Could you be a NICE Fellow or NICE Scholar?

18th September 2012

Health and social care professionals can now apply for Fellowships and Scholarships provided by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The positions are unique opportunities to learn about and get involved in the inner workings of NICE, network with likeminded advocates of evidence-based practice, and promote NICE's guidance and other products to peers and colleagues. As well as helping NICE shape its guidance, being appointed a Fellow or Scholar can support an individual's professional development.

NICE awards its three-year Fellowships to senior decision-makers across the NHS and social care, such as trust, social care, clinical and service directors, and consultants (both medical and non medical, e.g. consultant allied health professionals). Scholarships are more project-based and run for twelve months - qualified health or social care professionals (e.g. registrars, managers and senior allied health professionals) can apply for them.

With new appointments commencing in April 2013, this will be the fourth year that NICE has recruited Fellows and Scholars.

Dr Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive of NICE said: "Becoming a NICE Fellow or Scholar can offer invaluable opportunities for exceptional individuals to better understand how NICE works and the services we provide. As the health and social care sectors develop new ways of working, a connection with NICE and the advice of an established network of experts across evidence-based practice could be an exciting prospect for both individuals and their employers.

"These positions will also contribute to an individual's professional development. This can be through one-to-one support from a dedicated mentor on a Scholarship project, or by being able to impart professional expertise to shape our guidance initiatives or participating in high-level discussions through our Fellowships.

"We welcome applications across all NHS and social care professions."

As NICE prepares to publish its first quality standards for social care next April, the Institute encourages senior professionals, such as directors of social services, managers and senior lecturers to apply for its Fellowships.

NICE will award ten Fellowships and ten Scholarships on 1 April 2013. The positions are not paid, but NICE will meet all reasonable expenses (e.g. travel and accommodation) whilst undertaking activities.

Interested health and social care professionals can apply online at
https://webvpn.highland.gov.uk/+CSCO+0h756767633A2F2F6A6A6A2E617670722E6265742E6878++/fellowsandscholars

Enquiries from potential applicants should be submitted to nice[AT]nice.org.uk

NICE Scholarships present unique learning opportunities for professionals to find out about the inner workings of NICE and how the organisation helps settings implement its guidance. NICE Scholars must undertake a project about the delivery of high-quality care during their tenure; for example, on the implementation of, or audit of, a specific piece of NICE guidance. Projects should take approximately 7.5 hours a week over the year, and must be agreed with the individual's training supervisor, their employer and NICE in advance.

NICE will award 10 Scholarships to disciplines including - but not limited to - specialist registrars, pharmacists, NHS managers, public health specialists, allied health professionals, matrons, specialist nurses, ward sisters, practice development and education nurses, and service improvement leads.

NICE Fellowships are awarded to senior health and social care leaders who act as ambassadors for NICE at regional levels and among their professional groups and peers. They support NICE in the implementation of its guidance. NICE Fellows will have opportunities to use their expertise to shape the Institute's guidance programmes and initiatives; for example, in developing support tools for specific pieces of guidance, or contributing to high-level discussions about issues of quality and leadership.

NICE will award 10 Fellowships to disciplines including - but not limited to - NHS Trust and social care directors, consultants, nurse consultants, heads of midwifery, senior allied health professionals, directors of adults' and children's services, senior practitioners, policy managers, directors/managers of residential care homes and senior academics.

Completed applications must be submitted to NICE by 5pm on Friday 9 November 2012.