Berkshire Healthcare have an approved Citizen Developer Programme
In Berkshire Healthcare, more than 800 individuals, who are not IT experts, use easy-to-use tools like the Microsoft Power Platform and other Microsoft 365 applications. These tools allow our colleagues to create custom solutions and apps without advanced technical skills.
The Power Platform takes it a step further, enabling them to build more advanced apps that seamlessly connect with a variety of data and services. These tools empower our colleagues to tailor solutions for their teams, streamline operations, and make informed decisions using data. In simple terms, even if they don't have advanced technical knowledge, individuals acting as low-code developers using the Power Platform can quickly create the solutions they need.
Within Berkshire Healthcare, regular employees, known as citizen developers, use these low-code tools to create digital applications for themselves and their colleagues, even if they are not part of the official IT or business departments.
While they may not have formal programming training, they contribute from various areas within the Trust, and some may choose to eventually transition to full-time developers.
Discover more about our Robotic Process Automation (RPA) program in the National Health Service (NHS) and Healthcare sector by reading our Blueprint.
Governance training is crucial for citizen developers, especially in healthcare settings like Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, to ensure the security of patient information and compliance with essential rules.
This training helps them understand and mitigate risks in app development, leading to better and safer apps for patients. It also ensures a consistent and high-quality approach to app development, improving functionality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Citizen developers are encouraged to align their apps with the goals of Berkshire Healthcare, emphasising the importance of meeting organisational objectives.
They are expected to participate in our mandatory governance training titled "Becoming a Responsible Citizen Developer."
To explore the Power Platform, they can use the App launcher and familiarise themselves with Microsoft 365 applications like Forms, SharePoint, and The Power Platform, including Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI.
Understanding features can be achieved through official documentation, tutorials, and training materials. They are also encouraged to use online courses and community-driven content on platforms like Microsoft Learn, YouTube, and other educational websites. Starting with Power Automate, they can learn to automate processes and create workflows to simplify tasks. Moving on to Power Apps, a low-code development platform, they can create simple apps using a visual interface.
Experimenting with real-world projects helps them grasp core concepts and functionalities. As they become more proficient, exploring advanced features becomes crucial. They are invited to join the Citizen Developer Community, where they can connect with fellow citizen developers, ask questions, share experiences, and learn from each other's expertise.