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NHS leaders programme launched

2 May 2013

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A £30 million leadership development portfolio worth for NHS staff has been launched. 

Aimed at nurses, doctors, support staff and managers, the programmes aim to change NHS culture with an ‘across-the-board approach’ to leadership development.

Developed by the NHS Leadership Academy, the national programmes will combine successful leadership strategies from international healthcare, private sector organisations and academic expertise. 

The focus of the programmes is to support leaders in creating an environment where staff feel supported and encouraged to focus on providing high-quality health care.

Karen Lynas, deputy managing director of the NHS Leadership Academy said: “These programmes recognise that the NHS is about providing not only some of the best healthcare in the world, but doing so in an environment where staff feel able to focus on care, compassion and respect.  

“Leaders in health, from whatever profession, background or sector, have a responsibility to use taxpayers’ money wisely, but moreover to ensure that staff are encouraged, supported and developed so they can do what they came in to healthcare to do: care for patients.” 

The four programmes have been named after leaders who made a significant difference to health and patient care. 

The programmes are:

The Edward Jenner Programme – Leadership Foundation. 

Edward Jenner was an English physician from Gloucester, who spent part of his career developing the smallpox vaccine. Leaders in the NHS have a key role to play in improving the health of their communities and contributing to maintaining health as well as preventing sickness. This breadth is well represented by Edward Jenner’s work.

An open access online learning package designed to support anyone looking to gain essential leadership skills. Designed for newly-qualified clinicians, but open to all, this programme leads to an NHS Leadership Academy award in Leadership Foundations.

The Mary Seacole Programme – Leading Care I

Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-born woman who provided assistance to sick and military personnel in Jamaica and Central America, before and during the Crimean War. 

The Mary Seacole programme leads to an NHS Leadership Academy Award in Leading on the Frontline and a Post Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership. 

The programme will be open to all those working in health (nominated by an individual’s place of work) regardless of professional or academic background.

The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme – Leading Care II

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was an English Physician who became the first Englishwoman to qualify as a Physician and Surgeon in Britain, as well as the first female Dean of a medical school.  

The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson programme leads to an NHS Leadership Academy Award in Senior Healthcare Leadership and an MSc in Healthcare Leadership.

The programme is 18 months long, and available to all those working in the NHS or in NHS funded care, regardless of professional background.

The Nye Bevan Programme – Leading Care III

Aneurin “Nye” Bevan was Minister for Health in Clement Atlee’s post-WWII government.  Bevan spearheaded the establishment of the National Health Service, seeking to create a health service free at point of care for all Britons. Bevan is an inspiration to those who seek a senior role in health with the potential to lead radical and lasting improvements to the NHS.

The Nye Bevan Programme leads to an NHS Leadership Academy Award in Executive Healthcare Leadership. 

The Nye Bevan is centred on the needs of patients, and led by internationally-renowned academic and business leaders. Applications for the majority of the programmes close on Friday, 14 June 2013, and will start in September. The exception to this is the Edward Jenner programme, which is an online course, opens to interest, and will be ready to start during June. 

Full details on the programmes and how you can apply are available from the NHS Leadership Academy website.