Learning, Collaboration, Sharing and Growth

Support and Study

Citizen Developers in Berkshire Healthcare have the opportunity to create applications that can improve their work and the work of their team. However, they also have to be aware of the limitations and responsibilities that come with this role.

They can make apps that help remove repetitive and burdensome work from themselves and their direct team. These apps can assist with office work, such as comparing spreadsheet data, collecting staff information, filling out forms, and facilitating communication among staff members. Additionally, they can develop tools that support employee onboarding by providing reminders and sharing information. Tools that collect and display non-private information, such as patient satisfaction and performance metrics, can also be created. Furthermore, they can make some tasks easier and faster, such as sending reminders to patients and keeping track of supplies.

Lastly, they can develop apps that help staff members learn new skills and adhere to policies and governance. However, there are certain things they cannot do. They should not create apps that are used outside of their immediate team or ones that become so essential they cause problems when they stop working. Apps for use outside of Berkshire Healthcare are also not allowed. They must avoid making apps that affect patient care, such as tools that diagnose or suggest treatments.

Apps that use or display private patient information, such as names, addresses, or medical records, are prohibited. Additionally, they should not create apps that connect to the main systems, such as those managing patient records or financial information. Finally, they must not develop apps that require compliance with special healthcare regulations, such as GDPR, ISO 27001, DCB0160, and DPIA responsibilities.

Through official documentation, tutorials, and training materials, they can acquire an understanding of power platform low code features. They can also benefit from online courses and community-generated content on platforms such as Microsoft Learn, YouTube, and other educational websites. They can begin with Power Automate, a tool to automate processes and create workflows to streamline tasks. Then they can progress to Power Apps, a low-code development platform that allows them to build simple apps using a visual interface. Working on real-world projects helps them comprehend core concepts and functionalities.

As their skills improve, exploring advanced features becomes essential. They are welcome to join the Citizen Developer Community, where they can network with fellow citizen developers, seek answers, share insights, and learn from each other's expertise 

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.

While they may not have formal programming training, they contribute from various areas within the Trust, and some have chosen to transition to enterprise developer roles.