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NHS managers training ‘ineffective’

31 October 2013

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Most NHS staff believe management training is “ineffective” a report has found. 

Only 6% of NHS employees believe the training their manager’s training had a positive impact on leadership skills, a report uncovered. 

The study of more than 1,000 employees working in the private sector and the NHS appears to show that private sector managers are more effective than their NHS counterparts after attending leadership training. 

UK Leadership: Is it working? states: “Since 2008 there has been a decline of investment in leadership development. This decline has been one major factor in the current people challenges which now face the UK. 

“The potential consequence of ineffective and poor leadership on UK private sector businesses is a decrease in profitability and performance.”

Helen Gordon, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, chief executive, told HR magazine that leadership development is critical to organisational performance.

She said: “Investment in leadership development is key and I am concerned that at time of extraordinary time of change in healthcare the NHS and private organisations delivering healthcare should be investing more in leaders.” 

The full report is available to view here.