NHS Graduate Digital, Data & Technology Scheme
Fast-tracking tomorrow’s talent, into the NHS today
NHS Graduate Digital, Data & Technology Scheme
Organisations: Various NHS trusts and healthcare providers across England
Location: London, Midlands, South East, South West, North West and Yorkshire & Humberside
Contract Length: Two-Year fixed term
The NHS Graduate Digital, Data, Technology Scheme (DDaT) has been designed for high potential graduates interested
in a fast-track career in Digital, Data and Technology. The purpose of the scheme is to develop the NHS Digital, Data
and Technology leaders of the future.
As a DDaT trainee, you will have the opportunity to undertake a two-year rotational scheme offering two distinct
placements. You will be placed in one of our DDaT roles, which could be, for example, as an information governance
analyst, data analyst, junior change/project manager, software support analyst, cyber security engineer or junior
networker.
Within the NHS, Digital, Data and Technology functions are responsible for the delivery of information systems and
services to their organisation to support both clinical and business integration. Digital, Data and Technology leads in
the development of Technology/Information strategy and directing all delivery programmes and services. The function
provides a range of critical services many of which are running 24-7. It is also responsible for ensuring that Information
Governance is executed effectively in order that organisations comply with information obligations.
The Scheme offers four distinct career pathways:
• Data - Data Analyst, Information Analyst
• IT Infrastructure - Networker, Front Line Help Desk
• Development - Software Developer/Tester, Data Warehousing Developer, Integration & Development
Analyst etc.
• Project & Change Management - Project Support Officer, Project Manager, Change Manager and PMO
Analyst
• Cyber Security - Incident Coordinator / Officer, Technical Architect Support Officer, Cyber Security Engineer
and Information Governance.
Data opportunities
Participants of the scheme will be responsible for researching facts and figures to check that national healthcare
standards are being met at their trust/organisation area. You could, for example, be researching patient waiting times,
gathering facts and statistics from staff reports and computer records. You will use a statistical computer program to
read the data, so you can easily see patterns and possible data-collection errors. Other responsibilities include writing
up patient-waiting-time trends in a report and checking your trust/organisation meets national healthcare standards.
You will be responsible for reporting your findings to senior members of staff to make them aware of trends etc. The
role will provide you with the opportunity to fully use your skills to ensure healthcare standards are met.
Digital & Technology opportunities
Successful applicants to the scheme will have an aptitude for understanding the technical complexities of our systems
and the ability to offer a technical response to business problems in non-technical language.
The range of roles within Digital & Technology are numerous and varied, however, below is an example of what a
junior systems developer role would look like:
• A junior systems developer would assist in the development of bespoke applications using a variety of
development tools & Software Development Kits, such as the .Net Framework.
• Create test scripts and conduct testing of both in-house and third-party systems to ensure they are free from
defects and meet the specification.
• Contributes to the design, development and testing of applications and interfaces.
• Log & investigate application and interface issues and provide advice on workarounds for them.
• Advise customers on bespoke in-house applications and interface capabilities and provide advice on their ability
to meet a customer’s requirements
• Analyse customer requirements and liaise with the customer on any queries or concerns which may be
complicated, providing solutions as appropriate.
• Create and alter design documentation in-line with trust/organisation and third party software provider policies.
Roles involve both a reactive and a pro-active approach to the delivery of service and are focused on maintaining and
improving the levels of service that the Digital, Data and Technology function provides
their trust/organisation.
Project & Change Management opportunities
As a project support officer/manager you will have delegated responsibility for planning, managing, and coordinating
agreed projects. There will be a considerable amount of business cases and Project Initiation documents to produce
so excellent report writing skills and attention to detail is an essential requirement of the role. You will actively
participate in all aspects of procurement and implementation of systems or services as dictated by the requirements
of individual projects.
Participants of the scheme could be involved in:
• managing small projects
• involved a larger scale project
• preparing detailed project plans
• part of an implementation team
• participating in systems implementation projects
Participants will develop a good understanding of project management techniques and principles.
A change manager will play a key role in ensuring projects (change initiatives) meet objectives on time and on
budget by increasing employee adoption and usage. The person will focus on the people side of change, including
changes to business processes, systems and technology, job roles and organisation structures. The primary
responsibility will be creating and implementing change management strategies and plans that maximise employee
adoption and usage and minimise resistance. The change manager will work to drive faster adoption, higher ultimate
utilisation of and proficiency with the changes that impact employees.
Furthermore, as a change manager you will gain buy-in from stakeholders, put in place communication plans and
liaise with and manage third party suppliers.
Cyber opportunities
Cyber Security Engineers help the NHS by protecting our computer and networking systems from potential hackers
and cyber-attacks. They safeguard sensitive data of a business from hackers and cyber-criminals who often create new
ways to infiltrate sensitive databases. Candidates for trainee Cyber Security Engineer are expected to have a
meticulous attention to detail, outstanding problem-solving skills, work comfortably under pressure and deliver on
tight deadlines.
You will develop into the role, but duties will include planning, implementing, managing, monitoring, and upgrading
security measures for the protection of data, systems, and networks. The role includes troubleshooting security and
network problems and responding to all system and/or network security breaches.
You will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation's data and infrastructure are protected by enabling the
appropriate security controls.
Training & Development
To support learning and development, participants of the scheme are required to complete an apprenticeship and
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshops. The apprenticeship is at level 4 or level 5 and will support
the development of participants’ technical skills. While the objective of the scheme is to develop technical specialists,
participants will also complete ten CPD workshops. These workshops have been designed to develop soft skills and
build leadership capability.
The CPD sessions are endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). ILM is the UK’s leading provider
of leadership, management, and coaching qualifications.
Rotations
This is a fundamental part of the scheme and supports your development and growth. Depending on where you are
placed, you will either rotate to another healthcare provider, within your organisation or other role/project(s) within
your wider team.
The Graduate Digital, Data & Technology Scheme at a glance:
• The scheme recruits’ participants three times a year: February, September & December
• Apprenticeships start 2/3 months after the commencement of the scheme and are typically completed within 18
months
• A rotation to allow the scheme participant to further develop their skills and experience.
• Ten CPD workshops including day release throughout the scheme
• Each participant will have an experienced mentor
• Salary to start is in the range of £25-30K depending on location.
• On successful completion of the scheme, DDaT trainees will be in position to interview for and secure a band 6/7
role in their Digital, Data, Technology field. The post scheme salary will be ,depending on banding and location,
between £32-41K
Selection Criteria:
• Available to attend virtual assessment centre on date(s) advised
• Relevant degree (ideally) in a STEM discipline or equivalent work experience within a Digital, Data or Technology
role
• Able to work in either: London, Midlands, South East, South West, North West or Yorkshire and Humberside
• Commitment to complete a two-year training scheme (including apprenticeship)
• Committed to a career in the NHS
• Legal right to work in the UK
Visa Sponsorship:
For non UK or EU nationals, all offers of employment are subject to candidates being granted permission to work under
the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Scheme.
This permission is granted by UK Visa and Immigration only. We will accept applications from candidates requiring
Tier 2 sponsorship who are currently in the UK on a Tier 4 (General) Student visa, however, we will not sponsor
applicants who are either currently employed under Tier 2 sponsorship or are a Tier 4 dependant, e.g. a spouse or
dependent.
For candidates with a Tier 4 (General) student visa, your visa should be valid for at least three months following the
date of the final stage assessment centre attended, as this will allow enough time for onboarding, should you be
successfully appointed into a role. For example, if the assessment centre is scheduled for 6th February 2020, your visa
expiry date should be at least 5th May 2020.
We will accept applications from candidates requiring Tier 2 sponsorship who are currently in the UK on a Tier 4, for
further details please email: info@graduatesintohealth.co.uk
