Leading lights

The briefing includes a case study of Leader for Change, Dr Makani Hemadri

This briefing describes how The Health Foundation is improving the quality of care for patients through leadership development schemes for individuals and teams.

Background 

Good leadership is recognised as being central to the delivery of effective healthcare. Yet surprisingly little has been done in the NHS to develop effective approaches for the leaders of tomorrow.

Through a range of schemes that combine personal and professional development, The Health Foundation is evaluating the most effective ways to invest in leadership development that focuses on quality improvement.

Leading lights explains the Health Foundation’s approach to leadership development and the tools and techniques involved in the schemes. It outlines leadership schemes for teams and individuals. It includes case studies with a summary of each scheme, and it concludes with key lessons learned.

Leadership schemes for individuals

• Harkness/Health Foundation Fellowships (for practitioners from managerial and clinical backgrounds). A case study looks at developing chronic disease management policy.
• Clinician Scientist Fellowships (funding for talented clinical researchers to pursue academic research alongside clinical practice). A case study covers research to treat age-related blindness.
• Leaders for Change (equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge to lead change and achieve strong improvements in patient care). A case study involves cutting waiting times by introducing a ‘one-stop shop’ for short-stay patients.
• Health Foundation Leadership Fellows (for individuals with the potential to make an outstanding contribution to improving quality of care). A case study looks at how a GP is leading practice-based commissioning in her area.
• Quality Improvement Fellowships (for clinically qualified senior professionals). A case study looks at how to give nurses more time to care for patients directly.

Leadership schemes for teams

• Shared Leadership for Change (to improve multidisciplinary team care for people with diabetes)
• Shared Leadership for Change (to improve the quality of care for people from black and minority ethnic groups)
• The Safer Patients and Engaging with Quality initiatives

Leading lights will be of interest to those concerned with investing in leadership development at all levels of the NHS.

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