Neurological Framework funding: form and guidance

Extended deadlines

Pre-applications should be submitted by 31 January 2022.

The pre-application is a very basic description of your proposal. It is to help us gauge the level of interest and intended start dates.

Please submit your pre-application by emailing:  Clinical_Priorities@gov.scot

Deadline for full applications

The next stage in the application process is to fill out and submit the final application form. The deadline for this has been extended to Monday 7 March 2022.

Overview

In December 2019, we launched the neurological care and support: framework for action 2020 to 2025 and announced £4.5 million of funding over five years to deliver the Framework’s commitments. We are now inviting a third round of funding proposals linked to implementing the Framework.

Round 3 focusses on strengthening and further embedding Commitment 9 of the framework:

• we will support Integration Authorities and the NHS to improve services and support, with a commitment to evaluate and test generic/neurology community based multi-disciplinary team models and test innovative ways of delivering health and social care, including new roles and new arrangements for co-ordinating care and support for people with neurological conditions

Bids could be led by integration authorities, NHS boards, or third sector organisations, and ensure collaborative working between NHS providers, local authorities, third sector organisations and local people with lived experience of neurological conditions.

There is an overall fund of £1 million. Some of this fund will be used to support delivery of Commitments 8 and 12 (digital and data collection). 

There are no limits or restrictions on the amount of funding each new application can bid for. We wish to provide organisations with as much flexibility as possible to develop high quality collaborative and innovative proposals that realistically can be delivered within the timeframes. 

Applications will not, however, be considered for routine delivery of services, nor in relation to the following areas which are outwith the scope of the Framework: Alzheimer’s/dementia, stroke, long COVID, paediatric neurology.

What you can apply for

Projects should be of 12 month duration for commencement during the financial year 2022 -2023. 

Bids should:

• focus on bringing about improvement in particular areas of the service, for example:

o    anticipatory Care Planning – ‘What Matters to You?’, prevention and early intervention
o    consistent point of contact for patients
o    co-ordination of care and support
o    combined clinics, creating more integrated services, multidisciplinary working and improved patient pathways
o    development of plans to improve workforce and skill mix
o    facilitating local resilience 
o    adoption of models of care for neurological conditions that have been used successfully in other areas for another condition 

• describe outcomes as well as outputs, and specify indicators of change that are measurable* 
• consider data capture and evidence that will help to understand the impact of inequalities and demonstrate the value of the model of care proposed
• detail mechanisms to embed longer-term scalability and sustainability, both within and across organisations and sectors

Projects that were funded in rounds 1 and 2 of the framework have already demonstrated innovative ways of delivering services. Bids are encouraged to consider how they could use approaches already tested or incorporate these as part of care delivery. 

We will also be establishing a learning network to provide projects, potential applicants, and others with an interest in service improvement in neurology with an opportunity to share information about what they have done.

*A number of resources that support health and social care organisations to deliver quality improvement and measure outcomes are available. Some good starting points are:

• quality improvement made simple
• improvement resources ihub
• Evaluation Support Scotland