Health Foundation selects the next generation of leaders to improve the quality of healthcare

Eighteen senior healthcare professionals have been selected to join the Health Foundation’s GenerationQ programme, a pioneering leadership programme to improve the quality of healthcare.

The purpose of GenerationQ is to create effective healthcare leaders for the future who understand how complex health systems work and can inspire others to transform healthcare quality. The programme helps fellows develop the necessary personal skills and strategies to confront and deal with the main challenges facing healthcare leaders in the modern NHS.

Penny Pereira, Assistant Director at the Health Foundation said, ‘GenerationQ will develop leaders that can tackle structural and financial challenges, recognise and use the current uncertainties in the NHS as a source for innovation, lead others in change when resources are being cut and people are feeling under pressure and make informed choices that help to improve quality.’

She continued, ‘The programme will enable these leaders to understand how they can maintain a focus on quality improvement, as in these difficult times it is more important than ever to have GenerationQ, so that quality improvement will always remain a priority.’

The 18 fellows are all senior leaders in their organisations from diverse healthcare settings and backgrounds and are based all across the UK. Their diverse healthcare backgrounds will allow the fellows to create a stimulating and supportive learning environment where they have the opportunity to work closely with, and learn from their multidisciplinary group of peers.

The fully funded 18 month programme focuses on a combination of leadership development and improvement science, where the fellows  will take part in an integrated set of activities including forums, workshops and one to one coaching. The fellows will also work with the Health Foundation after the programme ends to promote healthcare improvement more widely and keep it high on the policy agenda.

GenerationQ is run by the Health Foundation in partnership with Ashridge Consulting and Unipart Expert Practices.

Janet Smallwood, Ashridge Consultant added: 'We’re delighted to be working with the Health Foundation and Unipart on this programme  and look forward to helping develop some tangible outcomes for the healthcare professionals as well as adding to leadership knowledge within the healthcare sector.'

The third round of GenerationQ fellows will be announced in June 2012. The GenerationQ programme was launched in 2010 specifically to develop leaders for the purpose of quality improvement and to be relevant to everyday practice in healthcare.

For more information about GenerationQ and the 18 fellows visit: www.health.org.uk/generationQ