Revalidation for nurses and midwives
consultation phase 2
July 2014
In September 2013 the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) announced
it was committed to implementing revalidation of nurses and midwives by
the end of 2015
There are over 670,000 nurse and midwives on the NMC register working
across health, social care and the voluntary sector. Almost 50 per cent are
employed within the NHS in England.
The model does not replicate that introduced by the GMC. The NMC have
different legislation which restricts what they are able to introduce without
legislative change.
The consultation provides the opportunity for employers to shape how the
policy intention can be shaped for practical implementation.
Key dates
•
May – August 2014: Phase 2 of the NMC’s public consultation on the draft revised
Code and revalidation guidance
•
July 2014 – March 2015: NMC working with key stakeholders to prepare the piloting
phase
•
December 2014: Final drafts of the revised code and revalidation guidance presented
to the NMC Council for agreement
•
December 2014: Revised Code and draft revalidation guidance will be published
•
April – October 2015: Model and guidance tested and evaluated in UK-wide pilots /
early implementers
•
November 2015: NMC Council decides if the revalidation model should go ahead
•
December 2015: Revalidation process will be launched
•
From January 2016: Revalidation for all nurses and midwives will commence upon
renewal of their registration with the NMC
Revalidation proposals
The proposed revalidation model replaces current three-yearly renewal and the
Notification of Practice Form. Each time a nurse or midwife renews their
registration they will be required to take personal responsibility for declaring
they continue to remain fit to practice. Alongside this they will need to declare
that they have:
• received confirmation that their declaration of fitness to practice is reliable in
accordance with the NMC Code;
• obtained third party feedback, which has informed reflection on their practice
based on the requirements of the Code, for example from patients, relatives
or colleagues; and
• met the requirements for practice hours and continuing professional
development (CPD).
Confirmation
The proposed revalidation model includes an element of ‘third-party’ checking. This
element will require a nurse or midwife to include with their declaration a confirmation
from another UK registered nurse or midwife, or their employer (or both if these are not
the same person) that they remain fit to practice in accordance with the NMC Code.
In order to provide assurance that the nurse or midwife can continue to practise,
confirmation will have two elements:
•
•
The confirmer must oversee their practice e.g. an employer/supervisor/ manager.
The confirmer must currently be a UK registered nurse or midwife, familiar with the
nurse or midwife’s practice or they must have discussed their practice with them.
If one person cannot fulfil both of these duties, the nurse or midwife can seek
confirmation from two people, as long as each of them meets one of the elements and
together they meet the level of assurance required.
Reflective feedback
The revalidation process will require nurses and midwives to collect and review
feedback they receive, and reflect on how they can use it to improve current
practice.
Nurses and midwives will not be asked to provide the feedback itself to the
NMC. Instead, they will need to collate and provide a minimum of five reflective
accounts of how feedback that they have received has improved or affirmed
their practice and have discussed these as part of their confirmation.
Appraisal
As far as possible, it will be the aim that revalidation will build on existing
processes. For most nurses and midwives, the annual appraisal should
provide the main source of third-party confirmation, and also help them to
reflect on their practice.
Therefore, the NMC recommend that confirmation is made as part of an
appraisal in which the nurse or midwife and their confirmer discuss:
• The nurse or midwife’s practice in relation to the NMC Code.
• The nurse or midwife’s reflective accounts of feedback.
Actions for employers to consider
1. Engage with the consultation:
• There is a lot to be determined as part of the consultation to ensure the
model can be implemented successfully.
• NHS Employers will be seeking an employers view during the consultation
period to ensure we can continue to provide a collective and representative
view to the NMC.
2. Raise awareness amongst nurses and midwives within your workforce of the
consultation and start local communication and engagement activity:
•
•
Create a communications plan specific to your organisations needs.
Ensure you work with local staff side representatives
throughout the process.
Actions to be taken by your organisation
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POPULATE WITH ANY OF YOUR OWN
LOCALLY PLANNED ACTIVITY