2nd March 2026
New iHV Resource Launched to Support the Application of the NMC 2022 Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) in Health Visiting Practice
The Institute of Health Visiting has today launched a new practical resource designed to support SCPHN health visitors, SCPHN student health visitors, and practice educators in applying the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (NMC 2022) within everyday health visiting practice.
The new iHV resource, Applying the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses in Health Visiting Practice provides a comprehensive range of practical suggestions of examples of health visiting practice mapped directly to the NMC 2022 Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses. It has been created to:
- Assist SCPHN student health visitors by listing a range of health visiting practice examples mapped to the NMC 2022 Standards of Proficiency for SCPHNs, to assist students with identifying learning opportunities and developing learning plans and actions to achieve proficiency against each standard
- Support SCPHN practice assessors and supervisors who facilitate learning opportunities and develop joint learning plans to enable timely and successful student progression
- Offer a professional development tool for NMC registered SCPHN-health visitors undertaking preceptorship or revalidation, helping them demonstrate alignment with the NMC Standards of Proficiency for SCPHNs.
This guidance was co‑produced by a group of 2025 iHV Fellow Scholars, led by Amanda Holland, Education, Learning and Development Lead, iHV. Contributors included: Angela Davy, Nikki Freeman, Victoria Howard, Knoena Hussey, Lisa London, Jean Mukarati, Betheny Oakes, Lowri Rizzo, Lucy Taylor, and Louise Wolstenholme. iHV extends a huge thanks to all contributors – their collective knowledge and dedication have been instrumental in shaping this resource.
This resource also supports the learning and development of health visitors attending the new iHV Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor Development Programme. See here for more information and to reserve your place.
Amanda Holland, Education, Learning and Development Lead, iHV, says:
“We listened to our members who identified a clear need for this resource, and from my scoping across the four nations I am confident it will offer valuable support to SCPHN student health visitors and those guiding their development, as well as supporting preceptorship and revalidation processes. It was a pleasure to lead this project in collaboration with a group of iHV Fellow Scholars. I’m hugely grateful to them for their valuable contribution to this project.”
Amanda Holland, Education, Learning and Development Lead, iHV
Sophie Dade – SCPHN Student Health Visitor, Anglia Ruskin University, says:
“The resource is extremely helpful in translating the proficiencies into practical examples that can be applied to everyday practise experiences. The proficiencies can sometimes feel complex and difficult to interpret in terms of what is specifically required however, this guidance breaks them down in a clear and understandable way. I know it will help myself, and hopefully other SCPHN health visiting students to feel a little less overwhelmed and more confident in evidencing their competence in practice.”
Sophie Dade – SCPHN Student Health Visitor, Anglia Ruskin University
Dr Michelle Moseley – Director of Programmes, iHV, says:
“The supervision and assessment of SCPHN students differs significantly from that of undergraduate nurses. This resource will be highly valued by SCPHN practice assessors and supervisors, offering a strong example of co‑production that reflects the specific needs of SCPHN learners. Aligned with NMC standards, it provides a supportive and practical guide to enhance assessors’ and supervisors’ roles in supporting SCPHN students.”
Dr Michelle Moseley, iHV Director of Programmes
Angela Davy – Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for SCPHN, Brunel University of London
“It has been a privilege to work with the iHV and iHV Fellow Scholars to co-produce a document to support all key players involved in SCPHN education and training. This resource goes a long way towards planning health visiting activities and preparing evidence to meet the core and field-specific SCPHN Standards of Proficiency (NMC, 2022). I anticipate this resource will not only benefit those involved in the supervision and assessment of students, but also qualified practitioners seeking more information to support revalidation”
Angela Davy – Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for SCPHN, Brunel University of London
The Institute of Health Visiting offers a wide range of learning and development training programmes to support practitioners in their professional development. See https://ihv.org.uk/ for more information or contact [email protected] or [email protected]
