Sonia Ramdhian, Chief Development Officer, CILIP
CILIP is proud to be recognised as a key professional partner for library and knowledge service managers at NHS England. This follows the recent announcement by the Digital Transformation team at NHS England, in partnership with the Federation of Informatics Professionals (FEDIP), of a progressive commitment to professional membership and registration for Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) staff.
The initiative aligns DDaT with other established NHS professions, ensuring that the digital infrastructure underpinning patient care is managed by accountable, recognised experts.
The importance of this sector cannot be overstated. As the NHS embarks on its 10-Year Health Plan, the service faces three critical shifts: moving from analogue to digital, shifting care from hospitals to the community and pivoting from treatment to prevention.
NHS knowledge managers and specialist librarians are the architects of this transition. By managing the flow of evidence-informed insights and implementing emerging technologies like AI, they ensure innovation is safe, ethical and effective. Formal registration serves as a quality mark, guaranteeing that those managing the data central to patient outcomes meet rigorous national standards.
As a founding partner of FEDIP, CILIP is uniquely positioned through full membership to meet these new expectations announced by NHS England. Their vision includes the following: “Professional membership and registration help the NHS build the capabilities needed for a modern, digital-first health service. It supports staff to keep their skills up to date, work to clear ethical and technical standards, and confidently deliver technologies such as integrated records, automation and AI-enabled tools – all central to the 10 Year Plan’s vision for better, more efficient care.”
What does CILIP membership and Professional Registration provide?
NHS Knowledge and Library staff benefit from joining CILIP, a community dedicated to changing lives through information expertise. Key benefits include:
- Peer network: Join the UK’s largest community of professionals working in knowledge, information, and libraries
- Career growth: Access online training, Continuing Professional Development activities (CPD), leadership and career development support
- Dual accreditation: A pathway to established Professional Registration. CILIP Certification, Chartership or Fellowship and undertaking annual revalidation through qualifying CPD hours qualifies you for the higher levels of the FEDIP register, for a small additional fee
- Specialist framework: Access the Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB), including the Healthcare Sector Guide, to map your skills against industry standards and identify areas for growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Communities of practice: Engage with 20 Special Interest Groups, including Health Libraries Group, UK eInformation Group (UKeIG), Knowledge and Information Management Group, for networking and development opportunities, specialised conferences, webinars and publications
Why does CILIP maintain a unified subscription rate?
As a body governed by Royal Charter, CILIP represents specialists across diverse sectors and holds the right to award individual Chartered Status. To maintain the integrity of our standards and ensure a stable foundation for national advocacy, we do not offer bespoke discounts for specific sectors. CILIP offers a range of membership fees that include discounted rates – this ensures support remains accessible to all practitioners, all of whom commit to our shared Ethical Principles and Code of Professional Conduct.
Learn more about the benefits of joining CILIP today https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/BecomeAMember
Health Libraries Group 