Fellowships

During 2010-2011, 10 senior health professionals were appointed as NICE Fellows. Their profiles are now available. NICE Fellowships last for three years and, in order to ensure wide opportunities for participation, are not renewable. NICE appointed 10 new Fellows and an additional 3 Social Care Fellows in 2011/12. In 2012/13 NICE anticipates the appointment of a further 10 Fellows and 3 Social Care Fellows. The Social Care Fellowship is a response to the Governments decision that NICE will take on responsibility for Social Care quality standards in 2012/13.

The aim of NICE Fellowships is to encourage senior health professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals, public health specialists and health service managers) to be actively involved with NICE. The objective is to produce a group of influential professionals spanning the clinical specialties and disciplines who will help drive up the quality of care delivered and encourage the introduction of cost-effective innovation into practice.

NICE Fellows have both a local/regional role and a national role. Within their local geographical area, NICE Fellows are expected to act as ambassadors for clinical, social care, health management and public health excellence, generally, and promote the principles and, where appropriate the recommendations, of NICE guidance within their own specialty or discipline. They are also expected to engage with commissioners and may become involved in a range of activities such as education, policy development, clinical audit or research. In addition, NICE Fellows are expected to act as a conduit of information or comment between NICE and frontline staff. On occasion, NICE Fellows may be expected to interact with both local and regional print and broadcast media.

Nationally, NICE Fellows are expected to speak at meetings of their Royal College or professional societies to explain the principles underpinning NICE's guidance as well as to support implementation. In addition, NICE seeks the help of NICE Fellows, within their areas of expertise, in helping to contribute to discussions between NICE's advisory bodies and Royal Colleges/specialist societies over differing views on clinical recommendations. NICE only expects NICE Fellows to act in this capacity once or twice during their tenure of office. Fellows may also have the opportunity of engaging with NICE's international policy consulting arm.

NICE Fellows are expected to devote on average approximately one day a month to Fellowship activities. NICE Fellowships are unpaid and each applicant must therefore agree his or her application with his or her employer. NICE will, however, meet all reasonable expenses (e.g. travel, accommodation) incurred in the course of carrying out Fellowship activities.