EmailAssist has been delighted to support an innovative graduate management trainee scheme - the result of a proactive collaboration between strategic health authorities, the Information Centre, the Institute for Innovation and Improvement and NHS Connecting for Health.
Delivering ICT enabled change in the NHS depends fundamentally on the capability and capacity of the health informatics workforce. Assist has been delighted to support an innovative graduate management trainee scheme - the result of a proactive collaboration between strategic health authorities, the Information Centre, the Institute for Innovation and Improvement and NHS Connecting for Health.
There have been a number of drivers for improving the analytical capacity in the NHS, including the results of workforce surveys and research.
In 2007 Assist conducted a review that reported: "There are significant problems with recruitment in ICT services and information management. Vacancy rates range from 12% for information managers to 4% for senior managers and clinical informatics staff.
"Staff retention is being affected by low morale: informatics staff feel embattled, overworked and undervalued."
In the same year the Information Centre commissioned a review by Richard Gibbs of health informatics development and priorities, with a view to research the underpinning of a strategic programme of activity based on need. The resulting Gibbs Review was submitted as evidence to the NHS Informatics Review mentioned below.
Issues within the NHS also had an influence. Recruitment and retention of informatics specialists is a problem for many NHS organisations, evidenced by a general lack of applicants and few appointable candidates to mid range band jobs in information analysis and interpretation.
The Pilot Health Informatics Graduate Management Trainee Scheme derived initially from a recognition by northern SHAs, led by NHS North West, of an urgent need to 'raise the game' with regard to exploiting information for the benefit of patients to improve health and care services.
In October 2007, an informatics review was commissioned by David Nicholson, the chief executive officer of the NHS. It has three strands:
· looking at the required health and social care information flows;
· maximising the benefits from NHS Connecting for Health deployments;
· the organisation/governance needed to meet the findings surfaced in the review.
Initial recommendations include the need for increased analytical skills with a supported structured development programme. There are 11 new competencies which include local leadership, performance management and the management of knowledge to assess current and future needs. All the competencies require expertise in analysis of available information.
Another element has been added with Lord Darzi's high profile review of the NHS. It has placed a focus on the fact that evidence based fair, effective, personalised and safe services require a standard quality framework and systematic measurement. Actions required include a focus on the workforce, education and training, leadership, information for excellence, and enabling systems and processes.
Senior staff in three SHAs have come together to work in collaboration with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (NHSI), the Information Centre and CfH creating a pilot informatics graduate trainee scheme modelled on the national management trainee scheme. Its underlying purpose is to create a set of recognised skills and competencies that begin the step change in working practice and culture with regard to the effective use of data, information, and knowledge in NHS organisations by developing potential leaders of the future through an informatics route.
Work began in May 2007. The scheme was advertised through NHS Jobs in July 2007 and attracted 144 applications, leading to 12 appointments after a rigorous assessment and selection process. These 12 were then offered placements in NHS organisations across the North West, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humber for a two year period beginning October 2007.
In addition, a competency framework has been created to drive the type of activities to be undertaken by trainees in placements. The framework requires:
· first rate technical skills for strategic and operational purposes. Examples of these are modelling, comparative analysis and the use of analytical tools and benchmarking;
· personal attributes such as judgement, negotiation and ability to learn and adapt.
The framework will be complemented with managerial skills development and action learning sets to ensure the practitioners take a reflective approach to their work.
University support
A post graduate qualification is also offered by the University of Central Lancashire, and there is career planning advice and support to help trainees attain senior positions. A performance management regime is also in place to support development within the two year period.
In autumn 2008 the three SHAs will take part in a further pilot in preparation for a national intake across all SHAs the following autumn. Design work on the national scheme will begin in 2008, led by the NHS.
The senior sponsor of the pilot, Mark Ogden, deputy chief executive officer and finance director NHS North West, says of the scheme: "For a long time, the NHS has recognised the need to use information more effectively for planning and operational purposes.
"We needed to recognise the importance of the informatics profession and this scheme is a way of demonstrating this. We wanted to establish a fourth element under the graduate training scheme brand that operated to the same high standards of the finance, general management, and human resources programmes for informatics.
"It has been a fantastic demonstration of how different organisations, like SHAs, the NHSI, the Information Centre and CfH, can work together effectively to deliver a successful pilot in such a short timescale. But most importantly, we have used existing informatics people from within the service to shape the scheme.
"Plagiarising from a philosopher: 'Sometimes knowing is not enough. We must act'. This scheme has been very much about doing just that and with the support we are getting from the wider NHS, we are continuing to work with the NHSI to develop the case for national roll out from 2009."
Assist has been an active partner in the pilot since its inception. It has senior National Council members on the steering group, works with the trainees in an independent and professional development capacity, and is planning an annual award for the 'informatics trainee of the year'.
The organisation looks forward to the scheme being extended across the country and being a foundation stone of a broader national health informatics workforce. A development strategy, investing in building the specialist informatics workforce, is needed to realise the full potential of ICT and information management for improving patient care.
Pam Hughes is honorary secretary of Assist's National Council. You can find out more about the scheme, how to become a placement site or apply to become a trainee or project manager from pam.hughes@ic.nhs.uk or 07879 898070
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