Career Development Bursary

We have identified a gap in available sources of funding which supports the continuing professional development (CPD) of career grade members. Our Career Development Bursary scheme aims to support the CPD of Full and Associate members. Members (with 2 years continuous membership in any membership category) are eligible to apply for the bursary every three years, although preference will be given to those who have not previously received the bursary.

  • Who: full and associate members only
  • Size of bursary for UK based CPD: £2,500
  • Members from: UK and Ireland only
  • Size of bursary for international CPD: £2,500

 

Application deadlines: 1 February, 1 June, 1 September at 11.59 pm

 

Awards 

2021 - Dr Poonam Kapila was awarded a bursary to attend the Engineering Aspects of Infection Control course in Autumn 2021.

Frequently asked questions

Am I eligible?

All Full and Associate members with 2 years continuous membership (including those members who move from Trainee or Associate membership to full membership) are eligible to apply. 

Members are eligible to apply for the bursary every three years, although preference will be given to those who have not previously received the bursary.

What CPD do you fund?

We are open to receiving requests for a wide range of learning experiences. This includes traditional, formal learning, blended or online learning, workshops, shadowing or training.
However, we also welcome applications for learning that may have been designed by you to meet your particular development needs. You will still need to show that the learning has clear objectives and will impact on your professional development, delivery of your service or development of the profession. We encourage you to think creatively about your personal / professional development and that of your organisation. 

Examples:

  • Attending bespoke training for their service which is then delivered in-house
  • SHEA AMS research workshop
  • SHEA Outbreak Response training program
  • Clinical audit coaching scheme
  • Behaviour change summer school @UCL
  • Cochrane systematic review courses
  • Introduction to GRADE
  • HIS Engineering Course member fees (limited to one bursary per year)
  • Standalone university modules taken for CPD
  • Wellcome Advanced Courses
  • Post-graduate courses. Note: although applications for funding for complete post-graduate courses are considered, the content of these courses must be heavily biased toward infection prevention and control.

Full justification (and relevance to professional development) for completing all training must be explicitly stated in the application.  

What will not be funded:

  • Research
  • Conference attendance (HIS travel grants are for this purpose)
  • Microbiology courses with no demonstrable IPC/HCAI content on the program

The Healthcare Infection Society would consider co-funding an application for CPD where this was declared and fully justified. It is important that applicants state whether any financial support from another funding body is already provided or is being applied for on the application form. Please contact HIS for clarification prior to submitting an application if required.

What costs do you fund?

The Healthcare Infection Society would consider co-funding an application for CPD where this was declared and fully justified. It is important that applicants state whether any financial support from another funding body is already provided or is being applied for on the application form. Please contact HIS for clarification prior to submitting an application if required.

Expenses for registration/course fees, travel, accomodation and course materials can claimed for, in arrears, in line with the HIS travel and expenses policy.

How to apply

Application process:
Your application must be reviewed and approved by  your line manager.

Applications must be sent to grants@his.org.uk eight weeks in advance of starting the CPD opportunity

The following items must be included in your application:

  • Completed application form (including signatures)
  • Signed Terms and Conditions form
  • An abridged 2 page C.V.
  • Letters of support

The application form, C.V. template and terms and conditions  are available below.

Next steps:

  • Applications will be triaged for completeness, eligibility and fit to the HIS remit.
  • Applications will be sent the Professional Development Committee for peer review, who will meet to discuss the applications and perform short-listing.
  • The Professional Development Committee will make a recommendation to the HIS Council regarding the proposal to fund.
  • Applicants will be notified of the outcome.
Scoring criteria

On the application form:

The CPD opportunity must:

  • Have learning outcomes where the attendee can demonstrate increased knowledge in infection prevention control (IPC) of nosocomial infections, or certain aspects of management, research or surveillance relevant to IPC
  • Include face to face contact or blended learning opportunities
  • Be from a reputable training provider

On the application form, the applicant must:

  • Articulate their knowledge of the key challenges in IPC and demonstrate an understanding of how the course may help them to address those needs
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how the CPD will fill a gap in their knowledge and aid their chosen career path

After the bursary, the applicant must:

  • Be able to identify the impact the CPD has had on their clinical practice.

Scoring Criteria

Applications will be scored against the following criteria after they have been triaged for scope and eligibility.

The applicant must:

  • Demonstrate that they have identified their development needs and the benefit to their personal/professional development
  • Demonstrate the benefit of the CPD to their team members or organisation
  • Use the skills or knowledge gained for innovation in research or clinical practice
  • Offer comprehensive justification of the funds requested.


Each of the four criteria will be scored on a 0-5 scale, leading to an overall score which corresponds to one of the following descriptors. Feedback on applications will be informed by these descriptors, and short qualitative feedback statements will be shared with applicants on request.

 

Score Assessment
0-3 This proposal is flawed
4-7 This proposal does not meet one or more of the assessment criteria, or is a request
for funding outside of the remit of the scheme
8-11 This proposal meets all assessment criteria but with clear weaknesses
12-15 This is a good proposal that meets all assessment criteria but with minor weaknesses
16-20 This is a strong or very strong proposal that broadly meets all assessment criteria
Timescales

Applications will be assessed and applicants notified within 3 weeks of the application deadline.