Apply for the next cohort
Information regarding the application process including guidance, FAQs and who needs to support your application to the AHP Careers Fellowship Scheme.
Key dates
The AHP Careers Fellowship Scheme will open for applications for cohort 9 on 26 August 2026.
To support potential applicants, we will be running a series of information sessions during September 2026. Full details below.
If you would like to receive information when the fellowship re-opens for applications, please complete the short online form.
Discuss your ideas - cohort 9 (2027/28)
It’s never too early to start discussing your work-based project ideas with your colleagues, team leader and, of course, with us.
To support potential applicants, we will be running a series of information sessions during September 2026. These sessions will provide an opportunity to learn more about the fellowship including its learning and development programme, discuss potential project ideas, hear from previous Fellows, and ask questions about the application and selection process.
Dates and Registration Links:
- Tuesday 1 September 2026 11am – 12 noon Register now
- Wednesday 9 September 2026 2pm – 3pm Register now
- Thursday 17 September 2026 12 noon – 1pm Register now
In the meantime, we would greatly appreciate your support in sharing this opportunity with colleagues and professional networks.
Application guidance
Support to develop your application and write your learning outcomes
The online module Writing Great Applications for Learning and Development Opportunities can be helpful to consider your areas for further development. (Please note you will need to have a Turas account and login to access this resource).
For writing learning outcomes you can watch this video about constructing learning outcomes.
The NES NMAHP Development Framework can be used to help you plan your development across the Four Pillars of Practice.
Who needs to support my application?
Your application must be supported and approved by:
- Your own line manager
- Your service manager and budget holder
- Your AHP Director (if you work in the NHS, an integrated health and social care team) or a Director/Associate Director level senior manager (if you work in a Local Authority)
Seeking support for your application from the people listed above is vital and can make a huge difference to your proposed Fellowship successfully progressing.
Guidance and Application Form
For more details about the Scheme, how it works, the review panel, timeframes and advice about completing the application form please see our Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document.
Project themes
Themes for 2027-28
Each year, the Scheme supports AHPs to contribute to the delivery of health and social care priorities and ambitions, this year we are particularly interested in projects that in some way address one of the three themes listed below:
Theme 1: Innovations to increase service capacity and sustainability through prevention, early intervention and earlier diagnosis
Theme overview: Projects that explore how AHP services can improve population health outcomes while enhancing the sustainability and capacity of health and social care services. This may include developing and evaluating approaches that support prevention, early intervention and earlier diagnosis; enhancing the skills of staff, carers and communities to promote healthy lifestyles and self-management; and enabling independent living through primary care and community-based prevention. Other projects may relate to Flow Navigation Centres and Virtual Wards, or improving access to diagnostics, imaging and other services that help reduce pressures across the wider system.
Theme 2: Strengthening cross-sector partnerships for equitable, person-led community support
Theme overview: Projects that explore how collaboration across health, social care, housing, education, the third sector and local communities can improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. This theme focuses on strengthening integrated and collaborative working, co-designing initiatives with people and communities, and developing more coordinated pathways of support. Projects may focus on how to reduce barriers and improve access to person-led, community-based services, and build community capacity.
Theme 3: Enabling participation, employment and inclusive communities
Theme overview: Projects that empower individuals and communities who face barriers to participation and access to meaningful activities that enhance wellbeing and resilience. This theme focuses on reducing exclusion and promoting opportunities for people to achieve their personal goals and contribute to their communities. Projects may include support for people entering or returning to employment, education or volunteering. This theme may also focus on initiatives that improve outcomes for people with disabilities, caring responsibilities, experiences of poverty or other circumstances that place them at risk of exclusion.
Please note that these themes are intended to be broad and to generate creative ideas that you may have to innovate services. The themes can be interpreted broadly and the examples within each theme are illustrative.
Applications are particularly encouraged from local authority, radiography and paramedics.
We also remain open to applications about other strategies and priorities as usual.
More information about these themes is available in the Guidance and FAQ document.
Promote the fellowship
We are keen to reach as many AHPs as possible to raise awareness of the AHP Careers Fellowship and to highlight the application opening window. Please download and share the poster or print the poster and place this on notice boards in your locality. Your support is appreciated.
Poster in development for cohort 9
Previous fellows experiences
"The Fellowship has been an extremely valuable and developmental experience. It provided dedicated time, structure and support to build leadership capability, confidence and quality improvement skills, while enabling meaningful engagement with patients, colleagues and wider systems”
I have thoroughly enjoyed the career fellowship programme, it has been a huge learning curve for me, but it has had a profound effect on my NHS career aspirations. I would encourage any Healthcare Support Worker to step out of your comfort zone you will be surprised what you can bring to the cohort and the learning you will gain!
I have thoroughly enjoyed my Fellowship experience. I wasn't sure what to expect initially, but can honestly say that I have achieved things I never thought possible and have found ways to develop in my career that I wouldn't have previously considered. I am genuinely sad that it has now come to an end, but also excited to see what being an Alumni will bring!
Overall the fellowship has been invaluable in many different ways personally and professionally to enjoy and develop myself and within the post I am in. Doing the fellowship as a joint project helped in many aspects to jointly work on a project and allow me to explore directions.
Fellow's manager and project mentor feedback
“Thank you for the input from PSD Scotland, it is highly valuable to be able and invest in staff and services through the fellowship. I would highly advocate involvement with the Careers Fellowship as a positive experience for all involved”
"The fellowship has a high potential for impact not only on the individual but also the service. I have seen each individual grow in confidence and skill set. The team has benefitted by the enthusiasm of the individuals which has undoubtedly impacted us as a whole. We have many more individuals keen to step forward for opportunities to grow. The projects that NES have supported have varied but each brought different elements of change and benefit to the individual, patients, team and profession. "
"The reason we are so willing to support staff members wanting to be fellows is that we can see how much they grow in knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm. Every single fellow has come out a better professional with a huge amount of skills and ways of thinking and this has huge benefit to the department."
Contact the PSD Scotland team
To talk direct to the PSD Scotland team email ahp.fellowships@nes.scot.nhs.uk