This website uses cookies to help us understand the way visitors use our website. We can't identify you with them and we don't share the data with anyone else. If you click Reject we will set a single cookie to remember your preference. Find out more in our privacy policy.

Navigation breadcrumbs

  1. Home
  2. Our priorities
  3. Cardiovascular health
  4. CVD Academy
  5. CVD Academy: Information for applicants

CVD Academy: Information for applicants

Introduction 

UCLPartners CVD Academy has been launched to support primary care-based clinicians deliver transformation projects aimed at reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD). 

Up to 30 GPs, pharmacists and nurses will be supported via the year long CVD Academy to implement CVD projects in their locality. Whilst on the Academy, participants can expect to: 

  • Develop their skills and expertise in leading change and innovation projects 
  • Update their knowledge on CVD prevention 
  • Build and learn from a community of peers  

UCLPartners CVD Academy is funded by a grant from Daichi Sankyo. 

Why cardiovascular disease? 

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK and is a major driver of health inequalities, accounting for a quarter of the life expectancy gap between deprived and affluent communities. It is also very preventable, not just through behaviour change to reduce lifestyle risk factors, but also by optimising treatment in high-risk conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AF), hypertension, high cholesterol, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). 

UCLPartners focuses on tackling the biggest health challenges our local communities are experiencing. One such challenge is CVD prevention.   

What is the CVD Academy?

UCLPartners CVD Academy is a programme aimed at supporting clinicians to deliver transformation in primary care by guiding them through the stages needed to implement innovations in practice.  This programme, funded by a grant from Daiichi Sankyo Ltd, focuses on CVD prevention and will support individuals to implement their own CVD-related project. Programme content will be tailored to the specific needs of the cohort.  Participants will also receive latest clinical information on the management of AF, hypertension, raised cholesterol and chronic kidney disease.   

This free programme is open to GPs, pharmacists and nurses working in North Central London (NCL), North-East London (NEL) and Mid&South Essex (MSE). It will include a combination of group coaching sessions, regular community of practice meetings and webinars covering clinical and non-clinical content to develop knowledge and a practical focus on implementing change. There will also be 3 in-person sessions. (Please note backfill is not provided by the CVD Academy).  

Project information 

Participants are expected to work on a CVD prevention focused project whilst on the Academy.  Projects need to be focused on CVD risk factors e.g. AF, hypertension, cholesterol or CKD. The project could be one that you are already working on or a project that you would like to start with the support of the Academy.  The UCLPartners team can help you identify a suitable project.  Examples of potential projects include implementation of a lipid’s pathway or a new data approach to identify patients at risk of CVD e.g. CVDACTION. 

We would like to support a range of transformation projects via the CVD Academy and we encourage applications from those interested in CVD prevention through management of: 

  • Atrial fibrillation 
  • Hypertension 
  • High cholesterol 
  • Chronic kidney disease 

We would also like to hear from applicants who are currently implementing or would like to implement one of the UCLPartners innovations for example, CVDACTION or the Proactive Care Frameworks.  

 What can you expect from the CVD Academy? 

By the end of the programme, we envisage participants will have:  

  1. Gained the knowledge and skills to lead and implement innovations to reduce deaths from heart attacks and strokes.  
  2. Built a network of professionals who can peer-learn, share best practice and collectively problem-solve.  
  3. Become a group of experts who can help shape and lead CVD related innovations of the future. 

What is covered? 

The CVD Academy will cover 2 main aspects: 

  1. How to lead and implement innovations to reduce deaths from heart attacks and strokes. 
  2. Up to date clinical information on CVD prevention in atrial fibrillation, hypertension, high cholesterol, and chronic kidney disease in line with national guidance. 

Sessions will mostly be delivered virtually during 60–90-minute lunchtime slots however there will be 3 face-to-face half-day sessions which all participants are expected to attend.  

Benefits 

Participants will be able to: 

  • Gain knowledge and transferable skills on how to lead change.  
  • Update knowledge on management of cardiovascular conditions (AF, hypertension, high cholesterol, CKD) 
  • Include this programme as part of their CPD (clinical content is pending accreditation by CPD UK) 
  • Engage and build relationships with others in order to share perspectives, be curious about differences and build a network of peers 
  • Gain an understanding of UCLPartners existing innovations, including the Proactive Care Frameworks and CVDACTION 

Organisations will: 

  • Gain insight into new ways of working. 
  • Reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality for patients with CVD. 
  • Be well placed to implement future innovations. 

Eligibility criteria  

Applicants should be registered as a GP, pharmacist or nurse working in NCL, NEL or MSE with an interest in cardiovascular disease prevention. All applicants should either be working on a project focusing on CVD prevention in AF, BP, cholesterol or CKD or have an idea for a project that can be initiated and worked on throughout the duration of the Academy. It is important that the theory taught within the programme is utilised on a specific project to ensure the knowledge and skills are embedded and any potential barriers to change are addressed.  

Successful applicants will be asked to complete pre-work before the programme which should take no more than 2 hours.  

30 places are available and we will aim to appoint around 10 participants per ICS. 

Structure 

The Academy will commence in November 2023 and complete in September 2024 and will include: 

  • 3 face-to-face half day sessions: 
    • Launch of programme 
    • Mid programme session on implementing change  
    • End of programme event 
  • Enabling change: 3 virtual sessions including held during lunchtimes for 60-90 minutes focussed on implementing change with topics to be defined in response to participants’ learning needs, session could include: 
    • Behaviour change 
    • Measurement/data collection  
    • Leadership/influencing  
    • Human Factors  
    • PPI/co-designing  
    • Conflict resolution and assertiveness   
  • Clinical best practice: 4 virtual sessions held during lunchtimes for 60-90 minutes.  These will include dedicated time with an expert panel to respond to any specific queries around management of CVD in patients and participants have the option to bring a patient case for discussion.  Content will include: 
    • Atrial Fibrillation 
    • Hypertension  
    • Cholesterol 
    • CKD 
  • Learning from each other and building a peer network: 
    • Group coaching sessions – every quarter held virtually (1 hour)  
    • Community of practice –every 2 months held virtually (1 hour)  

Time Commitment  

Participants will be expected to attend at least 75 % of sessions and dedicate a minimum of 4-5 hours per month to the progress of their project.  

How to apply  

Key Dates 

Recruitment  

Date Activity 
Thursday 31st  August 2023 Applications open 
Tuesday 12th September 2023 (1-2pm) CVD Academy webinar with further information (for interested applicants) 
Sunday 8 October 2023 at 11pm Deadline for applications 
Tuesday 10th October 2023 Shortlisted applicants notified of interview 
Wednesday 11th October 2023 – Friday 13th October Interviews take place (virtually via teams) 
W/c 16th October 2023 Successful applicants notified 

CVD Academy session dates 

Date Time Address/ virtual 
Tuesday 7th November 2023 9:30-1:30 Launch event – in person Address: 3rd Floor, 170 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7HA 
Thursday 7th December  12-1:30 Virtual 
Tuesday 12th December  12-1:30 Virtual 
Tuesday 9th January  12-1:30 Virtual 
Tuesday 30th January  12-1:30 Virtual 
Wednesday 7th Feb  12-1:30 Virtual 
Thursday 29th Feb   12-1:30 Virtual 
Tuesday 12th March  12-1:30 Virtual 
Tuesday 16th April: 9:30-1:30 Address: 3rd Floor, 170 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7HA 
Thursday 2nd May 12-1:30 Virtual 
Thursday 16th May  12-1:30 Virtual 
Tuesday 4th June  12-1:30 Virtual 
Wednesday 26th June  12-1:30 Virtual 
Tuesday 9th July   12-1:30 Virtual 
Thursday 18th July  12-1:30 Virtual 
Thursday 12th September 9.30-1.30 In person end of programme shared learning event & poster presentations 

What is UCLPartners? 

UCLPartners is a membership organisation of 18 NHS trusts, 6 universities and 3 Integrated Care Systems serving a population of 5.2 million people across North Central London (NCL), North-East London (NEL) and parts of Mid and South Essex (MSE). Our mission is to help people live healthier lives by accelerating research and innovation into practice.   

 Our mission is to help people live longer, healthier lives through research and innovation. Working in partnership, we solve the biggest health challenges facing our communities. The breadth of expertise within the UCLPartners umbrella, alongside its regional, national, and international networks, bring significant benefits to collaborators across the research and innovation pipeline – discovery, evaluation, adoption and spread. UCLPartners brings together universities, NHS, industry and third sector collaborators to drive innovation into practice.