Midlands Finance Academy – bitesize short courses

Develop your finance teams with free access to HFMA bitesize short courses.

What is on offer?

The Midlands Finance Academy is funding eight vouchers per organisation in the Midlands to be used on a selection of the HFMA bitesize short courses:

  • NHS finance
  • NHS budgeting
  • NHS commissioning
  • NHS governance
  • NHS business cases

Each of these courses have up-to-date content, which is easy to understand and written by NHS experts, and are accredited by the CPD standards office. On completion of a course you will receive a certificate for 3 hours of CPD.

Please note the course vouchers are for finance staff and are only available for those who do not currently have an active Bitesize account with their organisation and for individuals who have not previously completed these courses.

How do I request a voucher?

Contact megan.humphreys@hfma.org.uk.

What happens once I’ve been assigned a voucher? 

New learners will be uploaded to the Bitesize system and once you have been assigned you will receive an email from bitesize@hfma.org.uk with a link and your login details. You will then have up to 12 months to complete the course before the offer expires.  These short courses offer professional development opportunities to learners and are flexible so that staff can fit this into their busy work schedule.

How have the courses been updated and improved?

The HFMA bitesize foundation courses have recently been updated and developed to now include:

  • Catering for different learning styles through the use of images, text, video, interactive features and activities.
  • An accessible colour palette suitable for most types of colour visual distortion.
  • Accessibility on a range of devices to support those who may not be using a laptop or PC.
  • New and improved content available in different formats, such as spreadsheets in the NHS budgeting course.
  • Increased video content with captions and video transcripts.
  • Updated characters in the animations to reflect ethnic diversity, different types of religious clothing, Individuals with a spectrum of disabilities, different body shapes and ages, and representation in the LGBTQIA+ community.
  • Adjusted representation for the animation characters in positions of power in order to break stereotypes and inspire belonging through diverse and empowering role models.

Click here to watch a short video on the fresh design approach for these courses.

Who are the courses aimed at?

These courses are aimed at all bands and are ideal for:

  • Anyone new to NHS finance.
  • Anyone in a post-graduate or apprentice role.
  • Anyone looking to develop their career and update their training.

They are also valuable as a refresher for more senior NHS finance professionals and for leaders who can demonstrate to their teams the importance of training and development at every level.

NHS finance

This course provides an overview of how the NHS is structured and financed. It explains how money moves from the taxpayer via HM Treasury to front line healthcare services, how this funding is spent and safeguarded.

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NHS budgeting

The course looks at what budgets are and how they are prepared and managed. It examines what a typical budget report looks like and how it is used for budgetary control purposes. It also includes an overview of the role and responsibilities of budget holders and explains why this activity is so important.

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NHS commissioning

This course explains what commissioning is and how it fits into the NHS. The course also covers who is responsible for commissioning, what it involves in practice, as well as the rules, regulations and constraints surrounding it.

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NHS governance

This course explains what governance is and why it is so important in the NHS. The three key elements of governance are examined: culture and values; policies, structures, processes and control frameworks. The course also includes examples of good governance in practice.

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NHS business cases

This course introduces business cases and how they are used in NHS organisations. It provides those preparing a business case with an overview of their use and how one can be structured. The module considers the importance of managing change and option appraisal as well as the key elements needed for success.

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