Preparing for the Future of Regulation
As NHS England’s #10Years3Shifts1Mission conference takes place this week, we’re proud to celebrate Advanced Practice Week 2025 by spotlighting a major milestone for our workforce, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Principles for Advanced Practice.
Across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Advanced Practitioners play a vital role in delivering safe, effective, and person-centred care. From clinical decision-making to leadership and innovation, these professionals are helping shape a stronger, more sustainable healthcare system for the future.
What Are the NMC Principles for Advanced Practice?
Currently, there is no national regulation for advanced practice. The NMC Principles for Advanced Practice, developed in collaboration with the NHS England Centre for Advancing Practice (CfAP), aim to change that, by creating a national framework for professional standards, governance, and accountability.
These principles are designed to:
Promote excellence in practice and leadership
Ensure safe, effective care across settings
Strengthen governance and assurance structures
Support practitioners to be “regulation ready” ahead of full implementation in 2029
Defining Advanced Practice
The NMC describes an advanced practitioner as:
A registered nurse or midwife working at an advanced level is an expert professional with additional postgraduate education and experience. They use their evidence-informed knowledge, skills and capability to influence, shape, deliver and lead safe and effective care, while managing risk, uncertainty and complexity.
For the public, this means knowing that advanced practitioners have undertaken further education and training to deliver expert, higher-level care, safely, autonomously, and compassionately.
The Four Pillars of Advanced Practice
The principles reaffirm the four well-established pillars that underpin advanced practice:
Clinical Practice – delivering complex, evidence-based care.
Leadership and Management – driving improvement, influencing systems, and mentoring others.
Education – supporting the development of the next generation of practitioners.
Research – embedding evidence and innovation into everyday practice.
Each principle supports professionals and employers in embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of care delivery.
Supporting Employers and Professionals
The NMC Principles outline responsibilities for both individual practitioners and employing organisations:
For individuals, they provide guidance on professional expectations, governance, and self-assessment.
For employers, they outline how to create supportive structures and cultures that enable advanced practitioners to thrive.
Together, these principles help ensure that the advanced practice workforce is supported, recognised, and empowered to deliver at the highest standard.
Nottinghamshire as Early Adopters
Strengthening local collaboration
Providing tailored guidance
Regulation ready ahead of 2029
Here in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, we are proud to be early adopters of the NMC Principles for Advanced Practice.
Our region already has a strong foundation in place, including dedicated Advanced Practice organisational leads, a Notts AP Steering Group, and robust governance and assurance frameworks.
As early adopters, our focus will be on:
Strengthening local collaboration across Notts, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire
Providing tailored guidance for employers and practitioners
Ensuring that all advanced practitioners are regulation ready ahead of 2029
Meet Your Advanced Practice Leads
Our Advanced Practice Leads — Kate Knowles (Nottingham & Nottinghamshire ICS) and Paul Wade (Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Primary Care) — are leading this work locally.
They’re here to provide guidance, share resources, and support both individuals and organisations in aligning with the new principles.
📩 For support or advice, contact:
Join our new WhatsApp Community
Our Developing and Supporting Notts Primary Care WhatsApp Community is now live, and already bringing together colleagues from across the system!
It’s a dedicated space to:
✅ Stay up to date with training, events, and development opportunities
✅ Connect with peers and share best practice
✅ Access resources to help you learn, grow, and thrive in your role
We’re thrilled to see so many members already joining and contributing, it’s a fantastic way to stay connected and be part of a supportive primary care network.
Together, let’s celebrate our advanced practitioners, the leaders, innovators, and educators shaping the future of healthcare.
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