LEADING CHANGE IN THE NHS

The role of management and leadership is vital in transforming the National Health Service. It has now become a top priority given evidence of the direct links between leadership and the quality of services provided to all members of society.

Medics as managers

Effective strategies for reforming the NHS require strong political and managerial leadership and a high level of commitment and skills at all levels. Despite popular claims that the NHS employs too many managers and too few clinical staff, it is now evident that nurses, doctors and frontline staff are increasingly required to take on management responsibilities - many who have strong medical abilities but untapped management skills.

Raising the standard

The Chartered Management Institute is the professional body with responsibility for raising and maintaining standards in management and leadership across all sectors. We believe that the issue is not one of too many managers within the health sector, but that many staff feel strongly that their leaders are not managing effectively enough.

Indeed, the Institute’s own research into leadership carried out last year, demonstrates that while the overall quality of leadership in UK organisations is not rated highly, public sector leadership received the lowest ratings.

Leadership is endemic

But as those working in the NHS will know only too well, change is now endemic, and modernisation reforms are slowly beginning to make progress. Throughout the NHS it is important that attention is paid to the development of leadership and management skills - not just in health department offices and large hospitals but right down to GP practice level.

There is a plethora of leadership development initiatives being offered across the NHS and it is too early to assess the effectiveness of these so for the busy practice clinician what is important is selecting a development programme which provides relevance to those working at practice level.

A new approach

Research shows that when learning takes place within real work contexts, its impact is most valuable. It is within this context that the Institute has developed its leadership programme. It provides an exciting new structured development path that enables clinicians to develop their management skills within the workplace rather than just focussing on medical capability.

Unlike other leadership programmes, which focus purely on the needs of the individual, the Institute's leadership programme focuses on both organisational development and individual development - combining academic rigour together with a strong professional and practical focus. This is a tangible business benefit for clinicians trying to enhance their management skills while making process improvements and struggling to meet the needs of a large client base.

Candidates undertaking the leadership programme are allocated a personal coach who provides help and support to both the candidate and their employer. Organisations work with the candidate and coach to identify a business issue, which the candidate can investigate, and propose solutions to, as part of the programme.

For managers themselves, the programme provides online and supported distance learning, within which they can develop, the full range of generic management skills. Most of all, they will be able to demonstrate how their skills have made a positive difference in leading change in the NHS.

Sustaining change

It is by improving these leadership qualities and management capabilities of leading clinicians throughout the organisation, that the desired transformation of the NHS can start to become a sustainable reality.

For more information about the Institute's leadership programme, please call Gillian Adams on 01536 207373 or visit our Website: www.managers.org.uk/leadership/

 

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