Fellowships, scholarships & placements

Open to NCHDs who are enrolled on a higher specialist training (HST) programme, this NDTP scholarship part-funds 24 NCHDs pursuing a master’s degree in management and leadership skills. 12 places are part-funded in the first year and a further 12 in the second year.

Funding meets up to 60% of the cost of an approved master’s course in Ireland, capped at €4,800 per year. It is assumed that the master’s programme will run for two years part-time, however consideration will be given to applicants who wish to complete a full-time one-year programme.

Open to NCHDs who are enrolled on a higher specialist training (HST) programme, this scholarship is awarded annually to specialist and senior registrars with strong track records in achievement. The scholarship helps doctors to train at foreign centres of excellence in novel areas of medicine and patient care – areas which are limited or unavailable in Ireland – and to bring the skills gained back to the Irish health service.

Open to NCHDs who have completed basic specialty training (or equivalent) and are entering higher specialist training (HST), this programme is a unique, all-island, cross-institutional PhD programme for clinician scientists in human, veterinary, and dental medicine. This training is integrated with the health services and university clinical research centres and provides an integrated pathway for clinical academic training. ICAT provides clinical academic training to excellent postgraduate clinical trainees through a programme which integrates PhD research training with higher specialist training (HST).

Open to NCHDs who have completed higher specialist training (HST), Aspire fellowships provide opportunities for doctors who have completed specialist training in Ireland to access high-quality training in a specialised area of clinical care in Ireland. This will appeal to trainees who do not wish, or are unable, to travel abroad for fellowship training, but want to acquire additional training or experience not available on their higher specialist training programme. This exposes postgraduates to subspecialties and advanced clinical skills. There a number of post-CSCST fellowships advertised annually across a number of specialties.

Open to NCHDs who have completed medical internship, the Lead NCHD Programme is one of a range of initiatives taken at national level to improve NCHD recruitment and retention in the Irish public health system, addressing a deficit in NCHD representation at an executive level.

The programme facilitates two-way communication between NCHDs and management structures in hospitals around the country, benefiting both NCHDs and patients. Participating NCHDs are supported by NDTP liaisons within hospital groups and are encouraged to attend key meetings about issues affecting NCHDs, have regular meetings with their clinical director, and chair the local NCHD committee.

The programme boasts Lead NCHD roles in 32 acute hospitals and seven mental health areas, a Mental Health Lead NCHD role in each of the nine community healthcare organisations (CHOs) and a national Lead NCHD role.

The support provided by NDTP to Lead NCHDs includes workshops, joint clinical workshops, a fund for education in management in healthcare, seed funding for NCHD-led quality improvement initiatives, and support from a national Lead/NDTP fellow. The programme is evaluated each year to ensure adequate representation for trainees.

Lead NCHD application process

If you are interested in leadership and keen to gain more experience in Management, a Lead NCHD role could be for you! The Lead NCHD can be appointed for a six-month or 12-month duration.

Benefits include:

• Career development – communication skills, project management
• Networking opportunities – support from NDTP National Lead NCHD, group clinical directors of education & training or group trainer leads
  €2,500 educational bursary
• Lead NCHD awards
• Protected time to undertake the role
• Educational webinars/workshops

To apply, please send your CV to your Medical Manpower Manager. For further information, contact the NDTP National Lead NCHD at nl.nchd@hse.ie.

NCHDs, individually and as a group, are essential staff in the healthcare system and are valuable in the management and leadership structures of hospitals and other healthcare settings. The role of a Lead NCHD is to provide a formal link at management level between NCHDs and clinical directorates or hospital management structures, thereby enabling a continuous two-way flow of communication between management and NCHDs.

National Lead NCHD – role requirements

To apply, applicants must possess the following:

• At least four years’ post-graduate experience
• Evidence of participation in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate training
• Experience as a Lead NCHD is desirable
• A successful track record in engaging and contributing positively to change programmes within the health service
• A commitment to participation, delivery, and enhancement of training
• Experience of engaging with and working with a range of stakeholders including NCHD colleagues
• The requisite knowledge, skills, and attributes to make a contribution to the health service through the fellowship

National Lead NCHD- application process

To apply please submit the following:

• A comprehensive CV clearly showing relevant achievements and experience from your career to date.
• A cover letter/personal statement (maximum 2 pages) outlining why you wish to be considered and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements for the National Lead NCHD Fellowship.
• A one-page summary outlining of your area of research interest including which postgraduate or master’s programme(s) you are considering.

Role is currently filled for 2024/2025. We are likely to recruit again in 2025.

Open to NCHDs who have completed medical internship, the Spark Innovation Programme encourages and empowers healthcare workers to develop and implement new ideas with the potential to improve the services in which they work.

Spark was established by NDTP to encourage and support innovation. The programme includes NCHDs, consultants, nurses, midwives, and health and social care professionals. It is supported by the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) and the National Health and Social Care Professions Office (NHSCPO).