New leadership development programme for clinicians in the West Midlands NHS

Led by Steve Gulati from HSMC and Professor Lorraine Harper from the Institute for Applied Health Research, and delivered by Alys Harwood, Catherine Weir and Brian Cox (HSMC Associates), the initial cohort of learners for the Clinical Service Leads (CSL) development programme will experience a blend of facilitated workshops, small group learning in Learning Application Groups, and have the opportunity for personalised development sessions.

“One of the main aims is to provide a protected learning space for doctors to explore and learn together what they experience as, and what they practice as ‘leadership’”, said Steve Gulati, Associate Professor and Director of Healthcare Leadership. “It is relatively rare to create a uni-disciplinary learning environment these days, but working with colleagues such as Professor Harper and local NHS Trusts when designing the concept, it was clear that there was a real appetite for it. The ‘ask’ for this programme came from doctors themselves, it wasn’t something that we designed and then marketed to them. The programme isn’t about ‘knowledge transfer’ in the traditional sense, but providing a facilitated time and space for doctors who are professionally senior but have variable levels of management and leadership experience to work and learn together”, Steve added.

The programme will last for 9 months, and while there is some set material there is also an element of co-creation to ensure as much engagement and involvement as possible. With an increasing focus on integrated care systems and a focus on relational skills rather than on traditional hierarchies, it is hoped that further cohorts will follow – there is already talk of a second intake in 2023. The work will form an essential part of enhancing medical leadership as the NHS recovers from the effects of the pandemic. “We know that medical leadership presents some unique challenges, but we also know that the time of the ‘heroic leader’ has passed – leadership is a ‘team sport’”, said Steve. “Leadership that makes teams feel valued and safe has a massive impact – and research tells us that ‘happy staff’ deliver safer care that is rated more highly by patients. In my view, this is exactly what Universities should be doing, especially our own institution with our strong emphasis on being a ‘civic University’. There’s nothing more rewarding than working with health partners. It’s an exciting time”.

For further details, contact Steve Gulati in HSMC (s.gulati@bham.ac.uk)