Staff Bursary Scheme

Responses will generally focus on the purpose and importance of the course of study and the consequent development of knowledge and skills. This may also include a brief comment on the potential impact on patients, colleagues or team. This will be the focus for your response to Questions 3 and 4.

Responses could also include reference to building on previous learning experiences and the identification of personal learning styles and preferences.

Comments on personal interest in learning or commitment to the particular course of study or contribution to the fulfilment of personal and career aspirations would also be appropriate. Please note that question 6 provides the opportunity to offer more general comments on personal aims, expectations and motivation.

It is expected that responses will:

• Offer reflections on most recent review or appraisal and PDP and why aspects are important.
• Identify specific KSF dimensions, key result areas, objectives, CPD outcomes and competencies as appropriate.
• Explain how the course will link to and support these.

Prior to answering this question, you need to discuss the application of your learning with your line manager.

Responses should detail not just how the learning will be applied but also what the local/service/organisational objectives are and how this learning will specifically support these.

Examples could include the application of e.g.:

• clinical skills
• management competencies
• communication skills
• research, training
• and the relationship to e.g.:
  • local or corporate objectives/themes
  • national guidelines (SIGN, QIS)
  • professional policies, procedures or standards

Responses should identify actual developments and changes (or proposed) changes to practice. These could include development or expansion of services, support for other team members, service users or patients, improved effectiveness and efficiency of a service. Again, discussion with your manager is key regarding this.

Evaluation of the course of study could include written assessments, supervised activities, group work, tutor feedback, personal reflection. Evaluation of the impact of learning on the service could include feedback from managers, colleagues, patients, formal audit, peer review, personal reflection.
*Please answer in relation to both the course of study and its impact on services

Use this question to provide additional information or expand on responses in question 1.

E.g. career path, wider impact of the course of study (national or international), management support, potential further learning, personal challenge, financial incentive provided by the Bursary Scheme.

The Bursary Scheme is generally available in the spring of each year, if funding is secured. Make sure that staff know about this opportunity – discuss it at team meetings and with members of your team – promote it as another route to support their individual development in line with service objectives.

When the scheme is open, it’s essential that you discuss their application with them.  The application must be supported by staff’s line manager for it to be considered.   Key things to discuss include:

• How does it link to their PDP/Learning needs?
• What outcomes are they hoping to achieve?
• How could they apply the learning within their work and how does this link to work objectives (at team/service/organisational level)?
• How would the learning and impact of it be evaluated?

These are all areas covered in the application form – your support in discussing these can greatly assist in taking their application forward as an integral part of the PDP and Review process.

Staff must also explore all alternative funding sources prior to applying.  Any awards made are on the condition that staff have done so and that alternative funding is either not available or does not cover the full course fees. After your member of staff has submitted an application, you will receive an auto-generated email with links to an online form to demonstrate your support. If you do not complete this form, the application will be withdrawn and the member of staff notified.

There are a range of potential funding sources – see the ‘Other Resources and Support’ page for further details.

All staff who submit an application will be contacted by the Bursary Administrator to confirm receipt of their application. If they don’t receive confirmation within 24 hours of submitting it, they should contact the Bursary Administrator direct. All staff will then be contacted by email to advise of the outcome of their application, and the manager will be copied into the email.

It only covers course fees – any additional costs such as travel, books and examination or accreditation fees are not included.

Applications must come from individual members of staff, reflecting their own development needs. If the course of study it essential to service development, then alternative funding must be sought.

If a Bursary Award is made, it is on the condition that the member of staff has first explored/applied to all alternative funding sources and that these have either been unsuccessful or if secured, they do not cover the full cost of the course fees.

The amount of funding awarded depends on the score given to the application, the number of applications received and overall level of funding available. The total funding available to an individual is capped.  As such, any Award made, may not cover the full course fees. The Bursary Scheme is also available on a year by year basis subject to the availability of funding.  As such, if a course lasts more than one year, there is no guarantee of continued financial support and employees are advised to make provisions for this when applying.

This will vary depending on the nature of the course – e.g. how long is it, is it during the member of staffs normal working hours etc., how can this be supported/ accommodated. Any study leave will be at the managers’ discretion, however managers must not discriminate between full and part time staff.

It is also important to regularly discuss progress and the application of learning – just as you would with any other learning or training opportunity, as part of the PDP process. An annual evaluation of the Scheme will take place in the autumn. This will focus on applicants’ progress with study and future study plans as well as the impact on personal, clinical and organisational objectives. In order to gather the relevant data applicants and managers will be contacted annually to participate in a survey.