Sponsored by NHS England's Chief Sustainability Officer and managed by FMLM, the CSO scheme has been established to identify and support clinicians who want to develop as clinical leaders and sustainability champions of the future. It offers clinicians with a passion for sustainability a unique opportunity to develop their leadership skills and support the NHS to realise its net zero ambitions.
Those appointed to the scheme will work by engaging directly with the most senior leaders in the NHS, helping to embed net zero carbon principles across the healthcare system.
Recognising the unique contribution each clinical specialism can make in reaching net zero, the scheme is multi-professional and welcomes applications from allied health professionals, dentists, doctors in training [including public health registrars and SAS doctors], healthcare scientists, nurses, midwives and pharmacists. It is aimed at aspiring future clinical leaders that have not held senior leadership roles previously.
The NHS equality, diversity and inclusion improvement plan highlights that diverse teams working in inclusive environments have a better experience at work and are more effective at their jobs. if senior leadership in the NHS is to match the diversity of our wider workforce and the communities we serve. As a fellowship with the objective of developing current and future senior NHS leaders, we want to see an increase of successful applicants from groups underrepresented at those levels and welcome feedback about improving the accessibility of our recruitment process.
A message from Chris Gormley, Acting Chief Sustainability Officer, NHS England
What are the benefits of becoming a Clinical Fellow?
Clinical fellows will work closely with senior leaders and will have the opportunity to meet regularly with senior members of the Greener NHS team, wider NHS system partners and stakeholders.
Clinical fellows will lead on key projects that will fundamentally change the way that care is designed, developed and delivered across the system. Clinical fellows will gain an unparalleled understanding of sustainability principles as well as an essential range of leadership and management, policy development, project management, research and analysis, communications and collaboration skills.
Leadership development is supported through a comprehensive educational programme to enhance clinical fellows' leadership capabilities.
What are the learning aims of the role?
Practice-oriented, evidence-based, theory-informed
To develop clinical fellows’ leadership and management knowledge and skills through experiential learning, supported by relevant evidence, concepts and theories, so that they can ‘make a difference’ to healthcare delivery and advance their individual capability
- To achieve a deeper insight into personal behaviors, leadership style and impact on others
- To enhance emotional and social intelligence
- To nurture and encourage personal agency
- To enhance effectiveness as reflective practitioners
Interprofessional and UK-wide
- To achieve a greater understanding of the wider context in which leaders operate across the healthcare system
- To bring clinical fellows from different schemes and professions together to work and learn from one another
- To support clinical fellows to work more effectively with colleagues in delivering and improving services for patients
Co-creative and collaborative
- To provide opportunities for co-creation and collaboration on system, service, quality improvement and professional development
- To support clinical fellows’ wellbeing and resilience
- To gain insights into the challenges of and ways to lead through complexity
- To develop a greater understanding of team-working and system leadership.
How do you apply to become a fellow?
Candidates may submit an application for a place on the scheme during the recruitment process each year. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed, and successful applicants are seconded from their current employer to take up a fellowship role for 12 months, starting 1 September.
Secondments are at the discretion of applicants’ substantive organisations and approval from substantive HR, finance and clinical directors should be sought alongside applications. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they have the relevant permissions by application or interview stage.
Clinical Fellows who successfully complete their secondment will also have the opportunity to access discounted membership or fellowship from FMLM upon graduation.
Please download the below Application Information Pack and Guidance for Employers to assist you with your application. Once read, please complete the application form using the linked button below. Once you have submitted your application form, please also complete our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging form below. We strongly advise you to complete the application form in one go as we cannot guarantee you will be able to return to the form once started.
Application deadline: Applications close 9pm 23 March 2025.
Application Information PackGuidance for Employers
Apply now
APPLICATION FORM - click here to complete
Please also complete our EDIB form by clicking this button
Interested in hosting a Clinical Fellow?
What are the benefits of becoming a host?
Having a Clinical Fellow on secondment for 12 months provides the host employer with the opportunity to benefit from specialist skills and knowledge. The fellow often brings fresh insights from their previous training. This temporary expertise can also help to develop staff by encouraging knowledge sharing, enhancing clinical practices, and potentially introducing new techniques or methods that benefit the entire team.
Additionally, the secondment offers the host employer a chance to assess the fellow’s suitability for future collaborative opportunities. It allows for the building of professional relationships, providing insight into the fellow's integration with the organisation or departmental culture and how their skills align with the host's strategic needs. This can result in long-term benefits, either through a future appointment or through strengthened partnerships that enhance the organisation and/or department’s reputation and expertise.
What are the expectations of becoming a host?
Hosts must be able to offer part or full-time 12 month secondment.
The financial commitment includes a management fee of £5950 + VAT and reimbursement of the full salary and on-costs of the fellow’s salary back to their substantive employer.
Hosts are expected to provide opportunities for Clinical Fellows to gain:
- A range of skills including leadership and management, policy development, project management, research, and analysis,
- Supported leadership and personal development,
- The opportunity to lead on key projects which contribute to national sustainable/net zero healthcare priorities,
- Access to professional healthcare and climate change networks at all levels,
- A highly developed understanding of sustainable healthcare policy and application,
- The skills to lead positive change,
- Enhanced capabilities at developing and working with teams and supporting others in developing their own personal insight and effectiveness.
Click here to download your Host Prospectus for the CSO CFS
Testimonial
“Clinical fellows, by stepping out of their usual practice to work directly with senior leaders, are pivotal in embedding sustainable practices across the Allied Health Professions. Their leadership and innovative approaches not only enhance patient care but also support reductions in the environmental footprint of healthcare services.”
- Sarah Cooper AHP Advisor Office of the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer NHS England
“Hosting an NHS Clinical Sustainability Fellow has provided us with an invaluable opportunity to integrate environmental sustainability into specific care pathways within NHS Greater Manchester. Being part of a cohort of fellows, supported by FMLM and Greener NHS, whilst being embedded into the ICB medical directorate has provided the Clinical Fellow with a unique and impactful perspective to drive meaningful change. I highly recommend this opportunity to get involved as a participant or host organisation.”
- Claire Igoe, Associate Director of Sustainability, NHS Greater Manchester
"Hosting chief sustainability officer's clinical fellows has been invaluable for developing our portfolio and organisational expertise in this critical area. We've benefitted immensely from our fellows' skills and experience, understanding of clinical practice, and - most importantly - their passion for achieving sustainable high-quality care."
- The Health Foundation