The role of distance learning in NHSU

Professor Gifford BatstoneGraduate Studies

NHSU

GiffordBatstone@compuserve.com

NHSU

Distance learning in NHSU

• About NHSU

• Some challenges for NHSU

• Blended learning

• Learning needs observatory

• Developing educational capacity and capability

Distance learning in NHSU

• About NHSU

• Some challenges for NHSU

• Blended learning

• Learning needs observatory

• Developing educational capacity and capability

Progress to date

• June 01 Labour party manifesto• October 01 Publication of ‘Everyone’• February 02 Chief Executive and small office in place• March - June 02 Design and Implementation Team• July - Oct 02 Preparing Development Plan• November 02 Publication of NHSU Development Plan• Nov 02 - Feb 03 Recruiting senior team• Nov 02 - Feb 03 Consultation exercise

NHSU

Purpose of NHSU

A key element of the ‘modernisation’ agenda Support the priorities of the NHS as a whole Contribute to improved patient care Develop staff skills, self-esteem & competences Support learning cultures of continuous improvement Help recruit and retain key staff Develop common national programmes A catalyst for innovation in learning in the NHS

NHSU

Initial concerns & anxieties

Use of ‘university’ title

Danger of substitution - substantial investment by others in skills, buildings & relationships

Fear of ‘top slicing’

Uncertainty about what NHSU will do

NHSU

Four Strategic Drivers

Modernisation of service delivery - patient centred, team based, outcomes driven, de-centralised, giving choice & accountable

Focus on the science of health care improvement Workforce development - recruitment, retention,

skills, motivation and new ways of working Transformation of learning opportunities,

engagement, modes of learning, attainment and of organisational cultures

NHSU

Eight Guiding Principles

NHSUNHSU

• Access - available to everyone in healthcare

• Relevance - designed to secure benefits for patients, staff and to promote improvements in healthcare

• Choice - delivered in ways that suit individual learners

• Support - for learners and for learning

• Equity - tackling the barriers to fair opportunity & inclusive learning

• Multidisciplinary & multi-professional - towards common learning

• Partnership - working with others to achieve our aims

• Quality - commitment to university standards

Learning, change & place

Adapting to change

"Learning has to be greater than or equal to the speed of external change.” Reg Revans

Wherever that may be

" The key to the Learning Society is to seek the learning potential in everyday situations….A ‘learning culture’ must, after all mean finding learning in the most unlikely places…. Michael Barber, The Learning Game

NHSU

How will NHSU operate in practice?Making learning available where, when & how it is wanted - ‘Learning just for YOU’

Using a range & blend of forms & places of learning - work-based, e-learning & face-to-face

Emphasising high quality learner support

Working closely with Trusts, PCTs, WDCs, Staff, their trades unions & professional representatives

Supporting those responsible for service delivery

NHSU

Some early programmes & services

Corporate Induction Communication skills Skills for life Foundation Degrees Junior Scholarships Health informatics Management First contact Infection Control for cleaners E-learning Advice & support services for learners Qualifications & accreditation framework

NHSU

Adding value & using the best of what works

Putting learners at the centre of learning

Building on existing successful provision

Working with schools, colleges & universities

Complementing, supplementing & adding value

Using new technologies to good effect

Recognising that not everyone has access

Focus on NSFs, new ways of working etc

The NHSU in 2010 - a visionBy 2010 the NHSU will have become one of the world's first chartered corporate universities, played a major role in improving patient care, contributed to the beginnings of a UK learning revolution & helped to make the NHS one of the best places to work anywhere in the world

NHSU

Countdown to NHSU launch Autumn 2002 - consultation on

Development Rigorous needs analysis Choosing our initial portfolio Finalising locations and funding

arrangements April 2003 - March 2006 First Strategic

PlanNHSU

Distance learning in NHSU

• About NHSU

• Some challenges for NHSU

• Blended learning

• Learning needs observatory

• Developing educational capacity and capability

Challenges for NHSU

• Number of staff in health and social care

• Geographical distribution of staff

• Access to traditional educational sources

• Range of learner needs - all post 16 education

• Programme validation

• QA - NHS, HEFC, Regulatory etc NHSU

Challenges for NHSU• Partnership working - HE, FE, WDC etc

• Understanding of work-based learning

• Staff access to IT

• Learner familiarity with e-learning

• Capacity and capability of learner support

• Sheer size of targetsNHSU

Budget for NHSU

• Budget from DH - 75 m

• Adding to this from

• HEFC

• LSC

• WDC

NHSU

Distance learning in NHSU

• About NHSU

• Some challenges for NHSU

• Blended learning

• Learning needs observatory

• Developing educational capacity and capability

Blended Learning -e-learning

For the learner

•Anytime, any place, control pace and content of learning

•Access to resources, managed learning environment, online communities

•Performance support, ‘revision’NHSU

Blended Learning -e-learning

For the NHS

• Faster dissemination, consistency of approach, reach

• Lower costs, faster learning

NHSU

Blended Learning • Mix of online and offline learning - most effective; most people; most subjects

• Mentoring, learner support

• Learning sets, workshops, seminars

• Online communities

• E-learning supporting work-basedNHSU

It might look like this

E-learning platform

• Compliance with recognised standards for inter-operability (IMS, SCORM)

• Modular architecture to allow transfer of functions

•Links to ESR, NHS e-mail and directory

•Ability to reconfigure content for other output devices eg digital TV

NHSU

E-learning platform

• Once only registration

•Self assessment of learning preference

• Searchable directories of programmes with signposting

• Content management systems to allow compilation of learning objects

NHSU

E-learning platform

• Personal learning log and PDP

• On-line library and KM system

• Facilities for synchronous and asynchronous discussion; network collaboration tools

•User tracking and assessment with accreditation

NHSU

E-learning platform

• Carrying digital content plus wide range of online services

• OJEC advert published - initial responses by 28 Feb

• Shortlisted suppliers identified by Apr/May

• Contract autumn 03NHSU

Distance learning in NHSU

• About NHSU

• Some challenges for NHSU

• Blended learning

• Learning needs observatory

• Developing educational capacity and capability

Learning Needs Observatory

Mission

Bringing information, knowledge and people together

Aim

To research, analyse and advise on educational needs of NHS and related staff

NHSU

Learning Needs Observatory

Structure

• Networks and networking

Outputs

• Information

• Skills

• EvidenceNHSU

Distance learning in NHSU

• About NHSU

• Some challenges for NHSU

• Blended learning

• Learning needs observatory

• Developing educational capacity and capability

Student Support - Capacity and Capability

Targets

• Expansion of NHS staff numbers

• Focus on service modernisation, new ways of working

• Delivery of NHSU programmes

NHSU

Key role for NHS managers & leaders

Encouraging, stimulating & supporting the learning of their staff

Leading by example, continuing their own learning

Embracing learning within appraisal and personal development planning

Creating a work culture in which learning is ‘normal’

Acting as mentors, advisers, tutors and assessors

Working in partnership with and as part of NHSU

Six Learner Support Roles• Learning Champion

• Learning Adviser

• Learning Facilitator

• Learning Manager

• Learning Coach

• Programme and Practice TutorsNHSU

Student Support - Capacity and Capability

Issues

• Range of courses currently undertaken by staff

• Inclusivity of professionally orientated programmes on education

• Meeting QAA and occupational standards NHSU

Developing Educational Capacity and Capability

Approach of NHSU

• Application with reflective focus

• Allocation of mentor

• Orientation programme

• PDP development

• Further study modules NHSU

An inclusive & engaging view of learning

Learning is

"…what people do when they want to make sense of experience. It may involve an increase of skills, knowledge, understanding, values & capacity to reflect…. learning leads to change, development,

and a desire to learn more,”

Source: Campaign for Learning NHSU

effective practice

Current participation in learning & future intentions by social class (NIACE)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

All AB C1 C2 DE

Current/Recent

Likely/Fairly

Unlikely

NHSU

Class Differences in UK HE Age Participation Rates by Socio-Economic

Group (DfES)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 97/98 98/99

SEG ISEG IISEG IIInSEG IIImSEG IVSEG VTotal

NHSU