Whole system leadership

This programme is designed for a group of 10–15 GPs and other professionals who have an interest in engaging with and leading change in their local health community.

Although we place GPs at the centre, we will use a specific issue or pathway redesign to draw other key players from the local health community into the programme. For example, you may want to work with a pathway related to urgent care and invite acute care consultants in development of the pathway solution.

Working in the current NHS environment of rapid change will require new skills and ways of working across organisational and professional boundaries. This programme will explore skills and behaviours necessary to effectively navigate and lead others through this change. We will go beyond simulation in the classroom and apply the learning directly into the real local context of either pathway redesign or issue resolution.

This programme will support you to:

• align, mobilise and set the direction for multiple stakeholders across health and social care services
• interpret the data from clinical, organisational and financial perspectives in order to understand the available options and how to reach a decision
• learn through experience the challenge of balancing clinical, corporate and financial risks
• learn to build common ground by developing effective influencing techniques
• negotiate in the face of uncertainty within and between organisations
• build sustainable relationships.

You will learn through:

• a supportive environment that encourages engagement and collaboration
• utilising evidence from best practice
• opportunities to be part of a learning community
• action learning groups that translate classroom learning into workplace action
• receiving robust and quality feedback about your personal leadership style, its impact on others and the systems you work in.

We provide participants with a safe and challenging environment in which to tackle local issues and develop the efficiency and effectiveness of existing pathways.

The programme is designed around three two-day modules with action learning days after each module.

Before the modules begin, we will have a one hour phone interview with each participant to communicate the objectives of the programme and to explore their learning needs and expectations.

Module 1 – Leadership development

The first module will focus on the skills, behaviours and knowledge needed to influence and navigate through the complex health and social care system.

Module 2 – Identifying change to the system

The second module will introduce other key players from the local health community who are involved with or affected by the implementation of the new pathway or solution. Together with facilitation and coaching, participants will practice negotiating, presentation and influencing skills and behaviours.

Module 3 – Developing and implementing change to the system

The final module will build on the second by continuing the practical work needed to implement the new pathway or solution. Specific areas to be covered include: managing difficult conversations; aligning, mobilising and direction setting; holding to account and understanding oversight.

Action learning sets will be held after each of the modules to enable time to explore areas of personal development and further discuss the challenges of leading through a change project.

Alasdair Honeyman

Alasdair trained as a GP and for the past 10 years has been developing expertise in conflict management and consensus building. His focus is on whole system interventions and the challenges of aligning, mobilising and direction setting for those who take positions of authority.

For further details about the programme, please contact Louisa Coulthurst, Programme Co-ordinator, by calling 020 7307 2650 or emailing l.coulthurst@kingsfund.org.uk

One of our faculty will be pleased to contact you to discuss your local context, timelines and specific needs.