Digital transformation in health and care is continuing rapidly, with COVID-19 only accelerating the need for technology to deliver better solutions and remote care. The Scottish government has committed to a ‘digital transformation’ of health and care, but many organisations still grapple with how best to maintain this momentum, to the benefit of both people using services and staff.

A new university course – still open for applications to its first ever cohort – aims to give rising leaders across health, care and housing, the knowledge, tools, and connections to drive forward innovation in the digital space.

healthandcare.scot spoke with Paula Baird and Emma Scatterty, two leads behind the course at NHS Education Scotland (NES), about the unparalleled opportunities for sharing insights and practical learning their new course offers, and the need for digital leaders to think outside the box.

Led by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and delivered remotely by the University of Edinburgh, the Leading Digital Transformation in Health and Care for Scotland course is on the look-out for current and aspiring leaders to spearhead the digital revolution already underway across the health and care sector.

This is the first Scotland-focused master’s level leadership programme within digital transformation, designed to enhance the ability of current and future leaders to drive, deliver and embed digital transformation across health and care services - and give some much-needed clarity to those looking to progress their careers within the digital realm.

Paula Baird, Building Digital Skills and Leadership Programme Lead at NHS Education for Scotland (NES), says the course will empower leaders and give them the skills to implement transformational change within their organisation and beyond:

“There’s a real need within the sector to develop digital leadership. It’s critical to transform our services and to empower leaders to be brave and bold and do things differently, not just accepting the status quo. And it’s about how you empower people to be entrepreneurs, to go and try things, which attracts new talent to the sector as well.

“It’s about how to add digital leadership expertise to their personal toolkit to be able to lead that transformational change. The programme is targeted at those operating at senior level, because these will be people that can influence and implement transformational change across organisations.”

In its refreshed Digital Health and Care Strategy published in October 2021, the Scottish government committed to expand the specialist digital professional workforce and support senior leaders to develop skills to embed digital technology across organisations.

The new course will deliver on both fronts, with 60 government funded places available for year one and year two participants for this year’s intake. Those wishing to complete the third year and receive their masters will need to find alternative funding.

Emma Scatterty, Digital Leadership Specialist Lead at NES, says high levels of interest in the course show leaders want a more focused pathway to progress in their careers:

“There’s been a huge amount of interest. There’s currently nothing like it in Scotland so there’s a real gap there. It’s Scotland-led, but part of the programme includes national and global connections.

“It’s also given people a more focused career pathway. Organisations are increasingly recognising the need for these roles at a strategic level to meet the demands of digital transformation of health and care services, so the questions are being asked: “What’s the career, what’s the learning pathway for people to take?” This is part of the solution.”

Modules will include study of the role of evaluation, how to design services for impact and how to implement digital strategies within service transformation. Beyond the educational content, a high value is placed on the networking opportunities this course will create, and the ability to link in with other leaders working across Scotland to share ideas and developments.

The course starts on the 21st of March with a launch event, due to be attended by course

participants and to be joined by representatives from key organisations across the health and social care sector. This in-person event will set the scene and build up that network from the very beginning. Paula Baird says she is keen that networking opportunities are encouraged throughout the rest of the programme.

Those looking to apply require an executive sponsor – a high-level director or the CEO within their organisation – to support their application. This, says Paula Baird, is important for getting organisations on board with digital change and ensuring transformation can be embedded right from the top:

“Having the executive sponsor is about opening up opportunities for people that go through the programme as part of their personal development, but also so that organisations utilise the skills that that person develops while going through the programme to then apply that operationally within the organisation.”

Participants will also have access to a mentor with experience of service transformation and digital solutions throughout their time on the course, who will offer support, career guidance and enable people on the course to develop cross-sector relationships, knowledge, skills and expertise.

Emma Scatterty is keen to ensure a wide mix of participants are represented on the course to maximise the value of the network and ensure all sectors can benefit from transformational change:

“It’s really important that we have representation from across health, social care, social work, housing, charities, and the third sector. We are looking for a mix of backgrounds, including those with clinical and non-clinical backgrounds, to join the programme.”

This senior level qualification is targeted at those already operating within a role where they are required to drive forward practical transformational change. As a result, the organisers believe technical skills alone are unlikely to be enough to excel on the course – the team say they want to see evidence of applicants already leading the digital revolution in their local areas or organisations.

Emma Scatterty says: “People sometimes fall into the trap of thinking a digital leader is only about the technology and having technical skills whereas I think, particularly with this programme, what we’re seeing is it’s also about the leadership element and how you bring people with you.

“It all goes back to that three-legged stool of people, process, and technology. If one of these is missing it doesn’t matter how good the tech is – positive change won’t happen”

Those at an earlier point in their career, but still keen to explore how technology can benefit people and want to develop their leadership skills, have the option of applying to the Digital Health and Care Leadership Programme (DLP) also on offer from NES and sponsored by the Scottish government.

The DLP is run virtually over eight months and includes peer support, learning sessions and the opportunity to lead a local digital initiative The team suggests this offers a good stepping-stone to the master’s level qualification and cohort 20 is open for applications until the 27th of March.

For those senior-level leaders ready to lead the digital revolution in health and care, the Leading Digital Transformation in Health and Care for Scotland programme remains open for applications until the 15^th of January.

Paula Baird says there is still time for those with a digital mindset and long-term vision, who can benefit from the practical skills and network the course offers, to become true digital leaders and apply:

“A digital leader is somebody who’s got that forward vision – they can identify where technology should be used but isn’t and they proactively use information and data.

“They also actively network, so they’re aware of technology that’s out there and how to bring it into the sector. I think sometimes people will know the theory, but the key thing is how they apply it to make their vision a reality.”

 

Find out more information about the Leading Digital Transformation in Health and Care for Scotland programme, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, here. You can get in contact with the Digitally Enabled Workforce team in NES at nes.dew@nhs.scot.

 

 

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