Last Friday, Hallam Medical had the privilege of attending the Advanced Practice Leadership Conference held in Sheffield, a gathering that brought together nearly 150 advanced practice leaders from across the UK.

The core message of the conference focused on the power of communication, active listening, and building strong relationships. These elements are essential for demonstrating impact and enabling the continued growth of Advanced Practice (AP) and consultant roles.

Our partners, The Association of Advanced Practice Educators (AAPE UK), presented in the morning. Anna Jones, Chair, delivered a compelling highlight on the multi-professional advancements in advanced practice development across all four countries of the UK. Her insightful and inspiring presentation perfectly showcased the collaborative progress being made.

One phrase from a speaker really captured the spirit of the day: “collaboration without egos.” It was clear that this ethos underpinned the entire conference.

With regulation on the horizon for nurses and midwives, a panel discussion featuring representatives from the HCPC and NMC underscored the importance of evidencing scope of practice. This connected well with a thought-provoking session from Reverend Ollie Phipps, who is researching AP scope as part of his PhD.

A fantastic example of AP leadership was shared through the establishment of a co-operative forum for Advanced Practice in the Midlands. This initiative aims to foster system working, a theme also addressed by Professor Kim Manley during her update on consultant practice. She emphasised the ongoing need to demonstrate impact to advance these roles in alignment with workforce planning in England.

An especially engaging and thought-provoking talk came from, Tim Bradshaw, who delivered some hard-hitting truths, reminding us that while principles and values matter, it is behaviours that drive change. He also highlighted the importance of team debriefs, not only to reflect on challenges but also to celebrate wins, strengthening team morale.

Clare Sutherland, ACP, said:

“The buzz in the room was amazing. The importance of face-to-face human contact, which has been lost since COVID, really hit home for everyone. So many old friends reunited and new friendships were made.”

Overall, the Advanced Practice Leadership Conference was an inspiring reminder of the strength found in collaboration, the need for clear communication, and the power of demonstrating impact to shape the future of advanced practice leadership.

A big thank you to Clare Sutherland (ACP) and Suzanne Owens (ACP) for organising this conference and bringing together such an inspiring group of leaders from across the four nations.