Organisational culture

Our work on NHS culture, compassionate and collective leadership and change management

Transformational change in health and care: reports from the field

We interviewed 42 people who were involved in leading, supporting, delivering, receiving or witnessing transformational change. Our report shares their experiences and reflections.

Leadership development courses: Programmes to support you at all stages of your leadership journey

Our leadership development courses support leaders in health and care.

Caring to change: how compassionate leadership can stimulate innovation in health care

This paper looks at compassion as a core cultural value of the NHS and how compassionate leadership results in a working environment that encourages people to find new and improved ways of doing things.

Organisational development: helping your organisation be fit for purpose, fit for the future

Unlike other consulting approaches, OD at The King’s Fund starts from the premise that the experts in addressing these issues are the people who face them every day.

Wigan Deal report

A citizen-led approach to health and care: Lessons from the Wigan Deal

In 2011, Wigan Council had to make unprecedented savings after significant cuts in funding from central government. Drastic measures were needed, including a radical reshaping of the relationship between the council and residents. This became known as the Wigan Deal.

Wigan film image

Rekindling hope in public services

Ahead of the publication of our report on the Wigan Deal, Chris Naylor explores how devolving power to frontline staff and service users can create the positive culture needed for improvement.

Life in the shadow of the snowy white peaks: race inequalities in the NHS workforce

What is it really like to work in the NHS as a black, Asian or minority ethnic member of staff? Shilpa Ross explores some early findings from The King’s Fund’s research into race inequalities in the health service.

To the moon and back: Don Berwick on politics, leadership and NASA

To the moon and back: Don Berwick on politics, leadership and learning from NASA

Guest host Anna Charles sits down with Professor Don Berwick, President Emeritus at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to explore his career, the relationship between politics and health, and how to create joy in work.

Leading breakthrough conversations: an introduction

The NHS crisis of caring for staff: what do we need to do?

With high levels of staff turnover, sickness absence and presenteeism prevalent in the NHS, we need to significantly improve the working environments for staff. But how? Michael West reflects on the NHS staff survey and outlines the three core needs that must be met in the workplace.

Race equality in the NHS workforce

Race equality in the NHS workforce

What can be done about race inequality in the NHS workforce? How can we ensure representative leadership happens? Helen McKenna talks with Yvonne Coghill, Dionne Daniel and Ben Morrin.

Compassion: your greatest leadership contribution?

The NHS long-term plan highlights that compassion and inclusive leadership are essential for allowing staff to perform their best. Suzie Bailey considers how to overcome divisive top-down leadership and encourage cultural change.

Lessons from the Wigan Deal

The Wigan Deal is a social contract between the council and the community. This project will examine how and why the Deal was developed, how it has been put into practice, and what others might learn from it.

From nasty to nice and back again: seven tips for encouraging cognitive diversity

Susie Perks-Baker and Ben Fuchs explore the challenge facing both 'nasty' and 'nice' cultures: failing to work constructively with conflict.

Working beneath the surface: supporting leadership in complex times

As a newly-appointed co-director of our Top Manager Programme for senior leaders in health and social care, Mandip Randhawa shares her insights into why this type of programme is increasingly necessary and relevant in today’s context.

Donna Hall

Donna Hall: the Wigan story

The Wigan Deal is a social contract between the council and the community — a partnership between citizen and state. Chris Ham talks with Donna Hall, Chief Executive of Wigan Council, about what happened in Wigan.

Become a Cascading Leadership consultant

If you are an experienced senior leader currently working in the voluntary and community sector, with a wide range of leadership skills and experience, this could be for you.

Can generous leadership in the voluntary and community sector support NHS transformation?

Voluntary and community sector leaders are expert collaborators and part of a growing movement demonstrating their willingness to take on the challenge of transformation, says Lisa Weaks.

Become a Cascading Leadership partner

If you have leadership responsibility for a service that supports the health and wellbeing of your community, but would value some support, this could be for you.

Cascading Leadership: supporting peer-to-peer leadership development in the voluntary and community sector

Cascading Leadership provides an invaluable free opportunity for leaders working in health and care organisations within the voluntary and community sector to develop their leadership skills and receive practical support.

Talking leadership with Suzie Bailey

Suzie recently joined The King’s Fund as Director of Leadership and Organisational Development. We talk to her about the challenges facing leaders from across the health and care system.

Breaking the leadership mould

Suzie Bailey and Saffron Cordery from NHS Providers reflect on the findings of our joint report and the challenge of recruiting and retaining leadership roles.

Getting the right leadership in place

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith argues that getting the right leadership team in place – and keeping them there – is crucial for NHS trusts.

Leadership in today's NHS: infographics

These infographics illustrate some of the key statistics when it comes to leadership in today's NHS.

Staff engagement and wellbeing reading list

A selected list of references held by The King's Fund library.

Workforce and skills: Our work on staffing and training across the NHS, health and care