Leadership programmes for up to 25,000 NHS staff have been launched by the NHS Leadership Academy.
“We want all NHS staff to work in an environment of excellence in care, where they feel liberated to focus on providing exceptional care to patients,” said Karen Lynas, deputy managing director of the NHS Leadership Academy.
Following an eight-month process, the Academy’s new approach aims to “transform the working culture of the NHS”.
Three programmes
The Academy has teamed up with The Open University to deliver the foundation level programme, for staff that want to lead others.
The mid-level programme is for those who already manage teams and services.
KPMG, Manchester Business School and the University of Birmingham will help to deliver the senior level programme for NHS staff who aspire to executive-level roles.
A postgraduate certificate, diploma or master’s degree will be offered at the end of completing the courses.
It has been suggested that participants undertake the programmes on a part time basis, alongside their existing roles.
Culture transformation
Leading clinicians and NHS managers will also help to create the programmes, which will centre on the “patient perspective”, with the support of patient charities and patients themselves.
The Academy aims to show NHS staff how to lead teams and services to achieve better, more compassionate patient care.
Health Minister and NHS doctor Dr Dan Poulter said the Francis report into Mid Staffordshire “clearly” demonstrated more clearly “the need for developing leadership in the NHS to bring about the change of culture needed to truly improve the quality of care for patients”.
