Tags: funding

Level 7 Apprenticeship Funding Briefing

Following a period of uncertainty about the future of the apprenticeship route for health visitor (SCPHN) training, we are delighted to hear that NHS England (NHSE) and the Department of Health and Social Care have secured a commitment for the continued funding of Level 7 apprenticeships in five professions in health and social care until 2029 – and this includes the apprenticeship option for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) training, including health visitors.

In March, the Institute of Health Visiting raised its concerns to the government about its proposal to remove level 7 apprenticeship funding to those over 21. If enacted, this move would have had significant consequences for nurses and midwives wanting to access SCPHN health visitor training through the apprenticeship route.

This week’s “Level 7 Apprenticeship Funding Briefing” from NHS England has been welcomed by the health visiting sector – it sets out the intention to provide funding for apprenticeships in five professions which have been identified as being vital for the delivery of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and will support the continued professional development of staff to better care for patients and the public. The five professions are:

  • Advanced clinical practitioner
  • Specialist community public health nurse
  • District nurse (Community Specialist Practice Qualification)
  • Clinical associate in psychology (CAP)
  • Population health intelligence specialists (PHIS)

The funding will be delivered through a Level 7 Apprenticeship Mitigation Fund that employers will be able to apply for. Funding distribution will be across the country and based on workforce need, training provider capacity and the priorities set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. There is a finite amount of money available, and places will therefore be capped.

Available funding

The fund is available to a range of employers including:

  • National organisations
  • Integrated care boards
  • NHS trusts
    • Providers of NHS and public health services including: primary care organisations
    • independent providers of NHS or Local Authority commissioned services
    • integrated health and social care organisations
    • third sector charitable providers of NHS or Local Authority commissioned services
    • any other organisation with which the NHS or Local Authority public health has a contract to deliver services.
Read the full “Level 7 Apprenticeship Funding Briefing” here

iHV – one of The KPMG Foundation’s 25@25 charities

iHV is proud to announce that we have been selected as one of The KPMG Foundation’s 25@25 charities.

KPMG Foundation is an independent grant-making charity, supported by KPMG in the UK to strengthen society through strengthening communities, promoting lifelong learning, and improving essential skills and social mobility for children and young people from more disadvantaged communities.

To mark their 25th anniversary in 2025, The KPMG Foundation has developed a special grants programme, to award 25 additional grants totalling £625,000. Through their own research and with the help of other grant makers and partners, The Foundation identified 25 charities to receive one year of core funding to support babies, children, young people and families, in localities that can be overlooked, and where communities find it hardest to fundraise.

Alison Morton, CEO iHV, said:

“We are delighted to have been selected as one of The KPMG Foundation’s 25@25 new charities for 2025. The Foundation’s longstanding dedication to improving the lives of the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK, so they are ‘safe, healthy, happy and learning’, aligns very closely with our mission and values at the Institute of Health Visiting. We are indebted to the Foundation for their support and partnership with us – and are enjoying working with them as we shape some exciting plans together, with some big news coming soon!”

The KPMG Foundation’s 25@25

New NIHR fellowships for Local Authority and LA commissioned service staff

The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) is currently developing some new fully-funded fellowship opportunities that it plans to make available from early next year. These new fellowships will only be available to individuals based within local authorities and LA commissioned services.

These two pilot schemes are being designed to support individuals based in local authorities or local authority commissioned services to develop as health and/or social care researchers.

Pre-doctoral Fellowships for Local Authority and LA Commissioned Service Based Individuals

The scheme will fund individuals of any profession to undertake Masters level academic training and prepare an application for a doctoral fellowship whilst retaining their existing employment and practice.

Indicative timescales

  • Application forms available: 28 January 2021
  • Deadline for application submission: 18 March 2021
  • Award uptake by successful applicants: from 1 September 2021
Find out more about Pre-doctoral Fellowships for Local Authority and LA Commissioned Service Based Individuals

Doctoral Fellowships for Local Authority and LA Commissioned Service Based Individuals

The scheme will fund individuals of any profession to obtain a PhD by research whilst concurrently developing their professional skills within their existing employment.

Indicative timescales

  • Application forms available: 1 March 2021
  • Deadline for application submission: Late April 2021
  • Award uptake by successful applicants: From 1 April 2022
Find out more about Doctoral Fellowships for Local Authority and LA Commissioned Service Based Individuals

 

Increasing demand and a lack of resources are leaving children’s needs unmet

A survey of local councillors responsible for children’s services confirms an increasing crisis in children’s social care, with the overwhelming majority (87%) saying that demand for local authority support for children and families has risen over the past two years. The findings suggest many councils are struggling to provide this help.

The new report, published by the National Children’s Bureau, found that two-thirds of councillors have warned their council doesn’t have enough funding to provide universal services for children and families.

It also found 41% of councillors said a lack of funding was preventing them from meeting their statutory duties to children, with 36% saying there was insufficient funding to help children in care.

The report – Off the Radar – calls for increased funding for children’s social care, better data collection and sharing, and a cross-Government strategy for improving children’s lives.

Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, executive director iHV, said:

“Health visitors, now commissioned by the local authorities, provide the universal preventative service for children and families. It’s alarming to see the effects of decommissioning on both children’s public health and social care services.”

Read NCB's release

Funding for Maternity Safety Training

The Secretary of State has announced £8m funding available for Maternity Safety Training.

All Trusts are being encouraged to apply with a minimum of £40k to be allocated to every Trust.  Bids will go to the nominated Regional Leads who are undertaking the shortlisting process; this will be followed by a panel review to determine the level of award to each Trust (this can be up to £80k).

The deadline to submit bids is 5pm Friday 18 November 2016.

Download the Application Form and Maternity Safety Training Catalogue

iHV signs RCN letter to The Times: The nation’s health is at stake

The iHV is proud to sign a letter to The Times calling on the Government to secure funding for health visiting services – The nation’s health is at stake.

The letter from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) calls on the Government to halt health visitor cuts, in order to prevent further deterioration of the nation’s health.

Five years since the launch of the Government’s Health Visitor Implementation Plan, which invested significant funds in training more that 4,000 new health visitors, posts are now being cut throughout England.

According to the latest workforce figures, the number of health visitors in England has been falling since the start of 2016, with a significant drop of 433 posts between March and April alone. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this drop is just the start of a significant reduction in the number of these crucial services, due to cuts in Local Authority budgets.

The RCN letter to The Times, signed by major health organisations including the RCPCH, the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), the National Children’s Bureau and the iHV, calls for health visitor funding to be protected to secure remaining services and their major contribution to public health.

The letter aims to illustrate the crucial value of health visiting and the detrimental consequences cutting these services could have for children and families.

The letter’s publication corresponds to today’s RCN round-table event to collectively look at how to minimise the public health cuts.

Download Letter to The Times

 

 

MMHA update: Independent Evaluation launch and funding announcement

As a partner and a member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) operations group, the iHV is delighted to share this good news.

Launch of independent evaluation of Everyone’s Business Campaign

Today, Tuesday 19 July, sees the launch of the independent evaluation of the MMHA Everyone’s Business Campaign.

This evaluation highlights the substantial impact the campaign has had; the reasons for the impact, and where the campaign will need to focus in the future.

Please find below the direct links to the Briefing Paper (just two pages) and the full report:

2 page briefing paper, with a summary of the report's main findings

Copy of the full independent report

Please use #everyonesbusiness when mentioning in social media!

MMHA Everyone’s Business Funding announcement

Also, hot off the press, fantastic news! Comic Relief confirmed that the follow-up funding for the MMHA and the Everyone’s Business Campaign has been secured! See below:

A grant of £750,000 has been secured from Comic Relief.  This is intended to:

The grant will continue to be hosted by Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) on behalf of the MMHA

MMHA says:

a huge thank you for all your on-going support – the outcomes of the evaluation and further funding is a reflection of how well the alliance has worked collectively.