What were they looking for?
NHS Lothian, in collaboration with West Lothian Council, wanted a framework for recognising and validating management skills across the health and social care sector. Their preference was for a partnership approach involving both a local and a national provider.
What did they require from us?
A groundbreaking Health and Social Care Management Programme developed in close consultation with NHS Lothian and West Lothian Council.
How did we address their requirements?
Based around master classes, we created a pilot programme which offered diploma-level qualifications accessible by distance learning, with interactive workshops or online interaction. Common themes in the master classes included communication, leadership, managing diversity, motivation, change management and conflict resolution.
Learning outcomes
Structured evaluation of the programme discovered that students felt they’d gained a whole range of useful skills. These included:
- Methods for involving staff in planning and service delivery
- Case discussions focusing on workplace issues
- Desire to read more about management
- Ability to play the management game
- Academic knowledge of management theory
- Opportunities to apply learning
- Networking/learning support
- Consolidating ideas
- Attention to detail
- Seeing everyone pulling together and experiencing the same issues
- Sharing strengths and weaknesses/building trust
- Techniques for 'unblocking' problems.
Line managers, on the other hand, could see their staff's confidence had grown, that they had a greater belief in their abilities, were better able to plan actions, were more reflective and open, and had a better view of the 'bigger picture'.
"This innovative development programme is our means and ultimately effective patient care is the end."
David A. Lee, Associate Director for Workforce and Organisational Development, NHS Lothian
"The Health and Care Management programme has shown that it can support our managers in having a real influence on the future shape of our care services."
David Kelly, Director of West Lothian