NHS information authority supports IITT membership and TAP certification
The National Health Service Information Authority has published guidance which strongly recommends that those delivering IT training for the National Health Service should seek membership of the Institute of IT Training (IITT) as part of their Continuous Professional Development and develop and maintain their skills through the Institute's professional framework.
"There is a growing acceptance of the important role the skilled trainer fulfils in ensuring staff are properly prepared to use generic applications software and NHS system specific software. We are concerned that NHS trainers, and those contracted in to supply training as part of a system implementation or ongoing supplier support to systems, are appropriately qualified to carry out this role," Diane Benjamin Programme Manager for the NHS Information Authority Ways of Working with Information Programme explained.
"The IITT has been in the forefront of professional development in this area for some years. It has a membership pathway that incorporates accreditation of prior learning and experience, additional learning and testing to maintain competence and CPD options that maintain effectiveness from junior to senior levels. The IITT's Certificate in Training Delivery skills, awarded following assessment under its Trainer Assessment programme (TAP), is now a de facto standard in the UK and is our recommended standard," Benjamin added.
The Chief Executive of the Institute Colin Steed, welcomed publication of the full NHSIA guidance Document entitled Professional Qualifications for NHS Health Informatics Specialists. "It is gratifying to see the NHSIA leading the way in recognising the vital role that the skills of training professionals play in the delivery of organisational excellence. The NHS is one of several major Public Sector organisations working closely with the Institute to formalise their standards for training skills and more announcements of a similar nature will follow over the coming months."
NHSIA Guidance acknowledges that it can sometimes be difficult to draw a clear distinction between ICT specialists and those traditionally regarded as "training professionals". After all, there are circumstances when ICT specialists are expected to train staff as part of the responsibilities within their main occupational role.
In these circumstances the Guidance Document makes clear recommendations. "These staff should as a minimum have attended a 'Train the Trainers' short course as part of their personal development and maintain the currency of their technical skills and understanding of the use of the application at the level required by the staff they are training." The document goes on to describe the IITT Certificate in Training Practice as the recommended qualification within this scheme.
About The NHSIA
Established in 1999, as a special health authority, the NHS Information Authority remit is to enable the national infrastructure for an on-line NHS with electronic health records, an electronic library of knowledge, and the convenient services that people expect from a modern NHS.
http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk
About the Certified e-Learning Professional (CeLP) programme
CeLP comprises some 300 learner hours of tutor-supported e-Learning and leads to five certified tracks; tutor, trainer, developer, manager and consultant. http://www.elearningprofessional.com