Quality Improvement Zone

The Scottish Quality and Safety Fellowship aims to develop and strengthen clinical leadership and improvement capability in NHSScotland. 

It is aimed at healthcare staff who currently undertake clinical practice and have a direct influence on improving the delivery of safe patient care, as well as staff in clinical professions (e.g. medical, nursing, pharmacy, AHP, healthcare scientists, ambulance) who do not currently deliver hands-on care but do have a role in improving patient care or safety. 

The main objectives of the programme are to develop clinical leaders capable of improving the Quality and Safety of health and healthcare for the people of Scotland and to enhance knowledge of the science and methods for improvement amongst clinicians who have enthusiasm, experience and skills to: 

• support the development of safety programmes 
• spread improvements both within their organisation and nationally 
• establish a learning support network for transformational leadership for quality improvement 
• complement wider improvement capacity building programmes within NHSScotland while supporting NHSScotland workforce development 
• strengthen cooperation and collaboration with important overseas healthcare providers in Europe and beyond 

Participants are expected to undertake their own improvement project throughout the duration of the programme to consolidate their learning and apply skills from learning workshops and events into practice.  

The content of the programme will focus on Improvement theory, methods and tools including: measurement for improvement; human factors in safety; reliability, systems and design for safety; and person-centred care, as well as a toolkit for leading clinicians through change.  

There is the expectation that Fellows will be involved in supporting the Healthcare Quality Strategy at local and national level after completing the Fellowship programme. This may include mentoring, technical advice, teaching and other quality improvement activities.