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The Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team at NES is commissioned by the Scottish Government and COSLA to deliver the Building Digital Data and Digital Leadership Capabilities Programme, which includes the KIND (Knowledge, Information and Data) learning network. 

The network is open to employees from all health and social care settings in Scotland including NHS, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Social Work, Social Care, Care and Support Providers, Housing, and the Third and Independent Sectors. It exists to further the leading role of the community in the digital transformation of health and care by supporting learning, sharing of best practice, and developing interdisciplinary collaborations.

Join the Network
Kind Logo

We welcome everyone, from the most introductory roles right into senior leadership, and from people having their very first experience of working with a spreadsheet to life-long data analysts.

To join the KIND Network Teams channel click here 

To sign up to the mailing list click here 

Recruitment to the network remains strong, with 5166 members in the Teams channel from 181 organisations, and 3056 subscribers to the weekly email update.

October 2025: Open Source Week

We are running a network-wide theme week between 27 and 31 October about Open Source. Open Source refers to any form of technology, software or data where the work is freely available for anyone to use, modify and distribute. Such freedom drives creativity, innovation and community collaboration, which are hallmark traits of open source.

In many ways, Open Source work is the lifeblood of all the technology we see today. From the linux-based servers our work applications depend on, to the Webkit browser engine Apple phones use, and even the open data we share for transparency, integrity and public engagement - open source is everywhere.

Below we have a series of Open Source themed talks taking place the week ready to be booked.

TalkDate-TimeSpeakerLink
Open Data Scotland 28/10 - 10:00Jack GilmoreOpen Data Scotland
Open Source in NHS Lothian 28/10 - 15:00Zena Trendell & Julian AugleyOpen Source in NHS Lothian
Introduction to Python29/10 - 12:00Gatz OsorioIntroduction to Python
Using Open Data29/10 - 14:00Ben HarleyUsing Open Data - NHS Open Data Dashboard
Introduction to Tableau Public29/10 - 15:30Ben HarleyIntroduction to Tableau Public
Open Data - The PHS Approach30/10 - 10:00Jay RoperOpen Data - The Public Health Scotland Approach
Introduction to Packages30/10 - 12:00James HayesIntroduction to Packages (Part 1)
Creating and Using Packages31/10 - 12:00James HayesCreating and Using Packages (Part 2)
Packages for Charts30/10 - 15:30John MackintoshPackages for Charts 
Introduction to Git/Github30/10 - 14:00Russell McCreathIntroduction to Git & Github
Celebrating 5,000 Members in the KIND Network!
KIND Promo celebrating 5k

We are thrilled to announce that the KIND Network has officially reached 5,000 members - a powerful testament to the growing community of knowledge, innovation, and digital transformation.

๐Ÿ’ฌ A Message to Our Members

To each of our 5,000 members, thank you. Your engagement, curiosity, and commitment are what make this network thrive. You are shaping the future of health and care in Scotland, and weโ€™re proud to be on this journey with you.

With new resources, events, and learning opportunities on the horizon, the KIND Network will continue to evolve and grow. 

Documents & non-training resources
Documents & non-training resources

This is the main page for the KIND networkโ€™s live documents and non-training resources.

These documents set out simple, human, and sensible platform-specific standards that we think some of the most widely-used knowledge, information, and data tools should follow.

Laptop with digital icons projected
The KIND training mini site
The KIND training mini site                  

The KIND training mini site contains links and resources for our one-off training sessions. All our sessions are:

  • live and practical/interactive.
  • prioritise Q&A, working through the material, and collective problem-solving
  • free to attend
  • open to all
Man sitting in front of a laptop with a headset on smiling

Most KIND training happens in 6-week core training blocks that repeat four times per year. Most of our training - especially the Excel and Power BI courses - will be contained in those blocks. This year, those core blocks will be:

  • in the late summer/early autumn, between 1st Sept and 10th Oct 2025
  • in the winter, between 3rd Nov and 12th Dec

Theme weeks occupy a whole week with a single topic, with 10-20 events scheduled on a single topic. Still to come are:

  • w/c 25th August 2025 - No Stupid Questions
  • w/c 27th October 2025 - Open Source / copyleft

November / December Sessions 

Excel for beginners

These sessions are designed to give a complete introduction to Excel for new users, or for users whoโ€™d like a refresher. 

The sessions are designed to be taken together in a block.

Booking LinkMaterialsDateLevel
Excel first steps (Excel for beginners session 1)Session materials10:00-11:30 Thu 06 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
Tidy data in Excel (Excel for beginners session 2)Session materials10:00-11:30 Thu 13 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
References and names in Excel (Excel for beginners session 3)Session materials10:00-11:30 Thu 20 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
Excel formatting (Excel for beginners session 4)Session materials10:00-11:30 Thu 27 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
Excel tables (Excel for beginners session 5)Session materials10:00-11:30 Thu 04 Dec๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
Excel formulas (Excel for beginners session 6)Session materials10:00-11:30 Thu 11 Dec๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
Excel practical review (Excel for beginners session 7) 10:00-11:30 Thu 18 Dec๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level

Intermediate Excel

Designed for experienced Excel users. Requires M365 Excel desktop.

Booking LinkMaterialsDateLevel
Excel foundations 1 (intermediate Excel session 1)Session materials10:00-12:00 Tue 04 Nov๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Excel foundations 2 (intermediate Excel session 2)Session materials10:00-12:00 Tue 11 Nov ๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Lookups in Excel (intermediate Excel session 3)Session materials10:00-12:00 Tue 18 Nov๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Pivot tables and pivot charts (intermediate Excel session 4)Session materials10:00-12:00 Tue 25 Nov ๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Excel programming (intermediate Excel session 5)Session materials10:00-12:00 Tue 02 Dec ๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level

Power BI for beginners

These sessions are designed to give a complete introduction to Power BI for new users, or for users whoโ€™d like a refresher. The sessions are designed to be taken together in a block. Youโ€™ll need Power BI Desktop (not the web or Teams version) to complete the course.

If youโ€™re uncertain about your infrastructure, thereโ€™s an optional pre-course tech check session at 2pm on Thursday 11th September - click here to register.

Booking LinkMaterialsDateLevel
BI for beginners (tech check) 13:00-13:30 Wed 29 Oct๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
BI for beginners (session 1)Session materials14:00-16:00 Tue 04 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
BI for beginners (session 2)Session materials14:00-16:00 Tue 11 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
BI for beginners (session 3)Session materials14:00-16:00 Tue 18 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
BI for beginners (session 4)Session materials14:00-16:00 Tue 25 Nov๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level
BI for beginners (session 5)Session materials14:00-16:00 Tue 02 Dec๐ŸŒถ :beginner-level

Intermediate Power BI

Designed for experienced Power BI users. Requires Power BI desktop.

Booking LinkMaterialsDateLevel
Intermediate Power BI (session 1)Session materials13:00-15:00 Wed 05 Nov๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Intermediate Power BI (session 2)Session materials13:00-15:00 Wed 12 Nov ๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Intermediate Power BI (session 3)Session materials13:00-15:00 Wed 19 Nov ๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Intermediate Power BI (session 4)Session materials13:00-15:00 Wed 26 Nov๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level
Intermediate Power BI (session 5) 13:00-15:00 Wed 03 Dec๐ŸŒถ๐ŸŒถ : intermediate-level

 

 

The KIND technical mentoring scheme
2 digital hands reaching out to each other
The KIND technical mentoring scheme
The KIND mentoring scheme follows a simple structure to put mentors and mentees in touch. We invite proposals for specific professional mentoring needs - usually to support a single project for about 8 weeks. For more information on the mentoring scheme and to join the network click here.
2025 KIND news
September Icon Text

This month has concentrated on delivering training at scale. 33 training sessions were delivered, with a total of 2772 participants, leading to the delivery of 3971.5 delegate-hours of training. In total, we ran 2 webinar(s) this month. We had a total attendance of 87 people at those sessions.

August Icon Text

5 training sessions were delivered this month, with a total of 128 participants, leading to the delivery of 177.5 delegate-hours of training. We also ran 1 webinar. We have also shared further information about the KIND network across health and social care as well as promoted on our LinkedIn page.

July Text

8 training sessions were delivered to the network, with a total of 200 participants, leading to the delivery of 249.5 delegate-hours of training. In total, we ran 6 webinar(s) this month. We had a total attendance of 229 people at those sessions.

June Text

12 training sessions were delivered to the network - 859 participants were present across those sessions, leading to the delivery of 1086 delegate-hours of training: this included the first day of a special theme week about troubleshooting from the 30 June

May Text

This month  26 training sessions were delivered with 3442 participants present across those sessions,  leading to the delivery of 4094.75 delegate-hours of training - this included a special theme week about Microsoft Power Query from the 19th May. In total, we ran 10 webinar(s), largely as part of Power Query week, and had a total attendance of 493 people at the sessions.

April Text

This month 8 training sessions were delivered, 950 participants were present across those sessions, leading to the delivery of 1365 delegate-hours of training. Vay Ly, an information analyst from Public Health Scotland, continues to assist with the network, including assisting with the delivery of an Excel training session. 

March Icon

This month 13 training sessions were delivered, 1001 participants were present across those sessions, leading to the delivery of 1480 delegate-hours of training. Vay Ly, an information analyst from Public Health Scotland, has joined the network on a part-time basis. 

February written in a heart

This month has concentrated on delivering our core training offer.  28 training sessions were delivered, 1543 participants were present across those sessions, leading to the delivery of 2285 delegate-hours of training. With the new intermediate Power BI/Power Query course being piloted. Two KIND community webinar sessions ran during the month, with a total attendance of 171 attendees.

January Icon

This month 21 training sessions were delivered, 1059 participants were present across those sessions, leading to the delivery of 1421 delegate-hours of training. Recruitment to the network remains strong as we enter 2025 with 3359 members in the Teams channel from over 120 organisations, and 1940 subscribers to the weekly email update.

Contact
Image of Brendan

Brandan Clarke - Digital Workforce Specialist Lead

Brendan leads on the KIND Network within the Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) Team portfolio.