The Deciding Level offers structured, short-term experiential placements (ranging from a few days to 1-2 weeks). These opportunities are designed to expand understanding of the wider NHS Lothian system, support personal career decision-making, and contribute to our strategic aims around staff retention and leadership development.
These opportunities may be undertaken as paired experiential learning experience between two individuals or as a single opportunity for one individual in blocks of time or day release or over a longer period.
Target Group
Registered Nurses and Midwives who have been qualified for more than 18 months and have been working in their substantive role for more than 12 months. Non- registered staff who have been in their substantive role for more than 12 months.
Criteria for Application
- If registered nurse/midwife qualified for 18 months
- Substantive post in NHS Lothian, in current role for at least 12 months
- Identified the opportunity as part of annual appraisal/PDP/Stay and Grow Conversation
- Discussion and agreement by line manager
- Mandatory and essential learning has been completed
- Staff should not be currently undergoing any HR procedure or promoting attendance at work
Staff would be eligible to apply for up to one Deciding Opportunity per year.
Identifying Deciding Level Opportunities
There are two types of Deciding Level Opportunities:
- Advertised opportunities – please review the Deciding Level Opportunity Library
- Opportunities identified by the applicant – make contact with an individual or department that you would like to shadow/visit and ask them to complete a Experiential Leadership Academy Opportunity Template
How to Apply
- Check you meet the criteria for application
- Discuss with your line manager, including your planned opportunity
- If approved, complete the Deciding Level application form, including the objectives you wish to achieve. Obtain signature of line manager.
- Contact mentor and share application form
- Agree objective, dates and duration of experience
- Confirm with line manager
Learning Log
- During your placement you can complete an optional Learning Log, identifying learning goals and ways to achieve them. This can be used as evidence of learning for reflection and revalidation.
Criteria for Award
To achieve the Deciding Level award, the staff member must:
- Have attended the placement for more than 80% of planned duration
- Meet with mentor and line manager to discuss achievement of objectives and sign off on completion of the placement
- Completed the Deciding Level Reflection form and discuss with line manager, including next steps for your development
- Registered completion via Microsoft Form. Follow this link or scan QR code below
- An evaluation survey will be issued at a later stage
A certificate of a Deciding Level Award will be issued by the line manager and can be used as evidence of learning and for revalidation purposes.
