Berkshire Healthcare have a successful 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 Microsoft 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 Microsoft 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.
When our Doctors and Nurses are not burdened by administration, they have more time to provide better care to our patients.
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.
Learning Power Platform Low Code Features
Support and Study
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
NHS RPA Blueprint
Discover how we apply Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the National Health Service by reading our Blueprint.
NHS RPA Governance Strategy
Our governance strategy shows how we ensure Robotic Process Automation in the National Health Service (NHS) is safe, secure, and well-managed for patients.