Florence Nightingale Foundation’s Leadership Scholarships are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop your nursing or midwifery career whilst improving clinical and health outcomes. They are open to nurses and midwives working at NHS Agenda for Change (or equivalent) band 7 and above.
Scholars follow an in-depth personal development plan with experiential learning and individual assessments throughout. They also have an experienced mentor and access to fellow scholars for support.
Whether you are looking for the next step, investigating the opportunity to become a future director, aspiring to engage more with the executive board, have dreams of engaging in a systems leadership role or have reached a senior position and are looking to stretch and develop yourself beyond your previous expectations, this opportunity is perfect.
The Scholarship programme includes:
- Individual coaching including feedback on results of psychometric assessments.
- Experienced mentor allocated.
- Welcome day.
- Leadership development programme (2 days residential).
- Personal Presence and Impact (3 days) delivered by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
- A continuous improvement project. (Read some published projects from previous Scholars here.)
- Bespoke Development Opportunities.
- Invite to the Florence Nightingale Commemorative Service at Westminster Abbey, London.
- High-profile celebration event to celebrate the success of our FNF Scholars.
- FNF team on hand to support you throughout the process.
The FNF Scholarship was a significant turning point in my career. It opened doors (and my mind!). I have worked with wonderful teams across the country, supported the validation of the new specialist practice qualification in adult social care nursing, and have just been appointed as the first Professor of adult social care nursing by the RCN Foundation and Salford University.
Prof Claire Pryor RN PhD, RCN Foundation Chair in Adult Social Care Nursing, University of Salford
Details and Dates
Please note: if successful, you will be allocated the dates of the modules of your scholarship programme alongside your offer letter. It is crucial at this point that you note these dates and ensure you can attend all dates.
Application deadline
By 12.00 noon
Notification if Invited to Interview
By email
Interview dates
Virtual. 16 December OR 6 January OR 8 January
Welcome Day
London
Leading with Influence and Authority
2-day residential. One night accommodation provided/included. 15/05/25 – 16/05/25 OR 04/06/25 – 05/06/25 OR 24/06/25 – 25/06/25.
RADA
3-Day Residential. Two nights accommodation provided/included. 2/05/25 – 14/05/25 OR 23/09/25 – 25/09/25 OR 14/10/24 – 16/10/24 OR 04/11/25 – 06/11/25
Quality Improvement Online Webinar
Time tbc
Online check-ins with your scholar lead
Timings tbc
Florence Nightingale Commemorative Service at Westminster Abbey
London
Quality Improvement Abstract & Presentation Submission Deadline
Virtual
Scholar Celebration Conference
London
FNF gave me the headspace and time to step back and reflect on myself as a leader and to influence and inspire others. As a result of the Scholarship, I was approached about publishing my project in the Nursing Management Journal. This is a CPD article, it goes step by step into what to do, and broadened out the work, showing that it can be used for any group of staff.
Vinice Thomas, Director of Nursing and Quality, NHSE
Eligibility Criteria
To participate in the programme you must:Â
- Be a registered nurse or midwife with the NMC.
- Be working at NHS Agenda for Change (or equivalent) band 7 and above.
- Have commitment from your employer – including £1,500 employer contribution
Cost
There is no cost to individual applicants for the Leadership Scholarships. Please note there is a £1,500 employer contribution requirement. Participants will need to pay all travel costs and any additional accommodation costs not noted above.
Application Process
Please note that for 2025/26 Scholarships there will be no separate Digital or Global application process. All scholars will have the choice, if they wish, to spend their development budget on the CHIME digital programme. Applications can be made from Global Scholars (those working outside the UK) but we have no sponsored scholarship places for this year. Anyone outside of the UK will need to fund their own scholarship and will need to make payment before the start of the scholarship programme. Please get in touch for more details.
What you will need to demonstrate in your application form and interview:
- Partnership: How you will use the programme to work with others, learn from, and share experiences.
- Leadership achievements: Discuss your leadership accomplishments and explain how receiving the FNF scholarship will strengthen your leadership abilities and influence care delivery. Why is the FNF scholarship right for you?
- Sustainability: Which of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does your project target, and what measurable impacts do you anticipate as a result?
- How you will use the experience to improve patient and health outcomes (though the proposed continuous improvement project)
- Support from your line manager or Chief Nurse.
Upon application, you are required to upload/enter the following information:
- Personal, employment and education information.
- A copy of your professional registration documentation (NMC Registration).
- An electronic photo of yourself (head and shoulders in high resolution).
- Information on your senior sponsor, who will support your application
- Details about the service you work in and your team’s role
- Information about your proposed continuous improvement project:
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- Problem identification: Briefly describe your project idea, highlighting the specific changes you aim to implement and how these will contribute to solving the identified problem.
- Solution and proposed changes: Provide an overview of your idea and the changes you plan to implement to solve the problem.
- Relevant stakeholders: Identify key stakeholders involved in your project, such as porter staff, nursing staff, etc.
- Predicted benefits/outcomes: Describe the anticipated benefits, outcomes, or results of your project. How will you measure the success of your changes in addressing the problem, and what will the improved way of working look like?
Please note before application:
- There is a £1,500 employer contribution.
- Applications that do not demonstrate commitment to the profession, improving patient and health outcomes, commitment to the Florence Nightingale Foundation Alumni will not be considered
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted
- Applications without senior sponsor support will not be accepted.
If you have any questions about applying for this programme, please contact us here.
Apply here
Click here to open the application form. You can start it and come back to it another day before completing/submitting. Application deadline is 12.00 on 4 November 2024.