Oxford Academic Health Science Network Masters in Evidence- Based Health Care fellowships

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1 Oxford Academic Health Science Network Masters in Evidence- Based Health Care fellowships Oxford Academic Health Science Network (Oxford AHSN) is composed of health and social care providers, NHS commissioners, universities, life sciences industry and business and commercial organisations covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes), Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire. In 2015 Oxford AHSN will fund seven Masters in Evidence- Based Health Care (MSc in EBHC) at the University of Oxford as part of a three year Fellowship. Available to all NHS staff working within the AHSN, this Fellowship combines a Masters qualification (2yrs) with Knowledge Translation expertise taught in the third year that will provide the skills needed to demonstrate change in a local setting as a result of your chosen research topic. Oxford AHSN is looking to invest in passionate and committed healthcare staff that want to change practice for the better. Successful candidates will benefit from individual learning operating in a service that delivers best and most effective practice implementation of research Local employers will benefit from improving local health care, becoming the bench mark for service delivery narrowing the gap between research and practice measurable success of intervention increased understanding of adoption processes, overcoming local constraints This document includes details of the person and project specification required for a successful Fellowship proposal and application to the MSc. Please send any proposals (using the template) for consideration to info@oxfordahsn.org before the deadline of 16/03/2015. Those submitting proposals which meet the criteria will be contacted for interview and notified within two weeks if successful. Full application to Masters in Evidence- Based Health Care will need to be made before the end of May 2015 to be considered by the University of Oxford. Admissions Policy Oxford AHSN currently has projects in: Anxiety and Depression; Children; Dementia; Diabetes; Early Intervention in Mental Health; Imaging; Informatics and Medical Technologies; Maternity; Mental and Physical Co- morbidity; Patient Safety; Medicines Optimisation; Out of Hospital. Projects based on improving issues currently influencing practice in your local setting will also be considered. Please read through this document carefully and discuss options with your employer before considering applying. Commitment for time off to study must be provided in writing by your line manager. 1

2 Student specification All applicants will be assessed on their academic rigour, individual merits and potential. All candidates will need to: be a graduate or have completed a professional training course Have at least 2 years professional work experience in the health service (or health- related field) Be a registered medic, nurse, allied health professional, healthcare scientist, pharmacist or manager identify a work based problem for which they will be seeking evidence be able to combine intensive classroom learning with the application of the principles and practices of evidence- based health care within the work place have a good working knowledge of , internet, word processing and Windows applications (for communications with course members, course team and administration) Successful candidates will normally provide evidence of all of the following: A general interest in evidence- based health care, evidenced by prior experience, interest and work Motivation, influence and ability to complete the course A clear and well- argued understanding of the benefits of the course to the success of Oxford AHSN Interviews will be conducted either face- to- face or by telephone/skype with at least two members of the teaching team and representation from Oxford AHSN. References are secured before discussion with the applicant takes place. The purpose of the interview is to: establish the applicant s level of interest, motivation and potential to benefit from the fellowship clarify any uncertainties about compliance with requirements, (Oxford AHSN & University of Oxford (MSc)) ensure that candidates are fully informed of the standard of achievement and level of commitment required by the fellowship Proposals may be rejected without further direct contact with the applicant, although candidates whose proposals are deemed insufficient for entry to the course may, on request, receive feedback. 2

3 Application to the University of Oxford Masters in Evidence Based Health Care requires the completion of an application form, statements of support from three referees including evidence of financial and academic support from the local employer. All necessary out of pocket expenses must be processed in line with employers own expenses policy. All potential applicants will have access to the detailed, and regularly updated, description of the MSc course as part of the Fellowship at the EBHC programme website. The admissions criteria above fulfil the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education (OUDCE) specification that are readily available on the OUDCE website, in the Student Handbook for the programme, and in the e- handbook on the programme website. The MSc application form requests information about: relevant prior or current work experience a statement of current role and duties in the candidate s organisation details of any prior higher education career names of referees willing to offer an opinion on the suitability of the candidate for entry to the course evidence of employer commitment in the form of a signed statement, from a named individual within the organisation, of willingness to release the employee for attendance at the programme a statement from the candidate of their objectives in attending the course and their reasons for seeking to register A successful candidate will normally provide evidence of all of the following: a demonstrated interest in evidence- based health care motivation and ability to complete the course a clear and well- argued understanding of the benefits of the course to the candidate s current employment situation and future prospects prior academic achievement in a health- related discipline at undergraduate or Master s level, or successful completion of a professional training course and at least two years professional work experience in the health service or a health- related field Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an approach to their study which includes demonstrable skills of critical analysis, wide contextual knowledge and the ability to manage their own time. employer financial and academic support Formal evidence of prior academic achievement is required. 3

4 Project specification The aim of Oxford AHSN s Fellowships programme is to identify, improve and change practice in a local setting. The MSc helps professionals in health care base clinical and health management decisions on valid, reliable and relevant evidence, determined by sound scientific research and evaluation. In order to receive funding all Fellowship applicants must consider the following applied criteria. Applicants whose planned project meets some or all of the criteria below will be given higher priority than those whose projects do not: o impacts the work of one of the Oxford Academic Health Science Clinical Networks o impacts the work of more than one of the Oxford Academic Health Science Clinical Networks o impacts an area of national priority not already supported by one of the existing Oxford Academic Health Science Network Clinical Networks o supports at least two of the Oxford AHSN core objectives, namely:! Focus on the needs of patients and local populations and reduce variation of care! Speed up adoption of innovation into practice to improve clinical outcomes and patient experience! Build a culture of partnership and collaboration! Create wealth through co- development, testing, evaluation and early adoption and spread of new products and services These selection criteria are applied to all applications for funding, at the discretion of Oxford AHSN. By the end of the programme Oxford AHSN Fellows will be expected to be able to: find and appraise quantitative and qualitative research evidence critically and efficiently, and understand what the results mean in different contexts and for different healthcare decisions integrate and synthesise different sorts of information, from diverse sources, when making individual patient and/or wider health policy decisions in a wide range of situations be familiar with key issues for evidence- based practice in their own professional area or specialty work comfortably in situations of uncertainty and make sound judgements in the absence of definitive evidence work comfortably in unpredictable situations and deal with complex issues systematically and creatively have an understanding of ethical frameworks in health care and be able to apply ethical principles to practical issues understand health care organisations, their management and the changing context in which they operate 4

5 be pro- active in recognising the need for change and have the ability to manage change understand how to work with colleagues to make informed decisions based on evidence and operate effectively in a variety of team roles provide leadership for evidence- based practice and research manage projects, people, time and change effectively and efficiently present and communicate information about research evidence and evidence- based practice clearly in written, electronic and oral forms to a range of audiences be able to produce a robust research protocol, for a variety of different types of research question, in a format that can be submitted as an application for research funding be able to play a lead role in the conduct and presentation of research have an understanding of the ethical issues in health research and research governance routinely use the principles of reflective practice plan implementation of MSc projects locally and across the network, through a series of structured workshops that will: o develop a flow chart of processes needed to change practice o clarify the use of evidence in a particular setting through Systematic Reviews o audit current practice to identify inroads for improved services o provide guidance to set up a feasibility study for initial measure of proposed intervention The Fellowship Programme will be completed over three years and will require a limited amount of time out of the workplace. Each student will be expected to complete all the requirements in full to successfully complete the Programme: Over Years One & Two 40 days 30 days module study (6 x 5 day block modules), 2 core modules to be completed Michaelmas term Yr1. 10 days (Oxford and off site) o workplace supervisor meetings o conference attendance/presentation o additional workshops (e.g. STATA, SPSS training) Year One 5 additional days up to 2 days Oxford AHSN Fellow meetings up to 3 days academic supervision (dissertation title guidance) Year Two 25 days 25 days Dissertation write up (study leave/academic supervisor meetings) Year Three 35 days up to 10 days (Oxford) KT Implementation Workshops for Fellows and workplace supervisors Oxford AHSN implementation planning meetings onsite local implementation strategy 5

6 Application Process Requires completion of application form and a number of pieces of supporting information Apply for Fellowship funding Review applications End March / Early April Short-list? Interview short listed applicants Yes No By mid March In line with University of Oxford application guidelines the University reserves the right to interview applicants prior to acceptance Requires completion of application form and a number of pieces of supporting information No Offer Fellowship funding? Yes Apply for MSc Course Accepted on to MSc Course? Yes Funding awarded. Commence MSc By mid July No By mid May 6 Beginning of October End