Digital Pioneer Fellowship FAQs

Digital Pioneer Fellowships empower individuals employed at any level within NHS, Local Authority, and Voluntary sector organisations – spanning various disciplines such as doctors, nurses, Allied Health Professionals, project managers and IT staff – to design and lead health and care transformation projects driven by digital innovation. The programme is ideal for those currently leading or playing a significant role in delivering digital transformation projects within their organisation.

The programme is for individuals who are:
– Currently leading or significantly involved in delivering a digital transformation project within their organisation.
– Able to confirm that this programme is in line with their professional development needs
– And able to commit to attending six mandatory in-person learning

Applications are currently open for Cohort Two of the South-West London Integrated Care System (SWL ICS) Digital Pioneer Fellowship, specifically for staff employed by NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector organisations in South-West London. 

You will need to complete an application form in which you will be asked to provide information about a current relevant project that would benefit from your participation in the programme.

Applications open on Tuesday 21 May 2024 and close at midnight on Sunday 14 July 2024.

Applications open on Tuesday 21 May 2024 and close at midnight on Sunday 14 July 2024.

Applications are currently open for Cohort Two of the South-West London Integrated Care System (SWL ICS) Digital Pioneer Fellowship, specifically for staff employed by NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector organisations in South-West London. As part of the programme, you must be able to travel to London for the six Learning Days.

Unfortunately, once you submit your application, you won’t be able to edit your responses. We recommend taking advantage of the extended application window to thoroughly review and refine your answers before submission.

Applications open on Tuesday 21 May 2024 and close at midnight on Sunday 14 July 2024.

You can expect to receive information about interviews during the week starting Monday, July 29, 2024.

South-West London ICS and DigitalHealth.London will be holding a 101 Webinar to provide interested parties with a chance to engage with members of the programme delivery team and some of the Fellows who have been supported previously on Wednesday 3 July 2024 from 10am to 11am: https://bit.ly/SWLPioneers101

Should you still have any questions or require reasonable adjustments, please email info@digitalhealth.london with any queries and someone from the team will be happy to help you. In the unlikely event we are unable to answer your question over email, we will happily set up a call with an appropriate team member.

The South-West London Integrated Care System (SWL ICS) Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme is opening applications for the second cohort of up to 40 change makers employed by NHS, Local Authority, and Voluntary sector organisations in South-West London to design and lead health and care transformation projects underpinned by digital innovation.

From mastering Agile methodologies to crafting compelling business cases, Fellows will gain the skills and knowledge needed to drive real change through immersive Learning Days, workshops and events covering topics such as structuring evaluations and applying change management principles. The programme also doubles as a learning community, connecting Fellows to like-minded peers, influencers in the system and experts who can mentor them.

Building upon DigitalHealth.London’s Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme, the SWL ICS Digital Pioneer Fellowship is specifically for staff employed by NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector organisations in South-West London.

The original Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme was created and run by DigitalHealth.London and other partners for three cohorts of NHS Staff. This programme was available to staff across London and the South East. We are not currently running this version of the Digital Pioneer Fellowship.

The Horizon Fellowship is delivered by DigitalHealth.London and CW Innovation, to support NHS staff specifically working for Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.

The South West London ICS Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme is being delivered by DigitalHealth.London and has a very similar format to the other two versions of the programme, but is only open to NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector staff employed at any level by an NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector organisation in South West London who are working on a transformation project that has been digitally enabled.

The programme lasts for twelve months, during which time fellows will be expected to attend six Learning Days and a showcase event.

The programme modules are subject to change, but the following subjects are included within the scope of the programme:
– Benefits articulation & management
– Influencing (Marketing & selling ideas and visions)
– Change Management
– Design thinking
– Agile delivery
– Evaluation
– Business Case development
– Strategic influencing
– Strategic Thinking

We estimate each fellow should allow for approximately seven full days split across the twelve months. You will need to allocate six full days to participate in the tuition and workshops at the learning day events. We estimate an additional two hours per learning day for your reflective learning and networking. We also recommend that fellows allow another half day for further reading, learning and networking with other fellows.

There are several benefits for programme fellows including:
– Access to a peer coaching network
– Capability building through taught modules on key topics
– Problem-solving through action learning sets
– Growth in awareness with opportunities to hear from sector and domain expert speakers
– 1:1 mentorship

Once fellows have graduated from the formal fellowship programme, they are invited to stay connected with DigitalHealth.London and its health innovation network partner organisations. The health innovation networks have a responsibility to support their respective member NHS organisations where they can and will be happy to open their doors to fellows seeking further support in accelerating their project progress.

Failure to attend the mandatory Learning Days will result in the Fellow being asked to reconsider their participation in the programme, and if necessary, to exit the programme. However, in exceptional circumstances, allowances can be made for one missed day.

This policy is in place because the programme’s time commitment is relatively minimal (approximately six days per year), and missing a session can significantly disadvantage the Fellow in terms of learning and the value gained from interactions with other Fellows.

There are no cost implications to either the fellow or their host organisation for the Fellowship programme.

The only requirements are that the Fellow must:
– Be employed by an NHS or Local Authority organisation within South West London
– Provide a letter of support from their employer

You will have the opportunity of choosing from a pool of mentors, who have been selected based on their seniority and level of expertise. The mentors will offer Fellows opportunities for 1:1 dedicated time to explore and discuss challenges that the Fellow may be experiencing.

DigitalHealth.London delivers the South West London Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme.

DigitalHealth.London is delivered by the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London. It accelerates the adoption of digital innovations across health and care to improve patient and population outcomes and experience and supports a sustainable future NHS. It is part-funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Office for Life Sciences, as well as through DigitalHealth.London’s partners CW+ and MedCity.

– Growth in teams better equipped to achieve innovation adoption that drives benefits realisation.
– Access to the latest knowledge and insights from the digital innovation world, ensuring your organisation stays one step ahead.

Applications for the DigitalHealth.London Digital Pioneer Fellowship are currently closed. Please sign up to our newsletter to receive updates on the opening of applications for the next cohort of the programme.