An overview of available fellowship schemes for junior doctors interested in clinical leadership
| Scheme | Organiser | Open to | Duration | Host organisation | Leadership and management training | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow Schemea | FMLM | Doctors post-FY2 to penultimate year of training. GP trainees can apply in final year of training. Junior doctors without an NTN can apply. | 12 months full time. If an NTN holder, the post is OOPE and does not count towards training. | Mostly national ALBs in London (HEE/NHSE/NHSI/CQC/GMC/Health Foundation).Some posts in Manchester. | Intensive 6-day induction programme.Development events throughout the year organised by FMLM and NHSE.Action learning sets.Celebration event at end of year. | Matched to current NHS grade (and banding). |
| RCP’s chief registrar scheme | RCP | Doctors (including non-physicians) in training from at least ST4.Must have an NTN. | Minimum 40–50% time protected for chief registrar activity for minimum 12 months.Can be OOPE/part of training. | Based at hospital trusts across the country. | Development programme (five x 2 days) organised by RCP.Action learning sets. | Matched to current NHS grade (and banding) |
| Darzi Fellowship scheme | London South Bank University via host organisations | Early career leaders (ST4+ or band 6–8).Open to doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals. | 12 months full time. If in training, post is an OOPE and does not count towards training. | Host is the sponsoring organisation of the project. This may be a CCG, local council, academic health science network or hospital trust. Separate cohorts are based in London and KSS. | University programme for postgraduate certificate leadership in health (Darzi).Online global course (MIT).Coaching.Action learning sets. | Matched to current NHS grade (and banding).AfC grade for allied healthcare professionals. |
| HEE fellowships (including HEE QI fellowships) | Via local deanery | See local advertisement on HEE website.Trainee doctors, dentists and public health registrars GPST2/ST3+ (must hold an NTN).Allied healthcare professionals.SAS doctors. | 12 months full time. If in training, post is an OOPE and does not count towards training. | Based within region applied to. | Postgraduate certificate in leadership, or other relevant subject eg medical education / health and social care.Coaching.Action learning sets.Future leaders conference. | Matched to current NHS grade (and banding).AfC grade for allied healthcare professionals. |
| NHS Leadership Academy schemes | NHS Leadership Academy | Eligibility criteria for programmes vary; ranging from the Edward Jenner programme for students and newly qualified staff, through to development courses for aspiring chief executives. | Courses vary in duration from 6 weeks to 24 months. | Most courses are undertaken through self-directed study and work-based application at the employee’s usual place of work. More advanced courses offered by the NHS Leadership Academy may involve residentials in Leeds or London. | The training provided varies depending on the level of the course. All lead to a certificate from the NHS Leadership Academy. Those undertaking the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson programme work towards an MSc in healthcare leadership. | Current NHS grade.Bursaries are available to support talented individuals from under-represented groups who would otherwise be unable to afford the NHS Leadership Academy programmes. |
↵a = parallel schemes, run by the FMLM are also run for early career pharmacists (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellow Scheme) and dentists (Chief Dental Officer’s Clinical Fellow Scheme), these are also 12-month, full-time posts, based in national organisations – details can be found on the FMLM website; AfC = Agenda for Change; ALBs = arm’s length bodies; CCG = clinical commissioning group; CQC = Care Quality Commission; FMLM = Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management; FY2 = foundation year 2; GMC = General Medical Council; GP = general practitioner; HEE = Health Education England; KSS = Kent, Surrey and Sussex; MIT = Massachusetts Institute of Technology; NHSE = NHS England; NHSI = NHS Improvement; NTN = national training number; OOPE = out of programme experience; QI = quality improvement; RCP = Royal College of Physicians; SAS = specialty and associate specialist; ST = specialty trainee.