Learning to lead the way

Learning through doing is one thing, but it’s not the whole picture. We aim to complement work-based learning experience by commissioning a range of academic, professional and personal education and development inputs from some of the best providers in the country. The idea is to provide an integrated learning and development package that covers anything you need to become an influential leader.

See the scheme structure for more information.

Foundation programme – Multi-disciplinary

An 11-day programme, designed to promote cross-specialism working and ensure you gain an all-round knowledge and management skills for the future. Everyone gets taster days in finance and finance in the NHS, HR and HR in the NHS, management and leadership, and informatics.

Specialism Learning and Qualifications

Finance – trainees follow either CIMA or CIPFA which is provided locally across the country through block and day release, over 30 months.

HR – trainees study for a post-graduate diploma in HR management, including graduate membership of CIPD through block release over two years, provided by Middlesex University.

Informatics – trainees study for a post graduate diploma in health informatics.

General Management – over two years trainees study for a postgraduate diploma in health and public leadership through block release. The training is provided through a partnership between the Manchester Business School and the Health Services Management Centre of the University of Birmingham.

Action learning

The cross-specialism action learning sets are a key component of the scheme and create structured opportunities for trainees to make the connection between theory and practice within a dynamic forum.

The learning sets enable the development of key skills, including enquiry, analysis, problem-solving, multi-disciplinary working, effective communication, self-reflection and feedback leading to the application of learning within the work environment.

Experiential Learning

The experiential learning component, provided by The King’s Fund, ensures trainees ‘know how to learn’ and prepares them for a career with continuous learning at its heart.

Trainees undertake days on service improvement and transformation, change management, social enterprise, commissioning, strategy and communications skills. Then, following completion of the scheme you will have continual career support throughout years 3 and 4.

Learning Account

On achieving your first post after the scheme, you’ll have access to a learning account that you can use to support your professional and personal development, plus maintain contact with the scheme as alumni. Available for two years for HR, health informatics and general management, and 18 months for finance, you can access the account after agreeing your development needs with your employer and evidencing the opportunity as part of your personal development plan.

Overseas Bursary

Once settled into your career, you can bid for funds to enable an overseas study trip that will enhance your professional and personal development and benefit the NHS. The bursary is managed and awarded by the local steering group and is open to all alumni.

Alumni

We value all alumni as key stakeholders, so make sure to keep in touch through Crosscurrent, our NHS leadership and scheme magazine. We also track people’s careers to monitor how the scheme contributes to NHS leadership, plus we provide networking and development opportunities. And because we recognise that our alumni have a valuable insight into our graduate scheme, we involve them in shaping the future of the scheme and recruit them as assessors or placement and programme managers to share their expertise.