A training programme designed to equip practice managers with the skills to influence and manage change in their practices and support the ongoing development of primary care networks (PCNs) has launched in the Midlands.
The Midlands NHS Leadership Academy’s ‘Working at Scale’ programme will start in January 2021 and is open to practice managers working in the region.
Programme organiser Phillip Musawa told Management in Practice that it will also support practice managers with some of the challenges they are facing during Covid.
The programme is comprised of six modules, with the first considering the changes brought about by the pandemic and how to tackle any new challenges going forward.
Mr Musawa, who is senior programme lead for primary care at the Midlands NHS Leadership Academy, said: ‘I’m hoping that the programme will develop practice managers’ skills in light of some of the pressures they are facing during Covid and help them to be able to manage their practices in a better, more sustained way.’
He added that a survey carried out by the Leadership Academy had identified ‘being able to influence change’ as a key challenge for practice managers and the fifth module in the programme will focus on equipping them with the skills to do this.
The programme will also consider how PCNs, the NHS Long Term Plan and the NHS People Plan will start to shape the way healthcare is delivered locally and nationally.
‘A key element from the NHS People Plan is about belonging and staff feeling that they are valued – [we want practice managers to know] that we do care about them and that we do want them to become effective leaders,’ Mr Musawa added.
The programme is free to participants and will be delivered virtually via Zoom.
There are only 22 places and applications will be considered on a first-come-first serve basis, the Midlands NHS Leadership Academy said.
The deadline to apply is Monday 14 December.
