What is a leader?
Upon hearing the word “leader,” you might automatically think of someone who manages a team, or someone who makes big decisions.
Although the term can have different meanings for different people, the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) defines it as “the capacity to influence people, by means of personal attributes and/or behaviours, to achieve a common goal.”
Leadership in healthcare
Research and reviews have revealed the importance of good leadership in healthcare, linking it to patient mortality, quality of patient care and satisfaction, and improved staff wellbeing/morale.
Using the idea that all employees can be leaders at some level, healthcare organisations have been aiming to improve and invest in strong, effective leadership within the services they provide.
Leaders at all levels
All employees can show good leadership in their own way, from directors to middle managers or from first-line supervisors to front-line staff.
You could be a leader for example by raising concerns about staffing levels, by acting as a role model, or by suggesting ideas on how to improve patient care.
https://www.rcn.org.uk/Professional-Development/Your-career/Nurse/Leadership-skills
RCN resources
See the Nursing Careers Resource for information on career pathways in leadership (and other roles), including entry requirements, useful skills, case studies, videos, and more.
It’s free to join the RCN’s Nurses in Management and Leadership forum. As well as having useful leadership resources, you could help shape the future of nurse leaders or share, discuss, connect or learn with your peers in the forum’s dedicated private Facebook group.
Discover key leadership information and resources including books, reports, and journal articles with the RCN library’s leadership subject guide. You can also browse journals for leadership studies or articles or enquire about loaning books and eBooks about leadership in healthcare.
NHS Leadership model self-assessment tool
The Healthcare Leadership Model Self-Assessment Tool is designed to help people understand their leadership behaviours and to highlight areas of strength and areas for development.
NHS Leadership Academy learning hub and courses
NHS leadership Academy has produced free, engaging “bitesize courses,” on their Learning Hub, such as authentic leadership, motivation, compassionate leadership in crisis, and how to work with emotions and care for your team.
The Learning Hub also features an “inspiration library,” podcasts, blogs and videos, and “learning spaces,” hosting learning content for campaigns and initiatives specially designed for health care leaders and managers to connect, share and learn together.
NHS Leadership programmes
The NHS has various leadership programmes, designed to help everyone in the NHS discover their full leadership potential.
• The NHS Edward Jenner programme is a free eLearning resource open to all, aiming to support you to develop essential leadership skills. The programme is delivered online so you can complete it in your own time, at your own pace. It’s suited to those looking to take their first steps into leadership or wanting to find out more about leadership skills.
• The Mary Seacole programme is aimed at those in their first leadership role, and it is possible to get employer funding, or self-fund.
• The Elizabeth Garrett programme is aimed at middle to senior leaders. There are bursaries available for BAME, disabled and LGBTQ+ applicants.
The NHS Healthcare Leadership model
In the NHS, the healthcare leadership model is made up of nine different leadership dimensions, which can help you explore the ways in which you might already be acting as a leader, or inspire you to develop and grow your leadership skills. Here are some examples from the model that may resonate with you, or inspire you further:
Good leadership means better care
https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/guidance/good-leadership-means-better-care/