Application guidance notes

Improving care, enhancing leadership

Thank you for your interest in The QNI/Burdett Fund for Innovation and Leadership programme.

Please read the following guidance notes before completing the application form.

The theme for this year’s Fund for Innovation programme is focussed on projects that aim to improve health outcomes for men. The project can be focussed on any issue relating to men’s health.

What we offer:

Funding:

The programme is able to fund TEN projects at up to £5000 each in 2017.

Support:

The QNI Director of Programmes is available to offer advice and support for you to complete your application. Please do not hesitate to contact Anne Pearson anne.pearson@qni.org.uk or ring 0207 549 1409 to discuss your idea.

You may find it helpful to speak to Anne prior to completing the application form to ensure your project is eligible. Anne is also happy to read through your application prior to the closing date to offer advice.

A professional development programme:

Three 2 day workshops that bring all project leaders together are offered to successful applicants. This provides professional and personal development opportunities that will enable project personnel to confidently manage, deliver and sustain their project. Continuing support is available from the Practice Development Team for the duration of the project.

What will we fund?

Priority will be given to projects where the patient is the focus. We are looking for projects where there is a direct clinical intervention with patients or clients that will improve men’s health services and/or a new approach to developing practice in the care of patients at home and in the community.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any nurse(s) working in clinical practice in a community setting across any specialty of men’s health are invited to apply. Any Multi- disciplinary or Inter-agency team must have a nurse as the project lead. We strongly advise that applications are submitted by two applicants or a team rather than a single applicant. The applicants must be directly involved in the delivery of the project rather than managing personnel who will be expected to deliver the project

Selection criteria:

Projects must demonstrate the following:

• Focus on any aspect of Men’s health
• Based in a primary care or community setting
• Clear identification and evidence of need
• New and innovative ways of working
• User involvement in the development of the project

Priority will be given to projects that plan to:

• Improve or reduce inequalities in access to men’s health services
• Improve preventative healthcare
• Reduce numbers of patients accessing hospital based services
• Deliver care closer to home
• Improve quality of life for people with long term conditions

What we do NOT fund:

• Development of existing work
• Development of IT programmes
• Research and development work
• Work that has already been completed
• Medical /Office equipment
• Applications from individual nurses for courses/study programmes
• Funding for overseas study/travel
• Projects implementing or producing training packages for delivery to healthcare professionals
• Salaries for new posts. (we recognize that locum costs may be incurred if project lead requires time out to run the project)
• Any project situated in Scotland (these are supported by the QNI Scotland – please contact 0131 229 2333).

We want your application to:

• Demonstrate your enthusiasm, knowledge and interest in the relevant subject area.
• Illustrate how your project can benefit your patient/client group, their families and carers (if applicable)
• Show how the project will help you and/or your colleagues develop as leaders and innovators in primary care

Required documentation

1. Completed application form.
2. Letter of support from the applicant’s manager, which confirms agreement to attend the professional development programme workshops. The QNI expects all applications to have been fully discussed and agreed with the relevant line manager and this must be stated in the accompanying letter.

Application

Please ensure that you complete all sections of the application form and submit an electronic copy (in WORD document format) of your application to: aga.kusmierz@qni.org.uk

Closing date

The closing date for applications is Thursday 24th November 2016

This applies to both hard (paper) and electronic version. The Queen’s Nursing Institute will acknowledge receipt of application once the paper copy has been received.

Selection Process

All completed applications received by the closing date, as above, will be reviewed by an external assessment panel.  It is anticipated that the panel will confirm their decision by w/c 9th January 2017

All applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible after this date.

Interviews for short-listed applicants will take place on 30th or 31st January 2017

at the QNI offices in London. (Travel expenses for one person will be covered)

Decision

All applicants will be informed of the decision one week from the date of interview.

Payment

The method and frequency of payment of funds will be agreed with the project lead once the application has been confirmed as successful. (£500 will be withheld until the final report has been received). A separate designated account within the employing organisation is required for project funds.

Commencement of project

Projects are expected to commence from Wednesday 1st March 2017

Professional Development workshops

Currently there are three 2-day workshops spaced throughout the project year. It is expected that successful applicants commit to attend all workshops

The first two-day workshop will be held on Monday 20th & Tuesday 21st  March 2017

Please ensure that your project budget includes an allowance for travel and/or accommodation in order to attend the professional development programme in London
Duration of project

Projects are expected to be undertaken and completed in one year from date of commencement.

Monitoring

An interim report including a financial statement will be required four months after commencement of project, to report on achievements thus far.

A final report, including a financial statement detailing the outcomes of the project is expected within one month from the end of the project year. A case profile which follows a client through the life of the project will also be required.

A site visit is also undertaken by QNI personnel during the project year.

If you have any queries on any aspect of your project or application please do not hesitate to contact: anne.pearson@qni.org.uk or alternatively telephone Anne Pearson on 020 75491400

Together, through the above partnership programme, we aim to help you put your good ideas for improving patient care into practice, and to help you develop as a skilled professional and leader.