Project Overview

On behalf of the CNO, NIPEC has responsibility for monitoring and reviewing access to education and leadership opportunities for the global majority workforces of nurses, midwives, AHPs and their related support staff in Health and Social Care Trusts.

To take this work forward, a Regional Project Board for Ethnic Diversity has been established, co-chaired by Beena Tharun, Assistant Services Manager, BHSCT and Cathy Lavery, Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, SHSCT. The Project Board meets on a bi-monthly basis and has representation from the five HSC Trusts, the three Higher Educational Institutions along with representation from the Independent Sector. The aim and objectives of the Project Board are to;

• Identify the extent of the educational need to facilitate career progression;
• Identify opportunities, issues and propose solutions which can facilitate access to education and leadership opportunities;
• Share the project findings with HSC Trusts and other stakeholders including the independent sector in order to promote access to education and leadership opportunities for ethnically diverse workforces; and
• Submit a project report of findings and recommendations. to Chief Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee (CNMAC) and DoH Post Registration Education Commissioning Group (ECG).

In accordance with the above, during 2024/25 a Staff Survey was developed and disseminated within each of the HSC Trusts and across the Independent Sector, seeking colleagues’ views on the perceived level of access to education, leadership and development opportunities. In addition to this, an annual Organisational Survey was issued to the five HSC Trusts and three Higher Educational Institutions. A report detailing the findings and recommendations of each was submitted to CNO September 2025 which you can read below.

Work is currently underway to plan for the third Annual Collaborative Event, which will take place 25 March 2026 at which the results of the fifth Organisational Survey will be reviewed and discussed. See flyer below and/or speak to your line manager if you are interested in attending this event.

Resources

The UK ENIC site is useful for those needing to check the comparability of education.

Read here about UKENIC

The NMC has a pathway to support internationally educated nurses or midwives joining the register who have been forcibly displaced from their country eg a Refugee or Asylum Seeker

https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/information-for-forcibly-displaced-persons-about-applying-to-join-our-register/

Frequently Asked Questions about ENIC available below together with related documents.

 

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Contact

Senior Professional Officer for this project: Cathy McCusker