outcomes for babies, children, families and communities.
The rewards of mentoring – what our current mentors say
Mentoring offers a rewarding opportunity to support emerging leaders to build confidence, recognise their strengths and realise their potential. Mentors also benefit through their own learning and development, gaining fresh perspectives, strengthening leadership and coaching skills, expanding professional networks, and reflecting on their own practice. Many describe a strong sense of fulfilment from giving back to the profession, shaping future leaders and leaving a lasting legacy.
Read more below:
“Being a mentor for the Leading Excellence in Practice Programme is a chance to give back to the health visiting community and support others to develop their leadership. For me, it means sharing experience, listening and offering a safe space to think out loud. Conversations about early intervention, service delivery, research and the changing landscape of practice have helped me reflect on my own leadership. Mentoring has reminded me why these matter: helping strengthen the future voice of health visiting practice and leadership. I would encourage others to become mentors and support the next generation of leaders.”
Darren Alderson-Hall
“I have immensely enjoyed being a mentor for the programme over the last few years. It gives me the opportunity to support aspiring leaders, stay connected to practice, and reach into areas of the workforce I might not otherwise encounter. The experience has broadened my perspective, strengthened professional relationships, and helped expand my voice and influence across health visiting. Building on my years of practice and experience as a Practice Teacher, mentoring has been a rewarding way to continue learning while helping others grow and thrive.”
Rebecca Price
“Being a mentor for the Leading Excellence in Practice Development Programme has been a hugely rewarding experience, strengthening my professional development as both an educator and a health visitor. I have developed my ability to support others to recognise their strengths, build confidence and grow as leaders. It has been a privilege to support practitioners to reflect, explore challenges and realise their leadership potential, while continuing to learn and grow through the process myself. Mentoring has deepened my professional and reflective practice and reinforced my passion for nurturing leadership, empowering others and contributing to the future of the health visiting profession. I am grateful for the opportunity.”
Dr Laura Maguire
“Being a mentor on the iHV Leading in Excellence Programme has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Listening to mentees share their stories, hopes, and ambitions for the future has been humbling and inspiring. It has been a privilege as they explore their potential and aspirations. Helping mentees to recognise opportunities and building confidence, skills, ready to seize them when they come along to understand what they truly want from their careers and to take that next step has been a joy. Sharing moments of reflection when they recognise that the timing may not be right now but gain clarity about where they ultimately want to be in the future. I would encourage others to embrace this opportunity. For me, it has created a sense of leaving a legacy through sharing knowledge, experience, and encouragement just as others once did for me, something for which I remain deeply grateful.”
Pauline Bigwood FiHV, QN
“Mentoring future leaders is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting health visitor leaders as they grow in confidence, strengthen their ambitions for children and families, and take time to reflect on their professional journeys. The experience is equally valuable for me, offering insight into the challenges facing leaders today while supporting my own continued development. This mentoring programme is an invaluable opportunity for learning, growth and shared reflection.”
Zoe Sargent RGN, HV, FiHV, QN
“Being a mentor on the Leading Excellence in Practice Programme connects me with health visiting professionals across the country, offering opportunities to share experience and learn from one another. It is a privilege to support colleagues as they recognise their strengths and develop confidence in their leadership. These conversations also encourage me to reflect on my own practice and how my leadership has evolved over the years. As a SCPHN Programme Lead, this connection with practice enriches my teaching and helps me inspire future health visitors. Seeing others grow is both personally rewarding and professionally energising.”
Karen Afford MSc, PG-Cert-ed, BSc(Hons), SCPHN-HV, RGN, FiHV, FHEA, QN
