17th October 2025

Ahead of our upcoming popular webinar to celebrate the first anniversary of the iHV Preceptorship Framework for Health Visiting, we are thrilled to publish this Voices blog by Jade McMurray, Health Visitor at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland, who shares reflections on her preceptorship journey.

You will also hear from Jade at our live webinar Celebrating One Year of Impact  on 22 October 2025 (09:30-11:00), along with other preceptees and preceptors from across the four nations, who will be sharing their experiences of how the iHV Preceptorship Framework is supporting local preceptorship arrangements and enhancing preceptorship experiences.

Join our celebration event – book your place today here or scan the QR code below:

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“It’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay not to know everything yet. You’re not alone. You’ve got a Framework, a team, and a voice. Use that voice to speak up for what matters — and you’ll transform lives.”

 

 

 

 

Humble Beginnings

I’m finally here. The year has flown in. All the paperwork is signed off, the assignments and exams passed — all the blood, sweat and tears flowing down the rivers of yesteryears.

I’m congratulated and told I’m finally qualified as a health visitor.

Oh no — what have I done?

My knees are knocking. I don’t feel like a health visitor. What does that even feel like? I’m like a rabbit caught in the headlights — or worse, the frightened rabbit behind the wheel of a moving car, trying to learn to drive in my first year. Am I going to have to look in the mirror every morning, flex my muscles, and affirm: “I am a health visitor — hear me roar!” until it feels real?

Hello Preceptorship!

Like learning to drive, the real learning begins after qualification. That’s where Preceptorship comes in — think of it as ‘R’ plates (known as ‘P’ plates in England, Scotland and Wales) for newly qualified health visitors. It’s a structured, preceptee-led process with a team to support your learning needs. This sparked a real sense of proactivity in my journey.

I was encouraged to use my muscles as an autonomous practitioner — and use them I did! The Framework helped me take responsibility for my development while providing a culture of psychological safety. In short, Preceptorship became my seatbelt and map, helping me steer the metaphorical car forward without crashing.

Putting It Into Perspective

The iHV UK Preceptorship Framework for Health Visiting uses a three-tier threshold to track development over time — growing, embedding, and thriving.

Around the five-month mark, I was deep in my caseload and juggling safeguarding work too. I sat down with my practice teacher, Una, and admitted I didn’t feel like I was meeting the standards. I felt overwhelmed, behind, and unsure.

But Una, using the Framework, showed me that I was exactly where I needed to be. It was like the clouds parted. For the first time in a while, I felt peace and self-acceptance. That simple Framework gave me clarity and helped me recognise my progress.

It also gave my preceptors a clear, yet flexible, guide to support me. It aligned with the NMC Code while staying person-centred and practical. Most of all, it created a safe and positive space for real learning.

It Takes a Village

They say it takes a village to raise a child — and honestly, it takes a village to support a newly qualified health visitor, too. Through Preceptorship, I discovered my own community of champions.

Here are some of the people that supported me and this is what they have to say:

“In my experience the Preceptorship Framework was user friendly and helped the preceptee identify those areas where they needed more experience and clarification. This in turn gave them the tools and confidence to tackle any learning needs going forward in their role as a health visitor. ”
Caroline Burnside, Preceptor/Practice Teacher

 

“Supporting Jade and her preceptors on their journey has been a pleasure. Navigating the framework and sharing goals with a structured approach has ensured Jade has been able to develop at a pace that suits her learning. Jade has grown  in confidence and continues to enjoy her new role and a desire for lifelong learning.”
Barbara Keenan, Clinical Educator

“Working as a Health Visiting Clinical Educator, I believe the iHV  Preceptorship Framework is proving to be a wonderful tool to support newly qualified SCPHN health visitors settle into their new workplace by recognising their specialist knowledge and autonomous skills. Preceptorship is essential to support, guide and value integrating new SCPHN health visiting practitioners into the Health Visiting Team.

“The Preceptorship Framework supports nurturing newly qualified health visitors by encouraging and valuing personal and professional growth. It promotes and facilitates one-to-one support and practice-based learning in a secure and protected environment. This preceptorship model will contribute to sustaining a health visiting workforce that will continue to deliver safe and effective person-centred care, reduce inequalities, and improve health outcomes for babies, children, families and communities.”
Siobhan Jackson, Clinical Educator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Other Side

Now that I’m on the other side, I won’t pretend I know it all. But one of the biggest lessons in health visiting is that you don’t have to. It’s not about knowing everything — it’s about relationship building. With families. With your team. With yourself.

You become a solution-finder, a signposter, a voice — sometimes for families, sometimes for yourself. And that voice gets stronger with every conversation, every reflection, every team huddle.

The Framework helped build those skills through regular reflection and learning agreements. If I hit a bump, there was always a game plan. That gave me hope — that maybe I do have what it takes to grow into a health visitor who truly makes a difference.

The biggest takeaway? Confidence is contagious. Once you feel supported, once you start recognising your own growth, you begin to believe in yourself. And from that belief, you’re able to give more — to babies, children, families, and communities alike.

I now proudly say: I am a health visitor. Hear me roar!

Not because I know it all, but because I’m committed to learning, growing, and showing up.

Gratitude from the Heart

To everyone who supported me — thank you.

To my mentors, Danielle and Leeann; the Knockbreda HV team; my team lead Leah Semple; my preceptors Caroline Burnside and Una Donnelly; clinical educators Barbara Keenan and Siobhan Jackson; the safeguarding team; and SGNS Suzie Kerr — your guidance has shaped the practitioner I’m becoming. I’m endlessly grateful.

And to every newly qualified HV reading this — it’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay not to know everything yet. You’re not alone. You’ve got a Framework, a team, and a voice. Use that voice to speak up for what matters — and you’ll transform lives.

Jade McMurray, Health Visitor, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland

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Tune In Before You Join Us! Listen to our new Podcast episode on Preceptorship

Listen to our special podcast exploring the value of preceptorship where Amanda Holland, iHV’s Professional Education, Learning and Development Lead is joined by colleagues from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland – Newly Qualified Health Visitor Jade McMurray, Barbara Keenan, Clinical Educator for Health Visiting and Caroline Burnside, Health Visitor and Practice Teacher.
Jade, Barbara and Caroline share their insights and lived experiences around the impact of preceptorship and how the iHV UK Preceptorship Framework for Health Visiting is supporting preceptorship arrangements.