A Digital Supporter is committed to digital transformation in health and social care and is willing to actively support the applicant’s learning throughout the programme and beyond. This role is not formal mentoring but involves offering encouragement, sharing insights, and creating space for reflective conversations.
All participants must have a Digital Supporter. Someone from their own or another relevant organisation who can support their learning and leadership journey throughout the course and beyond.
A strong Digital Supporter helps participants get the most from the programme by:
They don’t need to be a digital expert. Just someone with experience, perspective, and a commitment to improving services, leading change, and supporting development.
The Digital Supporter does not need to be part of the applicant’s team and may come from elsewhere in their organisation or from another organisation elsewhere in the sector. What matters is that they bring a strong commitment to advancing digital innovation and improvement in the sector. Their insight, encouragement, and enthusiasm for digital transformation will help the applicant challenge their thinking, and connect their learning to real-world practice across the wider system.
Example of a Digital Supporter could be:
Think about who challenges you, shares your ambition for improvement, or has insight into digital transformation at a system level.
A Digital Supporter plays a valuable role in encouraging and guiding the applicant throughout their learning journey. Their support reinforces the practical application of new skills and contributes to the wider progress of digital transformation across health and social care.
The Digital Supporter should not be the applicants' Line Manager to ensure any successful applicants' get fresh perspectives and broader system insights
Applications cannot be considered without the commitment of a Digital Supporter. This section of the application must be completed in full before submission. Incomplete Digital Supporter sections will result in the application not being progressed.
If you are having any difficulty identifying someone appropriate, please contact the Programme Team as soon as possible at nes.dew@nhs.scot
As part of the application process, Digital Supporters are asked to provide a short statement outlining how they will support the applicant during and after the programme. This is an important part of the selection process and helps the panel understand the level of peer or sector-based digital support available to enable the applicant’s success on the programme.
Digital Supporters should read the application guidance and checklist carefully before writing their supporting statement.
Please note: The Guidance for Digital Supporter Statement and Digital Supporter Checklist sections are intended for use only during an open recruitment window. As recruitment is currently closed, the information here is provided for reference only and should not be used to submit an application at this time.
Digital Supporters require to:
Word Count
· You are allowed up to 250 words
· Any words beyond this limit will not be considered by the panel
· We recommend drafting your answers to check your word count before submitting
Please note: The Guidance for Digital Supporter Statement and Digital Supporter Checklist sections are intended for use only during an open recruitment window. As recruitment is currently closed, the information here is provided for reference only and should not be used to submit an application at this time.
As a Digital Supporter, your role is to encourage the applicant throughout the programme and beyond. You are expected to:
There are also benefits to developing and building a broad range of support and networks. This could be a peer mentor, adviser or someone else with specialist knowledge or skills who works in your organisation or sector, or someone who is out with these confines. The programme will encourage you to be proactive in developing and building your networks across the wider sector.