The NHS Next Stage Review (2008) reiterated the importance of developing clinical leadership to improve quality and cost effectiveness of health care delivery. Leadership in healthcare requires more than technical mastery of specialist professional skills. It requires people with a strategic approach to operating within a complex system, to inspire, support and teach others; and to lead teams. The module will introduce health professionals to major leadership theories, encourage students to reflect on and develop their own leadership style, apply change management skills understand the broader context of healthcare in the UK. The module will enable students to develop in the three domains of the NHS Leadership Qualities Framework: Students will bring their experience of working, and leading, within healthcare roles to the module and learn to place their experience in the context of leadership theory.

The module aims are to:

• enable students to critically evaluate major leadership theories.
• enable students to reflect on the relationship between leadership and management.
• enable students to understand the role of strategic leadership in improving quality and cost effectiveness.
• encourage students to apply leadership theory to day to healthcare practice.
• equip students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to develop leadership behaviours in current roles and prepare for future leadership roles.
• encourage students to reflect on their leadership style and experience within the context of their role and organisation and to develop self-knowledge.

Available as a standalone module: Yes

Attendance (Please note, this is subject to change for future intakes)

Dates: For attendance information, please see the top of this page and click on ‘attendance dates’. Please note, if the module is full or closed for the intake(s) this academic year, dates may not appear. 

Venue: LSBU Southwark Campus

Typical intake(s): Semester 1

Entry requirements

• Successful applicants will normally hold at least a second class Honours degree in a health related subject and a health related professional qualification.
• Experience in a leadership role or experience of leading a team is desirable.
• Student support for studying at Masters level should be discussed with the module leader. Students who have not previously undertaken study at academic Level 7 (Masters level) are advised to consider the workshops provided at the Library at LSBU.

Career benefits

The module will enhance employability by developing students’ capacity to plan and implement leadership strategies to achieve the goals of the ‘bigger picture’ in health care, thus preparing them for more senior roles.

Assessment

• 4000 word written assignment

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:       

• Critically review and analyse a range of theoretical frameworks for leadership
• Critically appraise theories of leadership in the context of health care.
• Critically appraise healthcare leadership models
• Review and evaluate the role of leadership in improving quality and cost effectiveness
• Critically review context of own organisational setting

Intellectual skills:

• Develop and enhance critical and analytical thinking
• Critically analyse, synthesise and apply complex ideas
• Analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant research and policy literature

Practical Skills:

• Develop skills in problem identification, goal setting, and horizon scanning
• Enhance self-awareness
• Align strategic to local and national policy and regulatory frameworks
• Develop a ‘toolkit’ of leadership behaviours that may be used reflexively to achieve strategic leadership objectives 

Transferable skills:

• Critical and analytical thinking through research, class discussion and assignment preparation
• Reflective understanding of own leadership role within the context of current position and organisation
• Application of a broad range of leadership behaviours