1. Notes for facilitators
This module should take 40 minutes
Facilitators should be familiar with the NMC Code.

2. An introduction to revalidation
The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to revalidation and what is required in order to revalidate. By the end of this session you should understand:
what revalidation is and its requirements
the benefits of revalidation
how revalidation links to the Code
the importance of keeping a portfolio.

3. What is revalidation?
Every three years, at the point of their renewal of registration, nurses, midwives and nursing associates will need to show that, as a professional, they are living by the Code’s standards of practice and behaviour.
This process is called revalidation.
Participation is on an on-going basis rather than a point in time assessment.
You need to meet a range of requirements, designed to show you are keeping up to date and practising safely and effectively.
Revalidation is about promoting good practice across the whole population of nurses, midwives and nursing associates. It’s not an assessment of your fitness to practise.
Notes for facilitators
State that revalidation for nurses, midwives and nursing associates is about a change in behaviours and culture. It is designed to emphasise continuous learning and development rather than an exercise to complete once every 3 years.
Re-enforce continuity of process – must not be a last minute rush to get the required evidence.

4. What is revalidation?
Revalidation is built on the previous renewal process by introducing new requirements that focus on:
up-to-date practice and professional development
reflection on the professional standards of practice and behaviour as set out in the Code
engagement in professional discussions with other registered nurses, midwives or nursing associates.
Notes for facilitators
Remind participants that we published an updated version of the Code on 10 October 2018. The updated version is substantially similar to the 2015 version, but now reflects our new responsibilities for the regulation of nursing associates.

5. Revalidation is not:
an assessment of a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s fitness to practise
a new way to raise fitness to practise concerns (any concerns about a nurse, midwife or nursing associate will continue to be raised through the existing fitness to practise processes).
Notes for facilitators
This needs to be emphasised and participants reminded that the process by which to raise fitness to practise concerns remains the same. Employers, Managers or Confirmers should not wait until a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s revalidation is due to deal with concerns about their practice.

6. The benefits of revalidation
For the public:
Provide confidence that nurses, midwives and nursing associates are up to date with their skills and professional development.
Provide assurance that nurses, midwives and nursing associates are regularly reviewed.
For nurses, midwives and nursing associates:
Raise awareness of the Code and standards that are expected of them.
Encourage a culture of sharing, reflection and continuous improvement.
Encourage everyone to stay up to date in their professional practice.
For employers:
Increase confidence that their staff practise safely and effectively.
Encourage more consistent participation in appraisal and professional development.
Help clarify the nature and scope of investment required in CPD.
For the NMC:
Help to strengthen the regulation of nurses, midwives and nursing associates.
Help to raise standards of practice.
Provide more insight into how nursing and midwifery professionals are practising.

7. When do I need to revalidate?
Your revalidation application date is the first day of the month in which your registration expires. This is different to your renewal date.
You must submit your revalidation application by your revalidation application date so that we have time to process this.
Your renewal date is the last day of the month in which your registration expires.
You will be able to submit your application 60 days before your revalidation application date.
You will also need to pay your fee as part of your revalidation application.
Notes for facilitators
For example, if your renewal date is 30 April, your revalidation application date will be 1 April.
Guidance on paying fees can be found on our website.
Revalidation takes place every 3 years at the point of renewal but nurses, midwives and nursing associates still need to pay their retention fee every year.
Nurses, midwives and nursing associates can find their renewal date by going to NMC Online.

8. Notes for facilitators
Explain that the Code is central to revalidation. Throughout the process of revalidation nurses, midwives and nursing associates will be required to link back to the Code.

9. What is the Code?
The Code contains professional standards for nurses, midwives and nursing associates.
Everyone on our register is required to uphold its standards of practice and behaviours.
The Code is centred around four themes, with public protection at the core, and builds on the existing foundation of good nursing and midwifery practice.
The Code should be used as a ‘living’ guide at the heart of everyday nursing, midwifery and nursing associate practice.

10. Four themes brought together in one Code
Together they signify good nursing, midwifery and nursing associate practice
Activity – 10 minutes
What do these 4 themes mean to you personally within your scope of practice?
Facilitator to break participants into 4 groups (no more than 7 participants per group) each taking a theme – nominate a feedback lead – 5 minute discussion within group on what the Code means to individuals.
Facilitator to get examples from each group to share with the wider group – 5 mins
If the group is larger than 28 participants – repeat the theme allocation.

12. Notes for facilitators
Work through the circle starting at 12 o’clock with Practice hours and work round the circle headings – details are on the next slides.
Participants may have hand out with graphic and table of requirements.

13. Practice hours
You must have practised a minimum number of hours over the three years since your registration was last renewed or you joined the register.
450
Hours
Notes for facilitators
Explain that those registrants who are both nurses and midwives or nursing associates and nurses wishing to retain both registrations will need to evidence a minimum of 450 hours in each area of practice. (Can mention that triple registration is possible and would require 1350).
Start recording the most recent hours and work backwards until 450 hours have been documented.
Explain that there are templates available on the NMC website for recording practice hours, but if registrants already have a system of recording that covers the requirement then there is no need to change. Examples of the templates are given during the presentation.
Minimum total practice hours required
Those with dual registration must undertake 900 hours

14. Practice hours – common questions
Scope of practice
Evidence of hours
Notes for facilitators
Examples of scope of practice: Direct clinical care or management: adult and general care nursing; children’s and neo-natal nursing; mental health nursing; learning disabilities nursing; midwifery; health visiting; occupational health; school nursing; public health.
Hours must reflect scope of practice. You must meet your practice hours in a role where you rely on your skills, knowledge and experience of being a registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate. This includes nurses, midwives or nursing associates working in non-clinical roles, and roles where their employment contract doesn’t expressly require them to be registered with the NMC, for example in public health or nursing or midwifery management, commissioning, policy and education.
Hours worked in any healthcare, nursing or midwifery assistant or support worker roles can’t be counted towards practice hours as a registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate.
Examples of evidence to demonstrate your practice hours are: dates of practice; the number of hours you undertook; name, address and postcode of the organisations; scope of practice; work setting; a description of the work you undertook, and evidence of those practice hours, such as timesheets, job specifications and role profiles.

15. Continuing professional development
You must have undertaken continuing professional development (CPD), relevant to your scope of practice as a nurse, midwife or nursing associate, over the three years since your registration was last renewed or you joined the register. 35
Hours
Notes for facilitators
Discuss again the importance of evidence of continuous learning and development over the three year period.
Detail covered in module 2 but introduce the concept of evidencing 20 hours of participatory learning versus individual learning.
Participatory learning is any learning where a nurse, midwife or nursing associate personally interacts with other people.
Of these 35 hours of CPD, 20 must include participatory learning

16. Practice-related feedback
You must have obtained practice-related feedback over the three years since your registration was last renewed or you joined the register. 5
Notes for facilitators
Again emphasise the three year period.
Remind participants of the importance of confidentiality at all times (i.e. patients, staff and organisations/locations should not be included in any documented feedback). Confidentiality and data protection need to be constant themes running through all of the modules.
Nurses, midwives and nursing associates should refer to the Guidance for more details on how to meet this requirement.
Detailed coverage in feedback module.
Pieces

17. Written reflective accounts
You must have prepared written reflective accounts on your CPD, practice-related feedback, and/or an event or experience in your practice.
You should explain how this relates to the Code.
You should prepare these over the three years since your registration was last renewed or you joined the register. 5
Notes for facilitators
Make it clear that these written accounts can be on your CPD, and/or feedback, and/or an event or experience in practice, or a combination of all three.
Reminder of confidentiality – do not record identifiable information of any individual whether alive or deceased. Refer to Guidance for further information around this.
Written reflective accounts must be recorded on the NMC form.
Detailed coverage in reflective accounts module.
Reflective accounts

18. Reflective discussion
You must have had a reflective discussion with another NMC-registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate, covering your five written reflective accounts and how they relate to the Code.
Notes for facilitators
Reflective discussions must be recorded on the NMC form.
Detailed coverage in reflective discussion module.
Reflective discussion

19. Health and character Health and character
You must provide a health and character declaration, including declaring any police charges, cautions, convictions, conditional discharges or determinations from another regulatory body.
Notes for facilitators
This is part of the online application process for revalidation and evidence does not need to be retained in the portfolio. Nurses, midwives and nursing associates will need to tick a box to declare that meet the requirement.
Nurses, midwives and nursing associates may be required to provide evidence in relation to any police charges, cautions, convictions, conditional discharges declared or determinations from another regulatory body, if this is requested by the NMC.
You don’t need to tell us about a motoring offence unless it has resulted in a disqualification. You don't need to tell us if you have been disqualified from driving if you have built up 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period. If you're a new driver and your licence has been revoked because you received six or more points within two years of passing your test, you don’t need to declare this to us. If you have been charged or convicted of a drink driving offence, you are required to tell us.
Health and character

20. Professional indemnity arrangement
You must declare when completing your online application that you have, or will have when practising, appropriate cover under an indemnity arrangement.
Notes for facilitators
This is part of the on line application process for revalidation and evidence does not need to be retained in the portfolio. Nurses, midwives and nursing associates will need to tick a box to declare that they meet the requirement.
Guidance about professional indemnity arrangements can be found on the NMC website.
Indemnity

21. Confirmation Confirmation
You will need to demonstrate to an appropriate person that you have met the revalidation requirements.
A confirmer is being asked to assess whether you have demonstrated that you have met the requirements for revalidation, not whether you are fit to practise.
A confirmer won’t need to check the health and character or professional indemnity insurance requirements – you will make this declaration as part of your application to the NMC.
Notes for facilitators
Explain the on-line application process. Emphasise that a nurse or midwife or nursing associate will not be required to submit their documentation on CPD, reflective accounts or feedback to the NMC with their application, but they will need to show this to the confirmer.
Detailed coverage in confirmation module.
Confirmation

22. Verification
In order to ensure the process of revalidation is working effectively, each year the NMC will ask a small sample of nurses, midwives and nursing associates to provide further evidence demonstrating that they meet the requirements of revalidation.
If you’re selected it doesn’t mean we have any concerns about your application and you can continue to practise as normal.
If you’re selected you’ll be notified immediately after submitting your application and you’ll be asked to provide further details.
We’ll also contact your confirmer to request further information. Please ensure your confirmer is aware that if they do not respond it may put your registration at risk.
You should keep a record of all of this evidence in case it is required by the NMC.
Your registration will not lapse whilst verification is ongoing but it will not be renewed until the verification process is complete.
Notes for facilitators
Verification will also be an online process.
Nurses, midwives and nursing associates will not be required to upload any evidence to the NMC.
Further details around what you will need to provide for verification is available in the How to revalidate guidance.

23. Creating and developing a portfolio
Definition: A portfolio is a compilation of materials that exemplifies your beliefs, skills, qualifications, education, training, and experiences. It provides insight into your personality and work ethic. All in all, it is a representation of your professionalism.
Clark University
Notes for facilitators
The NMC strongly recommends that you keep a portfolio – this does not have to be an e-portfolio.
Registrants with existing paper or electronic portfolios do not need to replace them.

24. Helpful tips on keeping a portfolio
If you already have a professional portfolio there is no need to maintain a separate one.
Creating a portfolio is the simplest way of keeping everything together. It will:
Help you know what you still need to complete
Bring clarity to your discussions with your confirmer
Help you be prepared if the NMC asks you for further information as part of the verification process.
Your portfolio should:
Contain evidence of how you meet the requirements of revalidation
Be a live document developed over the three years before you are required to revalidate.
A portfolio doesn’t have to be electronic, though some employers do provide this facility.
Notes for facilitators
Explain that a portfolio should be a live document reflecting your learning and development as a professional nurse, midwife or nursing associate.
You will not need to upload your portfolio or any evidence as part of the application process.
Maintaining an e-portfolio is not a requirement of revalidation though you may use one if you wish to. Refer to guidance for information on maintaining a portfolio.

25. Revalidation checklist
Your portfolio should include the following elements:
Practice hours – a record of practice hours.
Continuing professional development (CPD) – accurate and verifiable records of your CPD activities.
Practice-related feedback – notes on the content of the feedback and how you used it to improve your practice.
Reflective accounts – five reflective accounts that explain what you have learnt from the CPD activity, feedback and/or event or experience from your practice. You must use the NMC form for this.
Reflective discussion – a completed NMC form used to record your reflective discussion.
Confirmation – a completed NMC confirmation form.
It can also contain anything else you feel is relevant. It’s your portfolio.
Notes for facilitators
Remind the audience that evidence of indemnity arrangements and health and character will be made as part of the online declaration to the NMC and are not required to be shown to the confirmer.
Remind participants that it is advisable to have their portfolio up to date prior to completing their online declaration.
Advise that throughout the following modules there will be tips on how to record evidence for each requirement.

26. Notes for facilitators
Refer to ‘How to Revalidate guidance’e and give examples of how avoid recording identifiable information.

27. Making your application
You need to make your application via NMC Online.
You will need to complete an online form and declare that you have met the revalidation requirements.
You will not need to upload evidence from your portfolio to the NMC. Your confirmer will confirm that they have seen this evidence.
You can print a summary of your application to keep in your portfolio.

28. Notes for facilitators
Revalidation is an ongoing process and nurses, midwives and nursing associates should think about meeting the revalidation requirements across the full three year renewal cycle.
In the 12 months before their renewal is due they should arrange their confirmation discussion, and demonstrate that they have met the revalidation requirements.
60 days before their revalidation application date, nurses, midwives and nursing associates will receive a notice from the NMC that their revalidation application and annual fee payment is due. From this date they will be able to apply for revalidation using NMC Online.
If they use NMC Online they will get this notice by . If they do not use NMC Online they will get this notice by letter, which will also tell them how to set up an NMC Online account.
Following submission of their application their registration will be renewed.
As discussed, a sample of nurses, midwives and nursing associates will be selected each year to provide further information to verify their declarations. If you are selected your registration will not be renewed until this process is complete.

29. What should all nurses, midwives and nursing associates do now?
Go online and set up an NMC Online account if you haven’t already at
The next nurses, midwives and nursing associates are due to revalidate in April 2019
Make sure you know your renewal date
Read the revalidation guidance and get up to date at
Notes for facilitators
Your revalidation application date is the first day of the month in which your registration expires. This is different to your renewal date.
Your renewal date is the last day of the month in which your registration expires.
For example, if your renewal date is 30 April, your revalidation application date will be 1 April.