1. Where can I find information on the drive towards digital transformation in the NHS?
See the useful links and resources section of this toolkit, which provide you with various reports and information about NHS digital transformation. The links above also aim to help you to gain insight into the NHS Digital Transformation Strategy and how digital apprenticeships may help you in achieving its objectives through upskilling your people and recruiting new digital talent.
2. Where can I find the digital transformation priorities in my area of work?
Digital and technological innovation are a having a profound impact on many areas of NHS services and how they are delivered. We would suggest that you start will identifying your own organisations digital transformation strategy. This should be available on your intranet or by contacting your digital / ICT department. You can see an example of a ‘Digital Transformation Road Map’ published by Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICS.
3. How can digital apprenticeships support NHS digital transformation agenda?
To deliver its ambitions for digital transformation, the NHS will need to have a workforce that is skilled and experienced across the digital remit. Digital apprenticeships can support upskilling existing people or recruiting new talent, across all levels. Part 2 of this toolkit will provide you with further detail on how to identify apprenticeship opportunities and what to consider.
4. What do I need to consider for our own digital transformation journey?
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How are you going to upskill your workforce to deliver your ambitions?
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Do you have a talent acquisition and recruitment strategy to support and achieve digital transformation in your area?
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Could apprenticeships be part of your strategic workforce planning?
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Is there a digital apprenticeship programme that can support your strategy?
The NHS Digital Skills Gap
How we manage the digital skills gap will impact directly on the services the NHS is able to provide now and in the future. The imperative for the long-term success of digital transformation is the recruitment and training of a digitally skilled and enabled workforce.
The NHS digital transformation strategy relies on the right expertise being available in the right place at the right time to achieve its ambitions. These skills are not only required at a strategic level but across every level, where new talent can be nurtured to deliver the strategy’s objectives.
To fully understand the emerging digital skills gap in the NHS, Health Education England conducted a study of NHS recruitment trends for digital skillsets against the predicted demand for digital expertise over the next ten-years. In its Interim Report, ‘Data Driven Health Care in 2030’ (2021), it predicted significant shortfalls in the workforce should recruitment fail to keep up with increasing demand for analysts, developers, IT project managers, digital security experts, infrastructure and other IT/Digital specialists. The Apprentices into Health pilot has been designed specifically to help address this issue.
1. What IT/Digital expertise is needed across the NHS?
The NHS will require not only front-end staff with outstanding digital skills but also highly skilled digital facilitators and operators who can develop and maintain complex ICT and digital infrastructures. The Interim Report, ‘Data Driven Health Care in 2030’ (2021) also provides further information on the digital expertise needed.
From essential digital marketing, to communications, and to diagnostics and the allocation of resource, there are many core activities in the NHS that rely on an effective and robust ICT and digital infrastructure with the software to drive analysis and innovation. Skills across all of these areas are needed.
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2. What are the benefits of employing a Digital Apprentice?
Digital transformation is happening fast, and the benefits it can bring are clear to see and a workforce that is able to keep up with change and support innovation is critical to the long-term successes of the NHS. There are many benefits to employing (or upskilling) a digital apprentice, which include (but not exhaustive to):
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Apprenticeships can help you develop skills relevant to your organisation
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Can help improve productivity
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They can help improve the quality of your product or service
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You can adapt your training according to the needs of your business
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Apprentices are motivated to learn new skills
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Help you expand and upskill your workforce through an accredited programme
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You can utilise your levy to pay for the training and assessment of the apprenticeship
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Others in your team will develop by developing others
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A great way to grow your own talent
Digital and Data Driven NHS
This toolkit has explored the ways digital transformation is assisting the NHS. The changing landscape of the NHS and digital technologies are changing the way that data is used to understand and plan resources, enhance administration and clinical practice and enabling research.
The following links illustrate a few digital projects that are making a significant and positive impact on the lives of those using NHS services: iPads for ambulance crews, NHS Fitness app, patient monitoring at home.
In order to achieve the enhancement envisaged by a data driven strategy the NHS needs the capability and capacity to manage and operate ethically sound digital innovations. Digital apprenticeships are an option to assist with this.
Toolkit Resources:
