Training Skills and the NHS: Connecting for Health
Kate Marsden of Trent Strategic Health Authority has highlighted the proactive role that the SHA plays in funding the development of IT training skills. She feels this role is crucial in order to address the training challenges posed by programmes being delivered by the new Department of Health agency NHS Connecting for Health.
Trent Strategic Health Authority takes a proactive role in funding the development of IT training skills throughout the Trent area. The objective is to develop the capacity and capability of the IT Training workforce.
This is essential in order to address the training challenges of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), which is being delivered by the new Department of Health agency NHS Connecting for Health. This initiative represents the largest IT programme in the world, with the aim of bringing modern computer systems into the NHS to improve patient care and services.
Kate Marsden is the E-Learning and Health Informatics Network Lead for Trent Strategic Health Authority. She works with the IT Training departments across Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Kate feels that the Trainer Assessment Programme (TAP®) is playing a crucial role in the fulfilment of the health informatics strategy for the region.
TAP® provides the skills framework which trainers use in training preparation and delivery. This means that whilst our trainers are from different backgrounds and can have different specialist qualifications, we can be sure that they can meet a consistent quality standard for the facilitation of IT training."
"For example, The North Derbyshire Health Informatics Service (non-acute) provides health informatics education and training to three Primary Care Trusts, as well as servicing other healthcare organisations within the local health community."
"North Derbyshire HIS decided to enrol their staff in the Trainer Assessment Programme in order to implement a consistent quality framework for IT training which builds trainer confidence; ensures a professional standard for trainers and leads to membership of the Institute of IT Training".
Edith Whitehead, the head of training at North Derbyshire HIS, is certainly in no doubt about the benefits that this approach has generated: "The Training Foundation has provided our trainers with a recognised professional IT training qualification and has also opened up contacts to a wider community of IT trainers than those working in the NHS."
"The complexities of IT training are sometimes not appreciated or understood by people who do not work in this area. The Trainer Assessment Programme provides tangible proof of the professional approach needed to ensure top quality IT training.
It improves the confidence, morale and professional standing of IT trainers.""We have recently recruited two more trainers and would like to be able to offer them TAP® training subject to funding."
The prospects for Edith's new trainers sound encouraging because Kate Marsden of Trent SHA remains firmly committed to the initiative. "We are promoting the Trainer Assessment Programme throughout the SHA and encouraging all new trainers to undertake the TAP® training if they have no other training qualification."