University helps hone future NHS leaders

LEEDS University is working with the NHS across England to help hone potential chief executives and are asking regional businesses to help develop the talents of the next generation of leaders.

The University is providing a new Leadership Programme for NHS directors whose careers could reach chief executive level within a five-year period.

The aim of the programme is to give those candidates who have had pure NHS careers exposure to roles in other sectors which will challenge the existing culture they work in.

The University is looking for companies who are willing to work with the scheme to provide placements.

The placement can be anything from several days shadowing a senior leader/CEO/ or chair learning how they do their jobs, to working within a team on a task over a two week period.

Ideally the NHS directors need exposure to a number of areas including experience within a ‘can-do’ culture where people take responsibility for their actions and are used to making decision on ‘good enough’ information.

The placements should also give the candidates access to areas including business acumen and strategy – working in a climate of learning and development.

Director at the Centre of Innovation in Health Management Becky Malby says that by helping with the scheme companies are supporting the University and it would be a good way of “giving something back”.

She said: “The NHS can become very parochial and as such people can became very used to doing things a certain way. Most of these people have spent their whole lives in the NHS and it would be beneficial for candidates to get some sense of how other organisations do business.”

The programme is looking to place candidates in organisations between April-October 2009.

For more information about the scheme and how to get involved contact Becky Malby, director at the Centre of Innovation in Health Management at Leeds University on 0113 3436321.