This course will enable the student to understand the multi-faceted nature of leadership. It will encourage the practitioner to recognise their approach to leadership, how leadership us undertaken within their work setting and the multiple factors that shape prevailing leadership styles and the impact of this on colleagues, team working and for clients. Within the course, particular attention will be given to the practitioner as leadership within contemporary organisations. This course will equip the practitioner to recognise and develop their leadership potential so that they can develop new insights, new ways of working and promote change and sustained development within their work setting.

Students will be given the opportunity to attend lectures, discuss, debate and work in groups to present a series of seminars which address:

The Changing Context of Work: 

From hierarchy to new patterns of leadership and responsibility, to include: the changing nature of work; post modern thought; policy change and decentralisation of power and responsibilities; tribes and clans; patterns of working and organisations. 

Theories and Leadership:

Discussion of the distinction between leadership and management; how leadership is experienced within health and social care; the influences of gender, class, race and organisational power in the development of leadership; power and conflict.

Working as a Leader:

The leader as practitioner, team member; understanding personal leadership styles; ethical demands and issues facing the practitioner as leader; supervision and governance; management of stress, releasing talent; working smarter: emotional intelligence, transactional.

Coursework and an assignment (5000 words excluding appendencies and references).