Top manager programme
The Top Manager Programme (TMP) has a 30 year history of developing senior leaders. Heath and social care services are facing their greatest leadership challenges ever. The findings and recommendations of the Francis report, economic pressures, changing demographics, increasing public expectations and the complex interplay between the determinants of health and wellbeing, compel us to think and act differently.
TMP will enable you to develop the capabilities you need to face the challenges and opportunities ahead with courage, compassion and creativity.
Past participants talk about the Top Manager Programme
Who is it for?
This programme is for senior people in public sector organisations. You won't necessarily be a director, but you'll definitely be aspiring to a director role, moving up from deputy director to director level or above or moving from a clinical to a managerial role. We actively encourage participants from across the public and voluntary sector in our desire to create a lasting community capable of delivering change.
Benefits of this leadership development programme
The learning on TMP is multi-layered: you learn a lot about yourself and how others see you; you explore experientially the dynamics arising within organisations and across systems, as well as considering the implications and application of national policy.
There is a focus on developing the political and emotional intelligence needed to succeed when stepping up to more senior roles in an increasingly demanding environment. The external context is held in mind throughout; the programme provides you with access to key players working in the forefront of public sector policy. It also provides access to people and services leading the way in thinking differently about the provision of health and social care.
Developing resilience is a key thread; increasing your own and working to create cultures that will sustain and nurture those working in and served by your organisations.
The programme is not about gaining basic technical skills – we assume that, as senior leaders, you already have these skills.
What will you do on this programme?
Drawing on group relations theory, group work provides the core learning approach in TMP. The TMP community creates a temporary organisation for the duration of the programme and thus a live scenario in which to practice, experiment, study and learn. Through your active participation in the different groups of TMP you will develop your self awareness and explore how you relate to others and them to you; how to take up and use your authority with integrity and authenticity and what happens between groups and across systems. Issues of power, authority, conflict, difference, change and transition are examined in depth.
In addition to the group work you will participate in experiential workshops, visit other organisations, debate ideas with guest speakers and apply your learning to the changes you want to create in your workplace.
The learning continues beyond the life of the programme. There is an alumni event each year and many TMP alumni remain in contact with fellow participants throughout their careers and life; calling on each other for ideas, support and challenge.