Eighteen health professionals have won a place on a pioneering new leadership programme, GenerationQ, to develop a new generation of skilled leaders for quality improvement in healthcare.
The Health Foundation’s new leadership programme GenerationQ, aims to embed a new culture of quality improvement in healthcare by identifying evidence and ideas for providers and commissioners of leadership development.
Paul Smeeton, Director of Business Development and Marketing with Nottinghamshire Healthcare is one of those selected.
Paul joined the NHS in 1986 working in Information Services. In 2003 he won an IM&T leadership award for his work at Nottinghamshire Healthcare. He has always contributed to the wider development of the organisations he has worked in, beyond his specialist role of informatics. In May 2008 was appointed as Director of Business Development and Marketing at Nottinghamshire Healthcare, where he has worked since 2002. Paul undertook an MBA in 1996 and the King’s Fund Senior Management Programme in 2000.
Mike Cooke is Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare: “I am delighted for Paul that he has been selected for such a unique opportunity to broaden his leadership skills and to bring all that he learns back into the organisation. Nottinghamshire Healthcare is proud of its leadership development – strong leaders mean a strong organisation. We look forward to reaping the returns on this investment.”
The 17 other participants are all from diverse healthcare settings and represent all four countries of the UK. They are from varied backgrounds such as the National Health Service, patient organisations and the health policy field and are all senior leaders in their organisations.
Abigail Masterson and Pippa Gough, Assistant Directors, the Health Foundation, said, ‘We want to congratulate the 18 very committed participants that have been selected for this programme. Through a unique and challenging programme of leadership and improvement skills development, they will be able to enhance their organisation's capability for quality improvement. A key feature of the programme will be how to share effectively the learning with colleagues – we aim to help foster a culture in healthcare where quality is at the top of everyone’s agenda.'
The right leadership is critical to the transformation of health services. By simultaneously developing leadership potential while improving the quality of care provided, the Health Foundation is developing leaders who can enhance their organisations’ capacity and capability for quality improvement.
GenerationQ is being run by a partnership between Ashridge Consulting and Unipart Expert Practices, and will create skilled and effective leaders for quality improvement by providing interventions which are effective and grounded in leadership development and improvement science best practice.
The fully funded 18 month programme focuses on a unique combination of leadership development and improvement science in the context of the real day-to-day situations and challenges of the UK health system.
The award holder’s commitment to personal learning and development will involve an integrated set of activities including leadership forums, workshops and one to one coaching. They will also learn with a group of experienced peers in a highly supportive and challenging environment.
Janet Smallwood, Ashridge Consultant added: 'We’re delighted to be working with the Health Foundation and Unipart on this project and look forward to helping develop some tangible outcomes for the healthcare professionals as well as adding to leadership knowledge within the healthcare sector.'
For more information about GenerationQ and our leadership work visit www.health.org.uk
