Supporting health communicators Professional development for NHS communicators and engagement specialists
- The Health Foundation are part-funding a new postgraduate certificate course in health communication and engagement at the Centre for Health Communication Research at Buckinghamshire New University.
- Our funding will provide bursaries to help meet the cost of the course for attendees,
- Evidence suggests very low levels of diversity among NHS communications professionals. To encourage a diversity of applicants, larger bursaries will be made available to people from diverse backgrounds.
- Applications for the course will close on 8 November 2024.
Since 2015, the Centre for Health Communication Research (CHCR) at Buckinghamshire New University has delivered a part-time, one-year course that provides students with a postgraduate qualification in health communication.
The course was developed with support from NHS England and was the UK’s first postgraduate communication course specifically tailored to the needs of NHS professional communicators.
This new course is supported by ‘NHS Communicate’, a partnership involving the CHCR, NHS Confederation, NHS Providers and the Shelford Group, that aims to professionalise health communication across the NHS.
About the course
The new postgraduate course in health communication, engagement and consultation will be part-funded by the Health Foundation and is a highly practical, one-year, part-time course that can be completed while working in a full-time job.
The 2024–25 course has been updated in consultation with NHS staff to include more on engagement, consultation and leadership.
The course is for professional health communicators and engagement specialists who aspire to leadership or seniority within the profession, or for those who simply want to enhance and develop their skills. It covers the full range of competencies required to be effective in the field and it involves a combination of face-to-face teaching, online teaching and project work.
The course reflects and addresses current NHS communication and engagement challenges in provider trusts, integrated care boards and other health and care organisations.
Successful completion of the course leads to the award of the university’s Postgraduate Certificate in Health Communication and Engagement.
Fees and bursaries
The Health Foundation is part-funding this course. Every NHS employee who is accepted onto the course will receive a significant bursary that reduces the cost of the course to around £6,000 per person. Larger bursaries will be available to people from diverse backgrounds.
Course fees include University registration, all teaching facilities, hotel facilities for residential teaching modules, insurance, IP licences, course administration, course teaching, marking and external examination.
Course fees are normally paid by the course participant’s employer though some course participants choose to self-fund, or partially self-fund their place.
How to apply
Visit the Centre for Health Communication Research website for more information on the course and to apply for a place.
Applications remain open until 8 November 2024 and the next course begins in early 2025.
For further details please contact:
- John Underwood, Course Director, john.underwood@chcr.org.uk
- Liz Clark, Course Administrator, liz.clark@chcr.org.uk