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HDG invitation

It is essential that people, both health and care staff, patients and the public understand rights and responsibilities around the collection and use of their data.

You are invited to take part in the pilot of a course to become a Health Data Guide (HDG) to help raise awareness and understanding about how health and care data is collected and used.

Register your Interest here

What is a Health Data Guide?

Health Data Guides are members of the public, or health and care staff, who are trained and supported to have local conversations with the public, and peers, about:

  • what health and care data is;
  • why it is important;
  • how it is collected and used and
  • the rights people have in relation to its use.

Why become a Health Data Guide?

The course offers you the chance to become a trusted local voice who can explain the basics, answer simple questions, and connect people to reliable information: helping to dispel myths, support people to make informed choices and for them to more fully engage with their health through better understanding of data.

The course has been co-designed with public and staff, is interactive with a toolkit to support you to have open and honest conversations

What does the training look like?

The course consists of:

  • 40-minute online course split into four modules
    • Module 1: [insert when titles confirmed]
    • Module 2: [insert when titles confirmed]
    • Module 3: [insert when titles confirmed]
    • Module 4: [insert when titles confirmed]
  • Following the online course, you will design an action plan outlining plans for your first conversations as a Health Data Guide: for example joining an existing event to present and/or talk with attendees, or organising your own specific event.
  • You will have 10 weeks to complete your action plan.
  • You will need to complete a short online evaluation survey.
  • Support will be available from health data experts and experienced community involvement professionals.

Time commitment

  • You will have two weeks (14 days) to complete the online course once you receive the link.
  • You will then have 10 weeks to complete your first conversations, as outlined in your action plan.
  • Optional online drop-in sessions will be available over the 10 weeks to help with the planning of your conversations and to answer any questions you may have.
  • In total – including completing the course, attending drop-in sessions, planning and completing your conversations will require a commitment of about four days over a 15-week period.

Who is the course for?

  • Anyone who has an interest in health data and wishes to help others gain confidence and understanding of the subject.
  • People who enjoy having conversations with others about health data.
  • The role of a Health Data Guide is not intended to be full-time, paid roles but rather a voluntary opportunity to help empower others.

What are the outcomes?

You’ll be able to:

  • Describe the role of a Health Data Guide
  • Articulate what health and care data is, how it is collected, stored, how it is used for individual care, and planning and research and why this data matters: both personally and collectively.
  • Confidently plan and lead discussions and answer common questions regarding health and care data.

After completing the course:

  • You will have access to a wide range of supporting documents and resources to help with your conversations.
  • You will be invited to join our Health Data Community of Practice to remain involved and active within this programme of work.

Reimbursement

  • If you are a member of health and care staff, you need to have sign off from your manager to complete this training.
  • If you are a member of the public, then reimbursement is available for taking part in this training.
  • Reimbursement for up to four days work is available, at a rate of £160 a day (based on an 8-hour day and £20 per hour) once all elements of the training course have been completed.

This course is funded by the Thames Valley and Surrey Secure Data Environment (TVS SDE) and has been codesigned by the TVS SDE Data Literacy Group, Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley and Digital Unite. 

Evaluation of this pilot will inform future versions of the course before it moves to wider rollout.