Quality Improvement Fellows 2010/2011

The prestigious Quality Improvement Fellowships have been designed to develop and equip clinically qualified senior NHS professionals with the tools and techniques of quality improvement. Carried out over one year at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, they combine academic learning with the development of practical skills and techniques for quality improvement.

Now open for applications

The Health Foundation is currently looking for four candidates to take part in the eighth round of applications. We are looking for people who have the enthusiasm and potential to promote quality improvement nationally and build organisational capability to dramatically improve levels of performance.

Travel to the USA

Fellows spend a year in the USA working with the IHI, studying the best international practices in quality improvement. Our aim is that on their return to the UK fellows will integrate their learning into processes and procedures at their employing organisation in order to really impact on service improvement and promote quality improvement nationally.

What is provided on the fellowship?

• The opportunity to participate in a clinical effectiveness programme at Harvard University School of Public Health. This intensive seven-week course includes quality improvement, statistics, epidemiology, economics and ethics.
• The chance to explore a core improvement focus area. Fellows focus on an area of work of their choice that fits within the IHI’s core work programme and looks at an aspect of quality (safety, effectiveness, patient-centredness, timeliness, efficiency or equity). Fellows publish and present the results of their work over the course of the year.
•  A personalised learning programme. While in the USA fellows work with IHI to develop a programme of learning that is tailored to their individual needs. IHI and mentors support fellows throughout the programme and help them to consider how they will implement their learning on their return to the UK.
• Relocation support. An allowance is provided to support relocation, travel, visa and USA healthcare costs.

Please note that applicants’ current salary and benefits must be covered by their employing organisation for the duration of the fellowship, so full organisational support is essential. However, the Health Foundation will cover the costs of replacement staff, so participating organisations will not be out of pocket.  

How are other fellows using the skills they have gained?

On their return to the UK fellows have been using the skills and techniques they have learnt to make a positive influence. For example:

• Dr Jonathon Gray is aiming to make a positive difference to the healthcare system in Wales by influencing change centrally
• Dr Jason Leitch is now helping lead the Scottish Patient Safety Alliance in overseeing Scotland’s first national patient safety programme.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• be prepared to share their learning in a local and national context to drive forward quality improvement on return to the UK
• undertake a role in their organisation which clearly relates to quality improvement and have a proven track record of achievement in the field
• have the active support of their chief executive. This support is essential because participants’ salary and benefits must be covered by their UK employer for the duration of the scheme.

Applicants must also:

• be resident and working in the UK
• have a minimum of five years relevant professional experience with the health sector

How to apply

If you believe you are eligible to take part in the scheme and would like to be considered then please email awards@health.org.uk with your contact details. The leadership team will then call you for a brief telephone conversation to discuss your application.

Alternatively, you can read the Quality Improvement Fellowships notes  for further information or call the Health Foundation directly and speak to Sophie Bulmer on 020 7257 8000 to discuss your application. Following this discussion we will send out an application pack to be completed and returned to us by the closing date.

Key dates

• The closing date for applications is 15 October 2010.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interviews in early January 2011.
• Fellowships start at the beginning of July 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.