The Transformation Directorate at NHS England has opened a call for evidence for recruitment and retention of digital, data and technology staff in the NHS.
Through an online survey the digital transformation unit aims to explore what good practice looks like and understand the challenges that exist in attracting, recruiting and retaining these professionals.
It comes against the challenge that “digital, data and technology professionals are in high demand across all sectors of the economy and the NHS needs to do more to attract and retain these specialist skillsets in order to meet current and future digital transformation ambitions,” NHS England notes.
The survey aims to understand participants experience to recruit digital, data and technology professionals, as well what is working well or what is needed to attract these professionals to the NHS. It also asks how easy it is to retain digital, data and technology professionals and whether skills, capability or competency frameworks are in use and how they’re working. The survey continues to ask for participants experience, what more can be done and wider views on this area.
Information gathered from the survey will be used to support the NHS digital workforce programmes and form an evidence base on which to build future solutions.
The survey closes 15 December; to find out more, please click here.
Recently for HTN Now, we held a panel discussion to share advice, ideas and experiences for anyone working in a digital role within healthcare, or looking to move into one. We were joined by three digital leaders: Jeffrey Wood, Deputy Director for ICT at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Dr Tamara Everington, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Hampshire Hospitals NHS FT, and Morgan Thanigasalam, Clinical Lead for Digital Innovation and Transformation at Sherwood Forest Hospital.
Earlier this month we welcomed another panel to discuss and progress women in digital transformation roles. The session shared advice for moving into a digital role or developing into digital leadership roles. The panel included Katy Lethbridge, Marketing Director at Ideal Health; Alison Walker, Ideal Health Associate in the strategic consultancy practice with expertise in organisational development and digital transformation; Jo Smith, CIO and consultant with in-depth digital health experience; Katherine Church, Digital Transformation Specialist with experience in mentoring women and start-ups, independent consultancy and women-focused activism; and Victoria Betton, Digital Health Consultant focusing on human factors such as user-centred design. You can watch the session back here.
