Applications open for the second Horizon Fellowship programme

DigitalHealth.London and CW Innovation announce the opening of applications to the second cohort of the Horizon Fellowship programme.

The Horizon Fellowship programme empowers and supports Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust staff to lead and deliver innovative projects that are bringing much-needed change for staff and patients. The Horizon Fellowship is delivered by DigitalHealth.London in partnership with CW Innovation (the flagship innovation programme run jointly by CW+ and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), supporting individuals who are employed by the Trust.

The first Horizon Fellowship programme took place in 2022 and built upon the DigitalHealth.London Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme – these programmes have now been shortlisted for the Digital Literacy, Education and Upskilling Award at the HSJ Digital Awards 2023.

The first cohort of the Horizon Fellowship supported 15 members of staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2022/23, and as a result the organisation has seen great strides forward in embedding digital across the hospital. The 2022/23 Horizon Fellows’ projects are estimated to have impacted over 13,000 patients over the year. Following the success of the first cohort, DigitalHealth.London and CW Innovation are once again teaming up to run a second cohort of the programme. Applications are open now and close on 5 June.

The Horizon Fellowship provides Fellows with peer-to-peer support through Action Learning Sets and access to workshops, resources and events throughout the year on topics from challenging conversations to evaluation. Each Fellow selects a mentor from high-profile leaders in business, and the health and care sector.

The programme is for NHS or health-related staff at or connected with the Trust who are leading on innovation projects and may be working in any of the clinical divisions, at any level. We are passionate about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the long-term success of innovation and transformation within the NHS and are particularly keen to encourage innovators who identify as being from a minority group to apply to the programme.

Sara Nelson, Programme Director for DigitalHealth.London, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with CW Innovation once again to deliver the Horizon Fellowship programme. The first year of the programme saw the development of a core set of individuals that are supporting the ongoing digital maturity of the organisation. This year the Fellows will once again be given the tools they need to drive development and adoption, and ultimately to improve staff experience and patient care across the organisation.”

Chris Chaney, Chief Executive of CW+, said, “Following the success of the first year of the Horizon Fellowship Programme, we are delighted to work with DigitalHealth.London for the second year of the programme, which once again presents a fantastic opportunity for Trust staff to be supported to bring their innovative project ideas to life.

“We are looking for innovative staff from all roles, departments and levels at the Trust to apply to become a Horizon Fellow. Together, we can help develop their project ideas to transform patient care across the organisation and beyond”.

Visit the CW+ website for more information or sign up to the Horizon Fellowship 101 webinar on Thursday 11 May 11am – 12pm to hear from the team running the programme and previous participants, and ask them your questions: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcude2vrTsqGtYG59IKPzS3DTM_jLq8II_2