Places are limited to a maximum of 24 for the whole of NHS Wales. From the volume of interest received, we anticipate that the Programme will be heavily oversubscribed. We therefore recommend that applicants and manager/directora discuss is the application at an early stage, prior to applying. It is important that the feasibility of creating time to attend the Programme modules and to apply your learning in the workplace is considered jointly.
Information for Organisations
This is a high quality, high impact and intensive development programme to nurture our national clinical talent. By investing in individuals, we are creating a pipeline of motivated, inspiring and compassionate senior clinical leaders strengthening organisational capability.
Whilst the Programme is delivered and funded on a national basis by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), it is imperative that organisations are active contributors to support learning. Places are limited to a maximum of 24 per cohort, we therefor recommend that applicants discuss their intention to apply at an early stage. Local commitments will include:
- Study leave & travel expenses.
- Support to deliver an assignment focused on Compassionate Leadership aligned to organisational objectives. This need not be an additional piece of work but form part of the participant’s current objectives.
- Opportunities and support to bring learning back to the workplace. Participants will be in the process of crafting their leadership skills and will require support putting their learning into practice.
- Executive Mentorship. To enhance the learning from the Programme each participant will be required to identify a mentor at executive level, (this may or may not be their professional executive.) There will be an expectation that the participant will meet formally with their mentor at least 3 times during the course of the Programme. The executive mentor will also be expected to arrange/support local development opportunities for Programme participants e.g. shadowing key senior staff, access to strategic meetings etc. in line with the participant’s development objectives.
- Opportunities for Programme participants to demonstrate their ability to support/empower others by sharing their learning others e.g. mentoring activity, creating learning opportunities/materials etc.
Information for Applicants
This Programme will allow you to build bonds with likeminded, influential leaders through a national support network that lasts beyond the Programme duration. The programme will support you by building your confidence, competence and knowledge, enabling you to lead compassionately and to contribute effectively to strategic decision-making in your current or next role. The Programme will have a multi-professional cohort comprising of senior clinicians drawn from across NHS Wales.
This demanding and rewarding Programme is designed to offer stretch and challenge through a comprehensive range of learning activities. Cohort members will be encouraged to provide each other with support and challenge as they progress through the Programme.
Learning activities will include:
- Workshops – learn directly from innovative contributors delivering cutting edge theory and evidence and explore key leadership themes through speakers, group work and discussion
- Action Learning Sets – critically explore your learning and work-based application. Craft your leadership skills by working on real issues, in a safe environment, learning from and with each other
- Leadership Diagnostics/Psychometrics – improve your personal impact through deeper understanding of your strengths, development areas and how you may be perceived by others
- Residential Learning Community – utilising green space to explore and develop team-working skills that are critical for the NHS.
- The opportunity to undertake Improvement, Strategic or Transformation Project -supported by Quality Improvement techniques.
- Mentorship by Executive Director – receive senior support, expand your viewpoint and consider different ways of approaching situations
- Networking– enhance your professional network with colleagues from across NHS Wales by building a powerful and inspirational national network of leaders
- Mentorship Practice - create opportunities to share your learning and demonstrate your ability to support/empower others
- Gwella Online Platform – explore a wealth of leadership tools and resources including articles, podcasts, videos, discussion boards etc.
- Optional academic qualification – opportunity to enhance your academic qualifications
Whilst the Programme is delivered and funded on a national basis by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), your organisation will need to confirm that they are able to support the local commitments involved. It is therefore essential that your manager and organisation are aware of, and can support, the commitments involved. HEIW will therefore share details of your application with your organisation.
Time Commitment
This intensive Programme requires a commitment of 15 days over a 10-month period. This includes attendance at a 3-day fully residential learning community.
You will need to schedule further time to undertake other activities e.g. completion of leadership diagnostics, accessing additional reading/leadership related materials, mentoring. Academic accreditation (optional) will also require additional study time.
