Advanced Practice Hub

Information on and relevant to Advanced Practitioners

For further information or guidance please email bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net.

Accomplishments of BNSSG Training Hub Advanced Practice Fellow

This pictorial was developed to signpost to available resources and celebrate the success of the BNSSG Training Hub Advanced Practice Fellow.

If you would like to download this pictorial please click here.

Levels of Advancing Practice

If you have any questions relating to Advanced, Enhanced or Consultant Practice please email bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net

Enhanced Practice Advanced Practice Consultant Practice

Advanced Practice

What is Advanced Practice?

“Advanced practice is delivered by accomplished registered health and care professionals. It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and designated responsibility for complex decision making. This is underpinned by a post-registration master’s level award or equivalent undertaken by an experienced practitioner that encompasses all four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research.

Advanced practice embodies the ability to manage care in partnership with individuals, families, and carers. It includes the analysis and synthesis of complex problems, and management of clinical risk and uncertainty across a range of settings, enabling innovative solutions to expedite access to care, optimise people’s experiences, and improve outcomes”

NHS England

The Difference Between Enhanced and Advanced Level of Practice

The education level of enhanced practice covers the graduate professional workforce who are delivering the majority of clinical activity, those who have moved beyond novice/competent and who are not working at the level of advanced practice.

For more information see this webinar.

Consultant Level Practice

Further level information of Consultant Level Practice.

The Four Pillars of Advanced Practice

Clinical practice
Leadership and management
Education
Research

NHS England

Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Practice in England 2025

This framework offers a clear and practical guide for those developing their expertise in the 4 key areas of clinical care, leadership, research, and education and incorporates updated evidence, insights, and contributions from advanced practitioners. Whether you are an advanced practitioner yourself, aspire to be one, or are relying on or supporting the development of advanced practitioners in your area, we urge you to explore the framework and build on the vital contributions these roles make.

Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Practice 2025

Regional Faculty for Advancing Practice - South West

The South West Faculty for Advancing Practice was established in August 2020, with the aim of providing support and guidance to aspiring and current advanced practitioners, organisations, Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs) and Integrated Care Systems (ICS). We recognise the impact that advanced practitioners can have on workforce transformation, providing highly skilled care that can drive service redesign, enhance patient care, and improve outcomes. The function of our Faculty is to lead and promote advanced practitioners as part of national and regional workforce solutions and to enable practitioners to practice to their full potential.

Regional Faculty for Advancing Practice – South West

Centre for Advancing Practice Governance Maturity Matrix

The Centre for Advancing Practice have developed a maturity matrix which health and care organisations across all settings can formatively self-assess their progress on the governance of advanced practice. Below you will find a link to Governance Matrix Information and access to the document.

Governance Maturity Matrix

BNSSG Training Hub GMM Guidance

Mailing Lists

Subscribe to the NHS England advanced practice mailing list to stay informed about the latest advanced practice updates, resources and upcoming events in the South West region.

National Professional and Regulatory Guidance on Advanced Practice

The Nursing and Midwifery Council

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Royal Pharmaceutical Society – Advanced Pharmacy Framework

The Health and Care Professions Council

The Royal College or Nursing (RCN)

The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN)

ePortfoilo (Supported Route)

Recognising Experienced Advanced Practitioners

The ePortfolio (supported) Route is designed to enable recognition of existing, experienced advanced practitioners.

This route is ideal for those who:

Are currently working in advanced practice roles
Completed their advanced practice education before 2017, or through a non-accredited programme

While completing this route is voluntary, it demonstrates your commitment and plays a key role in ensuring that advanced practitioners are recognised.

ePortfolio Supported Route

Masterclass Series - Event

Click here to register for the NHSE Centre for Advancing Practice Masterclass Series.

Advanced Practice in BNSSG

Becoming an Advanced Practitioner in BNSSG

In 2025 the NHS published a workforce plan; Understanding the workforce implications in the ten-year health plan | NHS Employers, in which the willingness to develop Advanced Practitioners was highlighted as follows;

“Development of advanced practice models for nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals, particularly in neighbourhood settings. And including increasing the number of nurse consultants.”

Guidance document

Readiness for advanced practice: A guide for aspiring and trainee advanced practitioners – What to expect through your advanced practice journey. Published May 2024 by the East of England Faculty for Advancing Practice regional webpage. Link here: Readiness for advanced practice

Standard Training Route

The MSc (Level 7) Advanced Practice Course is over 3 years. It is a structured pathway. However, accreditation of prior learning is accepted and reviewed on application. Before applying, applicants must have funding secured and support in the workplace.

For information about the accredited training course see here.

To enquire about funding email bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net

Funding to become an Advanced Practitioner in BNSSG

NHS England is aiming to support the development of Advanced Practice roles in line with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan whilst maintaining quality assured standards. We support trainees across all three years of the Advanced Practice educational pathway. This enables organisations to develop staff based on workforce plans and service need.

South West Resources for Organisations

See the South West Faculty Handbook for more information and how to apply.

Supervision of Advanced Practitioners

Workplace supervision is a cornerstone of advanced practice, supporting practitioners to deliver safe, effective, and innovative care. By strengthening the links between guidance, employer responsibilities, and national policy, Edition 2 empowers organisations and supervisors to create environments where advanced practitioners can thrive.

The changes in Edition 2 highlight the robust suite of supervision resources now available for advanced practice. These resources, including the Minimum Standards for Supervision, Supervisor Capabilities Guidance, and other tools, provide a comprehensive framework to ensure high-quality supervision across all advanced practice roles.

Supervision and Assessment Resources.

Employers Advanced Practice Supervision Action Plan

Supervisor Readiness Checklist

Readiness to Become an Advanced Practitioner

Portfolio and Assessment Materials: Core Capabilities Framework for ACP (Nurses) Working in General Practice / Primary Care

Supervision Guidance for Primary Care Network Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs)