Policy Title: AHP Support and Development Scheme (test)
Department: DIRECTOR-GENERAL HEALTH and Chief Executive NHS Scotland
Group: Chief Nursing Officer Directorate
Division: Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professions
Branch: Allied Health Professions
| Aims of the Policy |
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| What is the purpose of the policy (or the changes made to the policy)? | To aid in the recruitment and retention of all Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in Scotland, in November 2005, a Support and Development scheme for Allied Health Professionals was announced. This initiative comprises 3 strands:
The first strand is the funding attached to the Flying Start development programme which aims to encourage new graduates to join and remain within NHS Scotland. The second strand of the initiative is the Hard to Fill Posts initiative, whereby a post that has been vacant for 6 months or more, despite advertising, becomes eligible for recruitment funding to encourage prospective applicants and provide support for the team with vacancy. The third strand is the Travel Scholarship scheme, which encourages experienced AHPs in NHS Scotland, to enhance their personal development and investigate other healthcare systems at home or abroad, by undertaking a travel scholarship.
The scheme closed to new applicants on 31 March 2007. |
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| Who is affected by the policy or who is intended to benefit from the proposed policy and how? | NHS Scotland is affected as;
1. the funding attracts new graduates to take up employment
2. posts that have been vacants for six months or more are now filled as funding encourages people to apply
3. NHS Scotland benefits from the experience gained from successful applicants of the travel scholarship.
4. All new employees receive uniformity in their development by participating in the flying start educational programme as they progress from graduate to practioner.
Allied Health Professionals are affected as they are
Patients in NHS Scotland |
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| How has the policy been, or will be put into practice, and who is or will be responsible for delivering it? | Brochures have been prepared and diseminated. Advertising of the scheme has been carried out using a variety of media including seminars,lead Ahp contacts and Higher Education Institutions.
Nhs Education Scotland have been commisioned to administer the flying start strand of the scheme. All financial payments are paid through Board Allocation. |
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| How does the policy fit into the Scottish Executive's wider or related policy initiatives? | Retention and recruitment of Allied Health Professionals in NHS Scotland |
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| Have the resources for the policy been allocated? | Yes |
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