HIS Education Programme A University Qualification Through Work Douglas McLay Director of Health Informatics

Introduction IM&T is a developing profession without a formal qualification structure The DoH and Assist are developing a career framework for IM&T Professionally qualified staff will be required for IM&T service providers (such as South Staffs HIS) to be accredited by the NHS The HIS Education Programme has been developed to meet this emerging need

Background: Business Complex systems need well educated staff to operate them Modern environment calls for organisations to demonstrate their fitness for purpose Need to robustly and equitably demonstrate compliance Government drive for the population to become qualified

Background: Staff Many HIS staff have a lot of experience gained on the job Many HIS staff do not have formal qualifications. Those that do, do not relate to health informatics. In order to continue professionally staff will need qualifications to demonstrate their knowledge Many older staff would be disadvantaged by the focus on qualifications Existing NHS Frameworks have not proved suitable

Background: requirement from Further Education More accessible / relevant to non- school leavers Can codify / acknowledge existing knowledge Significant focus on work based learning New means of study Minimises impact on home life and work time

HIS’ Aims To enable staff to maximise the benefit of their knowledge and new learning in the work place through quality education –Giving credit for what staff already know –Enabling staff to learn what the HIS needs them to know through work based learning –Top up work based learning with more formal methodology –Enable staff to become academically qualified through work

Principles of the Education Programme The structure of the Programme is linked to the AfC pay bands The content of the Programme is specific to the needs of South Staffs HIS You will need both theoretical knowledge and the ability to demonstrate you can use it in the workplace to earn a qualification Wherever possible learning will be through work based learning You will not be required to demonstrate knowledge already credited in a signed off KSF element You will receive academic credit for relevant existing knowledge and experience

In Conclusion The Programme is not compulsory but it will normally be the way for staff to demonstrate they have met their KSF Outline You would normally be expected to complete two modules each year Designing your programme is a tri-partite process –Staff –HIS –Staffordshire University