12th March 2015
154 health visitors celebrated in great style after receiving their Fellowships of the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) from Dr Dan Poulter MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, and Professor Viv Bennett, Director of Nursing, Department of Health and Public Health England, at Church House, Westminster, London, yesterday evening (11 March 2015).
The ceremony, the first of its kind for the Institute of Health Visiting, recognised the professional achievement of 154 exceptional health visitors – creating a new country-wide group of expert and confident health visiting leaders who make a real difference to the health outcomes of children, families and communities.
Dr Dan Poulter MP, in his keynote speech to the Fellows and their guests, acknowledged the impact that health visitors have on children and their families in delivering health and wellbeing improvements. He praised the achievements of the iHV Fellows – endorsing them as leaders of health visiting.
Professor Viv Bennett described how proud she was in the achievements within health visiting both locally and nationally. She told the Fellows that “the future (of the health visiting profession) is safe in your hands.”
Dr Cheryll Adams, Director of the Institute of Health Visiting, said: “We are immensely proud of our Fellows. They have worked hard to be here today. But today is just the beginning of their role as Fellow with the Institute. And together, the Fellows and the iHV, will ensure that health visitors continue to make a real difference to the health outcomes of children and their families.”
After the ceremony, the Fellows and their guests attended a small reception to celebrate and network.
ENDS
Photo caption: Dr Dan Poulter MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, giving the keynote speech at the inaugural conferment of the Fellows of the Institute of Health Visiting on 11 March 2015.
Photo caption: Professor Viv Bennett, Director of Nursing, Department of Health and Public Health England, addressing the Fellows of the Institute of Health Visiting at the inaugural conferment on 11 March 2015.
Photo caption: The 154 Fellows of the Institute of Health Visiting at the inaugural conferment on 11 March 2015.
Photo caption: Emeritus Professor Dame Sarah Cowley addressing the Fellows of the Institute of Health Visiting at the inaugural conferment on 11 March 2015.
For high resolution images or more information contact Julie Cooper, Communications and Marketing Manager at the Institute of Health Visiting on 07508 344716 or [email protected]
Notes to editors
About the iHV Fellows Programme
- The iHV was awarded a grant by the Department of Health to acknowledge 150 exceptional senior health visitors during 2014/15.
- Each candidate goes through a very rigorous application process in which they are assessed for their contributions to health visiting and also to children, families and communities. They need to demonstrate excellence in practice and also their leadership potential. While many are from clinical practice, some are also from education and research.
- The final application phase of 2014 (phase 6) closed at the end of November 2014.
- Future application details will be available at www.ihv.org.uk/fellows
About the Institute of Health Visiting
- The Institute of Health Visiting is A UK Centre of Excellence supporting the development of universally high-quality health visiting practice. It was launched on 28th November 2012 to promote excellence in health visiting practice to benefit all children, families and communities.
- The aim for the iHV is to raise standards in health visiting practice, so improving public health outcomes for all children, families and communities.
- For more information go to www.ihv.org.uk
- Follow the Institute of Health Visiting on Twitter @iHealthVisiting and Facebook
