The Health Foundation is an independent charity working to continuously improve the quality of heatlhcare in the UK

Quality Improvement Fellowships

In brief

We believe talented clinical leaders are needed to drive lasting improvements to healthcare. The UK health system needs people who can bring real improvement that ultimately leads to high quality patient care.

However, in a time-pressured environment within the NHS it can be difficult for leaders keen to work on quality improvement to have the time and space needed for reflection and research. The Health Foundation Quality Improvement Fellowships aim to bridge that gap, giving fellows the time and space to think deeply about how to improve the quality of healthcare, backed up by rigorous academic and practical learning.

The aim is that on their return to the UK, fellows will integrate their learning into processes and procedures at their employing organisation to improve service delivery. Fellows will also work to promote quality improvement nationally, championing quality and sharing what they have learnt with colleagues from across the health service.

Key facts

  • Each year we appoint up to four senior clinically-qualified NHS professionals who have a track record of achievement in quality improvement and who want to develop this further.
  • Fellows of the Quality Improvement Fellowship programme become part of a community of Health Foundation Fellows, who share a common ambition to improve the quality of health services in the UK.
  • Fellows spend a fully-funded year at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Fellows follow a personalised development programme and carry out research in a chosen area of healthcare improvement.
  • Fellows take up their places in July for approximately one year, relocating to the USA for the duration of their tenure.
  • Fellows receive an allowance of up to £25,000 to support travel, relocation, visa and US healthcare costs.
  • Applicants must have the support of their employing organisation as their salary and benefits are covered by their employer during the fellowship. However, the Health Foundation covers the cost of employing replacement staff.
  • Fellows join the Health Foundation/IHI’s Fellows and Alumni Network – a network for mutual support and learning.
Comments
Sally Fowler-Davis 21 June 2011
What about those of us in Higher Education who are consistently aiming to build capacity for service improvement through our undergraduate, and post graduate improvement programmes and academic practices in collaboration with the NHS. Can the fellowship recruitment be extended to include others in the system who are interested and motivated to develop workforce and indirectly improve care?
Titilayo Fakeye 28 June 2011
I will like to know if there are provisions for non-UK non-USA faculties in the area of implementational research in developing countries
Sophie Bulmer 07 July 2011
Dear Sally

Sorry for the delay in responding. The programme would be open to someone in a senior position in Higher Education, provided they are clinically qualified.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Thanks
Sophie
Sophie Bulmer 07 July 2011
Dear Titilayo

Our fellowship programmes are currently only open to people who are based in the UK.

Thanks
Sophie
Jan 21 July 2011
Is there capacity in the scheme to accommodate parents? I am considering an application but would need to know if the scheme has sufficient flexibility and the programme allows the capacity to accommodate a fellow with a child. Any thoughts/comments gratefully recieved.
Tim Vines 22 July 2011
i am a senior Charge nurse working in an ophthalmology outpatients department. would this be suitable/of benefit to me?
Sophie Bulmer 22 July 2011
Dear Jan

Many of our previous and current fellows are parents. Some have decided to move the whole family to the USA with them, others have opted to move out by themselves. The fellowship year is very intense, and we can't really provide any advice on such a personal decision as to whether or not you would move with your family. You may benefit from getting in touch with a previous fellow to explore the options in more detail. Please email qif@health.org.uk and we can go into more details.

Thanks
Sophie

Sophie Bulmer 22 July 2011
Dear Tim

This programme is aimed at people at a senior stage in their career, with a significant level of influence within their organisation and beyond. From your comment, I think that it is probably too soon in your career to apply, but we may have other opportunities for you to get involved in our work, so please do consider registering for email alerts about our programmes.

Thanks for your interest in the programme and the Health Foundation.

Sophie
Pete Moore 23 July 2011
Hi

I would like to know if this is open to people like myself who are lay-people (Trainers) working to support the self-management agenda.

See www.paintoolkit.org for more information
Dr Jaika S Witana Consultant Audiovestibular Physician 24 July 2011
This seems ideal for me, in my stage of the career to make an impact on the NHS at this crucial moment in time.

https://profiles.google.com/Jaika.Witana/posts

I am knowledgeable and innovative and I have my own ideas about solving the current crisis in UK Healthcare. However I am open to discussion and learning.

I am still unsure as to how I should apply (?) What is the closing date for application ?

Yours sincerely,

Jaika




Dr Jaika S Witana Consultant Audiovestibular Physician 24 July 2011
Oops ! Sorry just saw the deadline .... -- "deadline for applications for the 2012/13 ..... is 9am Monday 24 October 2011.

Jaika
Sophie Bulmer 25 July 2011
Dear Pete

Unfortunately this programme is aimed at people with a clinical background, so you would not be eligible. We do have a range of other opportunities for people with other backgrounds, so it is worth having a look through our programme pages to see if there is anything that you can get involved with.

Thanks
Sophie
Sophie Bulmer 25 July 2011
Dear Jaika

I hope you now have all the information you need, which can be found under the "Apply" tab. Please email qif@health.org.uk if you have any further questions.

Thanks
Sophie
Dr Sian Ireland 02 August 2011
I'd like to understand exactly what is meant by 'senior'. I am in my 4th year as a consultant in emergency medicine. I am passionate about service improvement and have been trying to implement the lean principles underpinning 'productive ward' within my dpt but it is tricky with limited time in a job plan. I am really interested in this programme but not clear if I am senior enough to consider applying. Is there a way to read more about the actual programme form the experiences of those who have completed it already?
Sophie Bulmer 03 August 2011
Dear Sian

It is difficult to be specific in terms of role as we tend to be more interested in level of influence rather than a particular grade or position. Whilst there is of course an element of personal development about this programme, we are more interested in the scale of impact that each fellow is going to have. We expect applicants at the very least to have a high level of influence within their organisation, so that when they return they are able to lead significant change/improvement work with the backing of their senior executives. Ideally, we would also expect to see some level of regional or national influence, so that the impact will be seen on an even broader scale.

If you want to get in touch with a previous fellow, please contact me on qif@health.org.uk and I will send you some details.

Thanks
Sophie
abid naeem 24 August 2011
AGREE TO JOIN THIS POT
Rosie Roberts 01 September 2011
Hi,
I am a Band 7 Ward Manager,with fifteen years experience.My speciality is Acute Adult Psychiatry,I also do workshops for University based pre/post graduates and junior doctors.Would this opportunity be available to me?
Sophie Bulmer 02 September 2011
Hi Rosie

Unfortunately the programme is aimed at people at a more senior level, as we are looking for applicants who will be able to influence change at the highest level of their organisation and beyond.

Thanks
Sophie
MAZ Khan 06 September 2011
Dear Sophie,

I am the Lead Clinician in a reputable Private Assisted Conception set up. Does the fellowship programme consider clinicians from the private sector? and if yes then what are the essential eligibility criteria?
Dr A Nasim 07 September 2011
Is this role suitable for trainee registrar who will indeed help shape up NHS of the future. I am interested in Quality improvement and have shaired local hospital committee and wish to get trained in some sort of either health economics or quality care improvement. This will build up a forceful NHS workforce to shape up our health system during the difficult time, aiming to deliver good care which is also cost effective.
Sophie Bulmer 12 September 2011
Dear Dr Khan

Thanks for your interest in the Quality Improvement Fellowships.

Our programmes are aimed at improving the quality of healthcare for patients where care is provided free at the point of delivery. If you can demonstrate that investment in you would lead to improvements for NHS patients then you are welcome to apply. However, we would not consider an applicant in a purely private setting to be eligible for our programmes.

Thanks
Sophie
Sophie Bulmer 12 September 2011
Dear Dr Nasim

Thanks for your interest in this programme.

Unfortunately a trainee registrar would not be eligible at this point in their career as we are looking for people more senior and with significant experience of leading quality improvement initiatives. This is because there is an expectation that they will return to the UK and implement their learning throughout their organisation and beyond.

Thanks
Sophie
S. Talsania 12 September 2011
Dear Sophie,

I've read with interest the fellowship structure and the contributions from previous participants. I note only 1-GP on your existing list! I'm a qualified GP who undertook the Darzi Fellowship this year and have been involved in the commissioning of new services/quality improvement as supported by the King's Fund, Manchester Business School, NHS-London and the deanery. I am still involved with the primary care trust as a clinical associate, working between public health and commissioning. I firmly believe that it is the health inequalities in primary care that need to be addressed. I wonder whether the programme would be suitable for individuals like me?
Sophie Bulmer 12 September 2011
Dear Dr Talsania

It is difficult to tell from your comment in terms of whether or not you are eligible as I am not clear on your seniority or level of influence. Please read through all the information that is available to download from this website and contact me on qif@health.org.uk if you have any particular questions.

Thanks
Sophie
Shital 19 September 2011
Hi,

I am a Senior Therapist / therapy team leader and would be interested in Quality improvement of Service provision.


is this something i would gain from the course .
Sophie Bulmer 20 September 2011
Dear Shital

This is not a course as such, so if you are looking for a qualification in Quality Improvement then this would not be suitable. It is an opportunity to work with IHI on a wide range of their programmes, all of which are geared towards improving quality. I recommend you visit the IHI website for more information on their work to see if this is the sort of programme you are looking for.

Please read through the information available to download on this website and contact me on qif@health.org.uk if you have any further questions.

Thanks
Sophie
Lata Shankar 21 September 2011
I am a community paediatrician and interested in delivering health care for children 'in the care ' system and also, those children with an 'adoption plan'. I am and associate specialist with more than 15 years of paediatric experience and the medical adviser on our county adoption panel.
Am I a suiable candidate-would welcome your advice.
Thanks
Sophie Bulmer 23 September 2011
Dear Lata

From your brief description it sounds as though you could make an application. I can't give much more specific advice, other than to reiterate the message that I have given others - we are looking for people who are in a position of influence in their organisation to that they can implement the learning when they return.

If you have further queries please contact me on qif@health.org.uk

Thanks
Sophie
Manuel Villarreal 26 September 2011
I would like to know if a GP Practice would be an organization which will meet the criteria to sponsor a potential fellow.
Many thanks
Sophie Bulmer 26 September 2011
Dear Manuel

Thanks for your query. A GP practice would be fine, and we would expect the sponsor to be a Senior Partner in the practice. Please do contact me on qif@health.org.uk if you have any other queries.

Thanks
Sophie
Farouk 27 September 2011
I am a consultant Surgeon with 25 years experience
I am clinical lead for paediatric surgery , and linical lead for Dayy Surgery, trust Audit coordinator . Members of many influencial committees within the trust
I am 64 years of age .
I wonder if I would be suitable for this programme
Sophie Bulmer 28 September 2011
Dear Farouk

One of the most important aspects for us in this programme is the impact the fellows will have on the service when they return and we will assess applications on plans for this. There are just four places available each year and we need to be certain that the people we invest in will go on to lead significant change on a local, regional or even national level. We do not have an upper age limit as such, but I think if you are planning to retire within a year or two of returning then you would need to make a very strong case as to how you would be able to continue to implement what you learn at IHI so that the impact is as widespread as possible.

Please do get in touch on qif@health.org.uk if you have any further questions.

Thanks
Sophie
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See also
External sites
  • HSJ article

    How healthcare providers in America can teach lessons on quality improvement, by Quality Improvement Fellows Judith Strobl and Tricia Woodhead.

    Read the article
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