Improvement Internship 2022

The Health Foundation is an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK. Our aim is a healthier population, supported by high quality health care that can be equitably accessed. From giving grants to those working at the front line to carrying out research and policy analysis, we shine a light on how to make successful change happen.

The Health Foundation is now recruiting an intern for our Improvement team.

This internship offers an exciting opportunity for a person who is enthusiastic about improving health and care and who wants to learn more. The role will suit a recent graduate and/or someone looking to build a career in health care improvement or policy. The successful candidate will be based in the Foundation’s Improvement team. See the job description for more information about the team and the opportunities offered.

The successful candidate will gain experience working with their team and colleagues across the organisation on projects spanning a wide range of topics, for example what works to support the implementation and spread of technology in the NHS, how NHS leadership and management can be improved or key priorities for NHS recovery. They will be supported to develop their research, analysis, project management and written and verbal communication skills. This is a development opportunity, and the intern will receive mentoring for the duration of the placement.

In return, the intern will be expected to bring enthusiasm, curiosity, and a flexible approach to their work. They will be encouraged to maximise the opportunities available to them to learn and develop their knowledge and skills during their time in post. They will also be encouraged to connect and share learning with interns in other teams across the Foundation.

Key Responsibilities

The intern will be allocated a mixture of fixed core/regular tasks, leaving capacity for other projects and the opportunity to work on longer term projects as well as more reactive policy and analysis work.

Key tasks and responsibilities will include

• Supporting the drafting and publication process for a range of written work setting out the Health Foundation’s views and learning on relevant issues targeted at improving health care policy and practice. Throughout their internship, they will have the opportunity to work on written outputs which may include reports, briefings, blogs, articles, newsletter and web content.
• Contributing to reactive work on key topics, including through submissions to parliamentary committees, government departments or Arm’s Length Bodies as well as to media statements or briefings for senior stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with Improvement colleagues (and possibly other teams) as well as external stakeholders, as appropriate, to deliver projects. Tasks could include undertaking research, analysing health policy, synthesising and distilling learning from Health Foundation funded projects, supporting the design and delivery of events, and project management.
• Attending events, workshops and meetings (virtually or in-person) and sharing learning with internal teams
• Supporting the publication of a monthly internal newsletter, sharing updates, impact and key milestones for the Improvement Team’s work. This will include the opportunity to lead on aspects of the newsletter drafting and publication.
• Participating in the continuous improvement of the team and the wider Health Foundation. This will include proactively identifying opportunities to improve internal ways of working. Examples may include improving project management processes within Improvement or drafting core briefings on areas of the team’s work to support internal communications across the organisation.
• Providing advice and support, as appropriate, on other projects commissioned by the Foundation.

To be considered for this opportunity, you will be required to answer four screening questions and to upload your current CV.

The process and timelines are as follows:

• Sunday 14th November 2021, 23:59 - application deadline
• w/c 22nd November 2021 – shortlisted Improvement Intern candidates are invited to complete a pre-interview written task
• w/c 29th November 2021 – interviews take place remotely via MS Teams for shortlisted Improvement Intern candidates
• January 2022 – start date for the new Improvement Intern

If you have any queries, please email humanresources@health.org.uk

The Health Foundation is committed to and values equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all backgrounds and sections of the community.