The document and forms relating to the new Northern Ireland scheme are available on the Clinical Excellence Awards website at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/clinical_excellence_awards_scheme.htm

Structure of the new scheme

The new scheme will be a single, more graduated scheme. It will include a local and a regional/national element. The lower value awards, 1-9 (formerly discretionary points), will be made by local (employer) committees. These awards will primarily reward outstanding contributions to local service delivery objectives and priorities. Higher value awards, 10-12 (formerly Distinction Awards), will be recommended by the new Northern Ireland Clinical Excellence Awards Committee (NICEAC). For higher awards, contributions at a regional, national and international level will be important. However, it will still be possible for consultants who deliver a wholly local contribution to progress to the higher awards.

Self-nomination is the only method of nomination for an award. Consultants who wish to self-nominate for a higher award, must, in the first instance, complete the form ‘Notification of intention to apply for an award’. On receipt of this form, the NICEAC Secretariat will send an account number by e-mail which will enable access to the CV form on a secure site; the CV form should be completed on line and submitted electronically. The main guide should be read before completing the CV form, in particular sections 4 and 5.

In order to satisfy the eligibility criteria for higher awards, consultants must have achieved a minimum of three local awards.

Citation process summary

For local awards (previously discretionary points) citations will be sought from:

1. • Steps 1-7 Employer

2. • Steps 8 and 9 Employer and senior award holder

Normally either the clinical director or the consultant's appraiser should complete employer citations for local awards. (In the case of joint appointees, citations will also be sought from Queen's University.)

For higher awards citations will be sought from:

1. • Step 10 (equivalent to B) Employer and senior award holder

2. • Steps 11 and 12 (A and A+ equivalent) Employer, senior award holder and either the consultant's Royal College or Specialty Association.

On receipt of the CV form the Secretariat will seek citations from the employer and senior award holder for step 10, and from the employer, senior award holder, and nominated Royal College or Specialty Association for steps 11 and 12. The Secretariat will provide the citation with a copy of the completed CV form.