Florence Nightingale Foundation

Who we are

The Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) is a thriving UK and global charity that supports nurses and midwives to improve care and save lives.   

Florence Nightingale is one of the world’s most famous nurses and her influence and legacy continue to affect the world today. When Florence died in 1910 aged 90, the international nursing community wished to pay tribute to the life and work of this great nurse. At the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress held in Cologne in 1912, Mrs Ethel Bedford Fenwick in her speech at the final banquet proposed that ‘an appropriate memorial to Florence Nightingale be instituted’. She envisaged an educational foundation which would enable nurses ‘to prepare themselves most fitly to follow in her footsteps’. However, due to the First World War, it was not until 1929, at the ICN Grand Council in Montreal, that the memorial proposal was activated.   

The Florence Nightingale Foundation was subsequently established in 1934. The FNF Academy was launched in 2020 and is the home for all our scholarly activity; scholarships, leadership programmes, policy, promotion of evidence-based practice and academy membership. Our activities are available both in the UK and internationally to enable nurses and midwives to develop and extend their knowledge and skills to meet the changing needs of patient, health, and care today and the future.   

 In a recent review of the leadership development required in health and social care, Messenger & Pollard 2022 recommended targeted and systematic investment. It asserted that strong clinical leadership is central to influencing the culture and behaviour of teams and that leadership development opportunities should be available throughout all levels of a health care organisation. Inclusive and collaborative leadership should be embedded to promote a culture of respect and improve quality of care and health outcomes. This is the fundamental basis of our work.  

All our alumni describe the experience with the Foundation as ‘life-changing’ both professionally and personally. This has given them the confidence to lead with integrity, challenge when they may not have done so previously and importantly recognise that by staying within their profession, they can make a real difference to society and improve care and health outcomes.  

As Florence Nightingale demonstrated, influencing the way health care is delivered through strong nursing and midwifery leadership can make a great difference to people’s lives. FNF Academy membership is offered to the most senior nurses and midwives in the health and care sector, providing them with support in their challenging leadership positions and facilitating access to learning and development programmes for the thousands of nurses and midwives working in their organisations.   

The Foundation has a great brand and strong reputation. Building on the great success of transforming the Foundation from serving a few to serving the many, we wish to enter the next stage of our development.  We have grown exponentially over the last few years, with increased UK and global presence and impact. We are now focussed on building our sustainability, with enhanced processes and infrastructure to ensure continued growth and impact.   

We are a charity that promotes equal, diverse, and inclusive opportunities for all, but we can do more.  We continue to focus on our digital transformation plans to create greater access to more nurses and midwives and ensure FNF is digital throughout. At the same time, we will pursue a robust financial, social, cultural, and environmentally sustainable future.  

Our culture and values

​Mission  

Dedicated to supporting and developing nurses and midwives to improve care and save lives across the world, maintaining Florence Nightingale’s legacy. 

Vision  

Over the next 3 years, with our partners we will continue to grow as a world class charity, supporting nurses and midwives to develop the personal and leadership skills they need to improve care, save lives, and promote well-being across the world.  

Our Values 

Our values are guided by Florence’s legacy. Like her our scholars advance change and improvements in health and care using data and evidence, engage in and influence health polices and promote health prevention.   

Our Directors (Trustees)  

They work tirelessly to support our work. Their backgrounds are varied and collectively they provide excellent input to the Chair and the Executive Team. More details are found here. 

Team FNF  

Team FNF is multidisciplinary and currently comprises just over 30 talented individuals who provide expertise in nursing and midwifery, finance, fundraising, leadership programme delivery, governance, IT, learning technology, policy, membership, policy, communications, and marketing. The team is led by the CEO, Professor Greta Westwood CBE PhD and Registered Nurse. She is supported by a committed Executive Team. 

Team FNF Benefits  

Pay  

We aim to offer a competitive but affordable charity sector salary. We review pay annually and we have a pay progression scheme for all team members. 

Annual Leave 

We have a generous annual leave allowance starting at 27 days per year, which includes using 3 days of leave during the festive period.  

Work life Balance & Flexible Working 

We offer flexible working including home working. 

Pension 

Our pension scheme employer contributions of between 7.5% and 10% allows all staff the option to build a retirement fund. From October 2024, we will offer a salary exchange (sacrifice) option. 

Death in Service Policy 

All staff are covered by a Death in Service Policy, four times the annual salary. 

Support and Development 

We operate a Team FNF development programme and make every effort to ensure the team can fulfil their role to the best of their abilities, and to support personal and professional development. All have a dedicated half day per month to support their learning. All team members meet at least monthly with their line manager to review progress and support continuous development. All have a subscription to LinkedIn Learning. 

Health & Wellbeing 

We offer occupational and emotional wellbeing support. Our confidential Employee Assistance Programme is available to all to provide support for any concerns in work or personal life. 

Working Environment 

We are a small and friendly team. Our offices are within the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 10-18 Union Street, London, SE1 

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Nurses, midwives, scholars, and alumni represent culturally diverse populations, it is important therefore that Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) staff represent this diversity. FNF’s roles are open to everyone, and applicants are encouraged from all backgrounds, irrespective of gender, gender identity, race, disability, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and age (the ‘protected characteristics’). Any candidate who believes they have the required skills and abilities to contribute as a member of FNF’s team are welcomed. FNF particularly encourages those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people belonging to minority religions, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities and long-term conditions to apply to work at FNF: this brings fresh perspectives through their lived experiences to truly reflect the healthcare sector and society.

FNF promotes diversity, equity and inclusivity (D,E&I) among its workforce and eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination or victimisation. FNF is committed to and undertakes to:

• Ensure that current staff members and job applicants will be treated equally irrespective of gender, marital status, age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex and sexual orientation
• Ensure that FNF staff will not discriminate directly or indirectly, or harass any other persons because of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation in the provision of FNF’s services.
• Create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all staff are recognised and valued • Ensure everyone is provided with a working environment that promotes dignity and respect to all-no form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated
• Provide training, development, and progression opportunities to all employees
• Promote equity in the workplace as good management practice and business sense
• Regularly review all employment practices and procedures to ensure fairness
• Regard as misconduct breaches of FNF’s policy that could lead to disciplinary proceedings
• Ensure that this policy is fully supported and implemented by senior management
• Regularly monitor and review this policy and activities

FNF acknowledges there are some main groups of people who most often face discrimination and disadvantage. All FNF staff must contribute to creating a positive learning and working environment where discriminatory practices and discrimination cannot take place. No individual will be unjustifiably discriminated against and FNF will not tolerate any behaviour in the form of discrimination, victimisation, harassment, or bullying. Furthermore, FNF acknowledges the detrimental impact that observing or witnessing instances of discrimination, victimisation, harassment or bullying may have on individuals (as well as damaging FNF as an organisation) who are not the direct recipients of such negative behaviour.