Leadership programmes are designed to develop and enhance personal leadership skills. They generally aim to introduce participants to leadership styles and models and often encourage participants to explore and reflect on their strengths, communication, influence, strategic thinking, management approach and handling pressure.
There are many programmes to choose from, please see the selection which are relevant to AHPs.
There are free resources open to anyone with an NHS or academic email account. Once you set up your account you can access a wealth of training resources and the leadership modules.
For more information: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/academy-programmes/nihr-leaders-support-and-development-programme#three
The NIHR academy also run some face to face and led programmes for emerging and programmes for future focus leadership.
For more information: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/academy-programmes/nihr-leaders-support-and-development-programme#three
The NHS Leadership Academy is open to NHS employees in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and those associated with the NHS and its patients. You can check your eligibility here: https://verify.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/eligibility
These courses are free.
The Edward Jenner Leadership Programme is your first port of call if you’re looking to build a strong foundation of leadership skills that can help enhance your confidence and competence in your role. The programme has been designed to offer flexibility as a suite of online short courses. This programme is designed for anyone aspiring to their first leadership or management role within the health and care sector within the next 1-2 years.
To enrol go to https://www.futurelearn.com/ and register, then search for the Edward Jenner Programme.
There are more advanced leadership programmes available for mid-level and senior management, working cross disciplines and internationally, these courses can be found here: https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/programmes/
You can apply here:
https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/programmes/the-ready-now-programme/apply/
CoDH student leadership fellowship scheme
Open to underrepresented or minoritised groups, being an AHPs is included in this definition. Applications are open each year, the fellowships aim to promote career development. As a CoDH fellow you will receive career development, a mentor, leadership training, access to the CoDH senior management team and CoDH resources.
The Council of Deans for Health offer a Fellowship Scheme for students who are enthusiastic about progressing their careers in academia and research, the scheme is focused on academics that are currently underrepresented within their membership. Membership organisations are Higher Education Institutions, to assess your eligibility look here: https://www.councilofdeans.org.uk/about/full-list-of-members/
For more information about the leadership programmes and fellows of the programme look here: https://www.councilofdeans.org.uk/membership/leadership/fellowships/
Depending on which of the four UK nations you work in, each NHS provider may have specific leadership programmes. Examples are below:
In Scotland:
https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/18217/leadership-and-management-programmes
In Northern Ireland:
In Wales:
https://nhswalesleadershipportal.heiw.wales/nhs-grad-programme-about-the-programme
Lots of the AHP professional bodies run leadership programmes. In most cases you have to be a member of the professional body to access them.
https://www.rcslt.org/learning/leadership-resources/
