NHS West Midlands advocates a blended approach to learning and development using a range of delivery methods and new and emerging technologies to support learner choice and realistic and practical opportunities to make learning a sustainable, independent and evolving experience.  Technological advances present a wealth of opportunity in healthcare to enhance learning and educational environments. 

Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) is a term that describes any learning done via electronic means including online learning, web-based training, DVD, and technology-delivered instruction, giving people the opportunity to learn almost anytime, anywhere. 

With its unique features and flexibility TEL is an experience that leads to comprehension and discovery of new skills and knowledge, enabling education which can be immediate and self-paced. It can also be integrated with other learning methods where it can offer greater flexibility and improve knowledge retention.

For more information about Technology Enhanced Learning please contact:

Alison Pope, Programme Manager

Alison.Pope@westmidlands.nhs.uk or call 0121 695 2381

National Initiatives

Department of Health Framework for Technology Enhanced Learning

This framework provides guidance to help commissioners and providers of health and social care deliver high quality, cost effective education, training and continuous development to the workforce for the benefit of patients through the effective use of technology as part of a blended learning process.

National Resources

NHS eLearning

This site brings together the various national tools and resources to support eLearning deployment in the NHS, including the eLearning Repository, the National Learning Management system (OLM eLearning), Readiness Toolkit and eLearning Developer's network.

CLU Core Learning Unit

The CLU has developed a range of statutory and mandatory e-learning which is mapped to national standards.  These programmes are freely available to NHS organisations.

A full list of programmes is available here.

E-learning for Healthcare

e-LfH is a Department of Health Programme in partnership with the NHS and Professional Bodies providing high quality content free of charge for the training of the NHS workforce. 

A full list of the resources can be found here.

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)

The Social Care Institute for Excellence website is an online source of good practice guidance, research and learning materials for social care and social work.

Department of Health Informatics Directorate

Essential IT Skills gives organisations implementing National Programme for IT systems the means to train staff in basic IT skills.

The programme is currently available in England and Northern Ireland and offers three qualifications: NHS ELITE, NHS Health and the BCS (NHS) Level 1 Award.

Click here for further information.

National Platform

NLMS – National Learning Management System

The National Learning Management System (NLMS) is a platform to enable accessibility to e-Learning available to all NHS employees in England with a staff record on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).  The NLMS software is provided to the NHS at no financial cost.

Community of Practice

Join our West Midlands Technology Enhanced Learning SharePoint Community

This online community has been created in collaboration with Connecting for Health to communicate with stakeholders and interested parties on the National, Regional and Local initiatives surrounding e-Learning.  The purpose of the site is to be a one-stop information source for those involved in designing, commissioning and implementing e-Learning in the West Midlands Region. It is intended to be a collaborative and interactive tool, so please feel free to add any announcements, useful links or start a discussion using the blog or wiki.

Request membership by contacting Jamie Harwood

West Midlands Developments

NHS local Learning

“A digital environment that supports NHS organisations to deliver on their education and training commitments and priorities, and enables the whole healthcare workforce to access learning and development opportunities to support formal and informal blended educational approaches.”

West Midlands e-Learning Framework 2010-2015

This framework outlines a regional approach to the implementation, delivery and development of e-Learning as an enhancement to current learning and development opportunities and provides NHS organisations with a roadmap to support them in the application of learning, teaching and assessment through the use of technology as part of a blended approach.