The Institute of Health Visiting is delighted to announce that its Innovation and Research Team has been shortlisted in six categories at the Nursing Times Awards 2026.
iHV Innovation & Research Team
The shortlists recognise the team’s leadership in advancing research, tackling health inequalities, and driving innovation in perinatal mental health and public health nursing.
The team’s work has been shortlisted for the Clinical Research Nursing Award for Embedding Clinical Research Leadership in Health Visiting: A Nurse-Led National Capacity-Building Initiative. This pioneering initiative is helping to build research capability within the health visiting profession, empowering health visitors to become active contributors to and leaders of clinical research.
Five further nominations recognise the impact of Invisible, an evidence-based film initiative focused on fathers’ mental health during the perinatal period. Developed by the iHV Innovation and Research Team and grounded in the research of Dr Sharin Baldwin, Invisible was made possible through funding from The Burdett Trust for Nursing. Created in collaboration with Inner Eye Productions, practitioners, educators, parents and partners, the initiative aims to raise awareness of paternal mental health, challenge stigma, and support more inclusive, whole-family care.
Since its launch, the film has reached more than 12,400 viewers and is being embedded into training, supervision and clinical practice across the UK and beyond.
The Invisible initiative has been shortlisted for the following categories:
- Public Health Nursing Award
- Nursing in the Community Award
- Nursing in Mental Health Award
- Dame Elizabeth Anionwu Award for Inclusivity in Nursing and Midwifery
In addition, the iHV Innovation and Research Team has been shortlisted for Team of the Year, recognising the multidisciplinary collaboration that has successfully brought fathers’ mental health into focus and driven meaningful change in practice.
Commenting on the achievement, the team said:
“We are incredibly proud to see our work recognised across so many categories. These nominations reflect the dedication of our team and partners, as well as our commitment to ensuring that research, innovation and inclusive practice improve outcomes for babies, children, parents and families. We are particularly pleased to see fathers’ mental health receiving the attention it deserves as a key public health issue.”
Alison Morton OBE, iHV CEO commented:
“We are absolutely delighted that our Innovation and Research Team has been recognised in the shortlist across six categories at the Nursing Times Awards 2026. This remarkable achievement reflects not only their leadership in advancing research and innovation, but also their unwavering commitment to tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes for babies, children and families.
The recognition of our groundbreaking film, Invisible, is particularly significant, as it shines a much-needed spotlight on fathers’ mental health and the importance of inclusive, whole-family care. I am incredibly proud of the team and our partners for driving meaningful change in practice and ensuring that the voice of research continues to shape and strengthen health visiting.”
The iHV congratulates all those involved and looks forward to celebrating with fellow finalists at the Nursing Times Awards in October this year.
