Open to NCHDs who are enrolled on a higher specialist training (HST) program.

This NDTP scholarship part-funds 24 NCHDs pursuing a master’s degree in management and leadership skills. 12 places are part-funded in the first year and a further 12 in the second year. Funding meets up to 60% of the cost of an approved master’s course in Ireland, capped at €4,800 per year. It is assumed that the master’s program will run for two years part-time, however consideration will be given to applicants who wish to complete a full-time one-year program.

Learn more about this scholarship: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/leadership-educationdevelopment/met/ed/scholarships

Open to NCHDs who are enrolled on a higher specialist training (HST) program.

The Dr Richard Steevens' Scholarship is awarded annually to specialist and senior registrars with strong track records in achievement. The scholarship helps doctors to train at foreign centres of excellence in novel areas of medicine and patient care – areas which are limited or unavailable in Ireland - and to bring the skills gained back to the Irish health service.

Learn more about this scholarship: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/leadership-educationdevelopment/met/ed/scholarships

Open to NCHDs who have completed basic specialty training (or equivalent) and are entering higher specialist training (HST).

The Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) Programme is a unique, all-island, cross-institutional PhD programme for clinician scientists in human, veterinary, and dental medicine. This training is integrated with the health services and university clinical research centres and provides an integrated pathway for clinical academic training. ICAT provides clinical academic training to excellent postgraduate clinical trainees through a programme which integrates PhD research training with higher specialist training (HST).

Learn more about this programme: www.icatprogramme.org

Open to NCHDs who have completed higher specialist training (HST).

The Aspire fellowships provide opportunities for doctors who have completed specialist training in Ireland to access high-quality training in a specialised area of clinical care in this country. This fellowship will appeal to trainees who do not wish, or are unable, to travel abroad for fellowship training, but want to acquire additional training or experience not available on their higher specialist training programme. This exposes postgraduates to subspecialties and advanced clinical skills. There a number of post-CSCST fellowships advertised annually across a number of specialties.

Learn more about these fellowships: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/leadership-educationdevelopment/met/ed/postcscst/

Open to NCHDs who have completed medical internship.

The Lead NCHD Programme is one of a range of initiatives taken at national level to improve NCHD recruitment and retention in the Irish public health system. It addresses a deficit in NCHD representation at an executive level across the country. Recommended in the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure (MacCraith) reports, the National Lead NCHD Programme facilitates two-way communication between NCHDs and management structures in hospitals around the country, benefiting both NCHDs and patients. Participating NCHDs are supported by NDTP liaisons within hospital groups and are encouraged to attend key meetings about issues affecting NCHDs, have regular meetings with their clinical director, and chair the local NCHD committee. In collaboration with the National Clinical Director Programme and the Quality Improvement Division (QID), we piloted this programme in five acute hospitals within the public health service and then rolled it out nationally in 2014-2015. Today, the programme boasts Lead NCHD roles in 32 acute hospitals and seven mental health areas, a Mental Health Lead NCHD role in each of the nine community healthcare organisations (CHOs) and a national Lead NCHD role. The support provided by NDTP to Lead NCHDs includes workshops, joint clinical workshops, a fund for education in management in healthcare, seed funding for NCHD-led quality improvement initiatives, and support from a national Lead/NDTP fellow.

Interested in Leadership?

Want to gain more experience in Management?

Become a Lead NCHD!

The Lead NCHD can be appointed for a 6 or 12-month duration

Benefits of the Lead NCHD Role include:

• Career development - Communication skills, project management
• Networking opportunities - Support from NDTP National Lead NCHD, Group Clinical Directors of Education & Training or Group Trainer Leads
• €2,500 educational bursary
• Lead NCHD awards
• Protected time to undertake the role
• Educational webinars/workshops

To apply please send your CV to your Medical Manpower Manager.

The programme is evaluated each year to ensure adequate representation for trainees. Lead NCHDs are appointed locally though the Medical Manpower Department. For further information, contact the NDTP National Lead NCHD at nl.nchd@hse.ie .

NCHDs, individually and as a group, are essential staff in the healthcare system and are valuable in the management and leadership structures of hospitals and other healthcare settings. The role of a Lead NCHD is to provide a formal link at management level between NCHDs and clinical directorates / hospital management structures, thereby enabling a continuous two-way flow of communication between management and NCHDs.

To apply applicants must possess the following:

• Have at least four years’ post-graduate experience
• Demonstrate evidence of participation in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate training
• Experience as a Lead NCHD is desirable
• Demonstrate a successful track record in engaging and contributing positively to change programmes within the health service
• Demonstrate a commitment to participation, delivery and enhancement of training
• Experience of engaging with and working with a range of stakeholders including NCHD colleagues
• Possess the requisite knowledge, skills and attributes to make a contribution to the health service through the Fellowship.

To apply please submit the following:

• A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae clearly showing relevant achievements and experience from your career to date;
• A cover letter/personal statement (maximum 2 pages) outlining why you wish to be considered and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements for the National Lead NCHD Fellowship;
• A one-page summary outlining of your area of research interest including which postgraduate/master’s programme/s you are considering.

Open to NCHDs who have completed medical internship.

The Spark Innovation Programme encourages and empowers healthcare workers to develop and implement new ideas with the potential to improve the services in which they work. Spark was established by NDTP in 2017 to encourage and support innovation among frontline healthcare workers in Ireland. The programme has grown from focusing on NCHDs to include consultants, nurses, midwives, and health and social care professionals. It is supported by the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) and the National Health and Social Care Professions Office (NHSCPO).

Learn more about the Spark Innovation Programme for HSE Staff:

https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/spark-innovation-programme/