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This is a non-exhaustive directory of support offers (including training, networks and other resources) for executive and non-executive board directors.
There is repetition in this list as some offers are applicable to more than one staff group.
Offers are from within the NHS and other organisations supporting the NHS.
Board director support offers
Offers applicable to all board roles
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Collaborating Well Podcasts and Webinars
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- Resources about and sharing learning on integrated care system development.
- Series of podcasts and webinars – topics include clinical leadership, complex needs, inequalities.
Link: Collaborate well – podcast playlist
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Foundations in System Leadership; collaborating for health and care
Audience: Available to all board members
Description: Open to all colleagues working in health, care, local authorities and voluntary sector partnerships, who have a desire to improve the way they collaborate across organisational, professional and hierarchical boundaries to design and deliver better health outcomes for the communities they serve.
Link: Foundations in System Leadership; collaborating for health and care – Leadership Academy
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: National onboarding resources for senior leaders
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- Resources designed to support senior leaders working in any part of the system or the partnership delivery structures in developing your leadership in a complex and changing landscape.
- Designed to complement local organisational induction to support senior and aspiring senior leaders in delivering safe high quality care, great patient experience and improving population health.
Link: NHS Senior Leadership Onboarding and Support – NHS Senior Leadership Onboarding and Support
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Inspiration Library
Audience: Available to all board members
Description: Short snippets of learning ranging from videos, podcasts, blogs, links to Ted Talks and much more
Link: Inspiration Library – Leadership Academy
Provider: Healthcare Financial Management Association
Programme title: Healthcare Financial Management
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- Healthcare Financial Management Association provides an assortment of resources and learning including bitesize sessions.
- Support for roles working in NHS finance at board level.
Link: Career development | HFMA
Provider: Independent network
Programme title: Disabled NHS Directors Network
Audience: Open to new directors who meet the criteria
Description:
- Designed for executives and non-executives providing mentoring and coaching support to strengthen collective impact and voice of disabled leaders’ network.
- Toolkit commissioned for recruitment and retention of disabled non-executive directors for boards.
Link: Disabled NHS Directors Network
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Digital Boards
Audience: Available to all board members and senior leaders
Description: Aims to increase the confidence and capability of NHS boards and senior leaders to harness digital to transform and enable improvement, productivity and innovation
Link: Programme overview – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Provider collaboratives: improving equitably
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- A programme of peer learning for senior leaders on how provider collaboratives can develop shared improvement approaches with an equity lens embedded from the outset
- A range of events and resources are available online.
Link: Provider collaboratives: Improving equitably – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Trust-wide improvement programmes
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- Helps senior leaders at NHS trusts to develop their understanding of improvement at scale; both organisation-wide and beyond the boundaries of a single provider.
- A range of events and resources are available online.
Link: Trust-wide Improvement programme – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Provider Collaboration
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- Aims to support members to maximise the potential of greater provider collaboration to tackle care backlogs, reduce unwarranted variation, address health inequalities and deliver more efficient, sustainable services.
- A range of events and resources are available online.
Link: Provider Collaboration – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Health Inequalities
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- The Health Inequalities programme aims to support trusts to make sense of health inequalities and embed it as a part of core business.
- A range of events and resources are available online.
Link: Health inequalities – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Race Equality
Audience: Available to all board members
Description:
- The Race Equality programme aims to support boards to effectively identify and challenge structural race inequality as a core part of the board’s business.
- A range of events and resources are available online.
Link: Race Equality – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: NHS Finance for Senior Leaders
Audience: Executive and non-executive board members (non-financially qualified), senior executives and managers
Description: This course provides a comprehensive overview of NHS finances to enable board members and senior managers to understand good financial reporting and what to look for, along with how to ‘join up the dots’ between monthly financial reports, the integrated performance report, and the annual accounts.
Link: Board development course dates – NHS Providers Next programme date on website.
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Effective report writing
Audience: Those tasked with preparing and/or writing board and committee reports including executive directors, associate directors
Description: This practical training explores how you can improve the quality of your reports and the discussion and decision making that occurs at meetings.
Link: Board development course dates – NHS Providers Next programme date on website.
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Risk management for boards
Audience: Available to all board members (as recipients of risk reports), executive risk leads, those tasked with preparing board assurance frameworks and risk register reports for boards and committees
Description: This training provides a practical view of what board members and board stakeholders need to know about risk management to help demystify risk; ensure that risks are captured and articulated appropriately; and demonstrate that risk reporting should focus on the management of risk as opposed to the risk itself.
Link: Board development course dates – NHS Providers Next programme date on website.
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Effective challenge for boards
Audience: Available to all board members and senior executives
Description: This practical course aims to develop skills of effective, constructive challenge and holding to account through clarifying the role and responsibilities of the unitary board along with the opportunity to explore different approaches to questioning.
Link: Board development course dates – NHS Providers Next programme date on website.
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Effective chairing of meetings
Audience: Available to all board members, senior executives and managers
Description: This practical training is designed to develop the chairing skills of board members, senior executives and managers who chair board or committee meetings within NHS trusts and foundation trusts.
Link: Board development course dates – NHS Providers Next programme date on website.
Provider: Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Programme title: n/a
Audience: Available to all with an interest in sustainable practice
Description: Online resource library, networks, events and programmes.
Link: Sustainable Healthcare
Provider: Seacole Group
Programme title: n/a
Audience: Available to BAME aspirant and/or in-post Non Executive Directors (NEDs) and chairs in the NHS
Description:
- A network for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnics NEDs in the NHS Health System.
- Resources, including:
- Becoming a NED
- Race equality
- Board diversity
Link: Seacole Group | Resources
Aspiring chief executives
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy in partnership with NHS Providers
Programme title: Aspiring Chief Executive Programme
Audience: Aspiring CEO’s who are 12 -24 months away from applying for their first CEO role
Description: Delivery of the programme will be through a combination of residential workshops, smaller praxis groups, applied work based learning and online learning through a virtual campus. We anticipate that the programme will run over a 9-month period, requiring a commitment of around a day per week
Link: Aspiring Chief Executive programme – Leadership Academy
Offers for CEOs and newly appointed CEOs
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Explore and Rethink through the CEO lens
Audience: Newly appointed CEOs
Description:
Resources to support the first 100 days in role. Three modules:
- Transitioning into role
- Systems leadership
- Leading an effective executive team
Link: Create account and log in via Newly appointed CEO support – Leadership Academy
Provider: NHS Confederation
Programme title: First time Chief Executives programme
Audience: First time CEOs
Description:
- Peer support and development for first time CEOs.
- Bi-monthly meetings with national leaders from across the system
Link: First-Time Chief Executives Programme | NHS Confederation
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy (with links to other providers too)
Programme title: Transition coaching
Audience: New CEO
Description: Access and support to a dedicated transition coach, to welcome to the network and to help progress personal learning agenda and shape network events.
Link: Resource Coaching and Mentoring – NHS Senior Leadership Onboarding and Support
Register for a transition coach at ceo@leadershipacademy.nhs.uk
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Collaborate Well Podcast
Audience: CEO
Description:
- Resources looking at and sharing learning about ICS development.
- Series of podcasts and webinars – topics include clinical leadership, complex needs, inequalities.
Link: Collaborate well – podcast playlist
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Mentoring offer
Audience: Available to all CEOs
Description: Experienced former NHS chairs and CEOs who offer mentoring services to current NHS chairs and CEOs
Link: Please contact nhs.imas@nhs.net
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Network
Audience: Chairs and CEOs of NHS trusts and foundation trusts
Description: One of 12 networks run by NHS Providers for members. The events are specifically designed to help members get the information, guidance and inspiration they need.
Link: Networks home page Member networks – NHS Providers
Provider: Government Skills and Leadership College for Government
Programme title: n/a
Audience: Typical eligibility: CEOs and Deputy CEOs in the NHS, including NHS Trusts, Ambulance Trusts and Integrated Care Systems
Description:
A selection of events, courses and programmes designed to help leaders:
- enhance their practical, evidence-based knowledge and expertise around facing complex systems challenges
- build strong networks between peers and break down silos between the Civil Service and wider public sector
- inspire and encourage measurable improvements in public service delivery.
Link: CEO and deputy CEO-level development – GOV.UK
Offers for chairs and new in post chairs
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Induction programmes
Audience: New chairs
Description: Part of the NHS Providers board development suite of offers.
Link: Chair Induction Programme (NHS Providers) Dates published on the website.
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Aspirant Chair Talent Programme
Audience: Current NEDs in an NHS provider organisation aspiring to a chair role
Description:
- A programme for current non-executive directors planning to step into chair roles in the next 12-18 months.
- Aims to support a strong, diverse pipeline of candidates for chairs on NHS provider Boards.
Link: Aspiring Chair Talent Programme – Leadership Academy
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Collaborate Well Podcast
Audience: Available to all board roles including chairs
Description:
- Resources looking at and sharing learning about ICS development.
- Series of podcasts and webinars – topics include clinical leadership, complex needs, inequalities.
Link: Collaborate well – podcast playlist
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Mentoring offer
Audience: Available to all chairs
Description: Experienced former NHS chairs and CEOs who offer mentoring services to current NHS Chairs and CEOs.
Link: Please contact nhs.imas@nhs.net
Provider: Disabled NHS Directors Network
Programme title: Disabled NHS Directors Network
Audience: Available to all board roles including Chairs
Description:
- Designed for executives and non-executives providing mentoring and coaching support to strengthen collective impact and voice of disabled leader’s network.
- Toolkit commissioned for recruitment and retention of disabled NEDs for Boards.
Link: Disabled NHS Directors Network
Provider: Seacole Group
Programme title: Network for BAME NEDs and Chairs
Audience: Available to all BAME NEDs and chairs in the NHS
Description:
- Designed for aspiring/existing NEDs from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds.
- Associate membership is open to Non-Executive Directors from other backgrounds who are interested in learning about and supporting the objectives of the group
Link: Seacole Group | National Network for Black, Asian and Other ethnic NEDS and Chairs in the NHS
Offers for new directors of finance
Provider: One NHS Finance
Programme title: First Time Chief Finance Officers
Audience: NHS Chief Finance Officers/Finance Directors within NHS organisations who are less than 12 months into their first board level CFO appointment
Description: Designed to support and provide new leaders in first year in post with the knowledge and skills required to become high-performing directors.
Link: First time in post CFO programme
Provider: One NHS Finance
Programme title: The Mentorship Programme
Audience: Chief Finance Officer
Description:
- Open to anyone eager to enhance their skills, expand their network, and achieve their aspirations with the help of a trusted mentor
- This programme runs in partnership with HFMA as a complimentary service to all full HFMA members, including bands 2 to 6 members and individuals employed by organisations holding a minimum of ONF Level 1 accreditation. Colleagues within these accredited organisations can access free mentoring, regardless of their HFMA membership status
Link: The Mentoring Programme
Offers for deputy finance directors
Provider: One NHS Finance
Programme title: Accelerate! Deputies development programme
Audience: Deputy Finance Directors
Description: The programme involves two days of interactive, challenging, and thought-provoking sessions to help progression into senior finance positions and future leadership roles.
Link: Accelerate! Deputies development programme
Offers for aspiring directors
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Nye Bevan Programme
Audience: Aspiring Director
Description:
- Nye Bevan programme for aspiring leaders who demonstrate readiness for the next steps.
- Open to Aspiring Board members from all clinical and non-clinical roles.
- Register interest via the link.
Link: Nye Bevan Programme
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Executive Director Pathway
Audience: Aspiring Executive Director
Description: Programme for those demonstrating high potential and interest in executive director on NHS trust Board within the next 12–24 months.
Link: Executive Director Pathway
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Aspiring Directors
Audience: Aspiring Executive Director
Description: Programme for individuals who are looking to apply for their first executive director role in the next 1-2 years.
Link: Board development course dates – NHS Providers
Next cohort date: TBC
Offers for non-executive directors
Provider: NHS People and Culture Board level Development and Careers
Programme title: NExT Director programme
Audience: Aspiring Non-Executive Director
Description:
- 6-12 month programme giving insight into the role and responsibilities, bridge knowledge gaps, supporting better performance at future NED interviews.
- Scheme provides support to under-represented on trust boards with the skills and expertise to take the step into the NHS board room.
Link: NExT Programme
Provider: NHS Providers in partnership with NHS England
Programme title: Board Development Programme – Non-Executive Director Induction
Audience: Non-Executive Directors
Description:
- Face-to-face and virtual options.
- Essential one-day induction programme specifically for new NEDs of NHS trusts and foundation trusts.
- Developed to provide deeper understanding of board roles.
Link: Board development course dates – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Providers
Programme title: Network for NEDs
Audience: Non-Executive Directors
Description:
- National networking events for NHS board members which meet several times a year.
- Specifically designed to help members get the information, guidance and inspiration they need.
Link: Member networks – NHS Providers
Provider: NHS Confederation
Programme title: Non-Executive Leaders networks
Audience: Non-Executive Directors
Description: A range of networks for non-executive leaders from across different health sectors including Mental Health Chairs, Independent ICS Chairs and Community Chairs.
Link: Non-Executive Leaders Network | NHS Confederation.
To join the network or find out more contact lawrence.kent@nhsconfed.org
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Senior Leader Onboarding for Non-executive Directors
Audience: Non-Executive Directors
Description:
A range of resources for new and existing non-executive directors including:
- NED competencies and appraisal, values and behaviours support and further reading.
- Induction, development framework, governance and support offers.
- Designed as a support resource for newly appointed board members in the first year of the role.
Links:
- New NED and chair competencies and appraisals – NHS Senior Leadership Onboarding and Support
- Non-executive opportunities in the NHS » Support for current chairs and non-executives
- New Chairs and Non Executive Directors – NHS Senior Leadership Onboarding and Support
Provider: Seacole Group
Programme title: Network for BAME NEDs and Chairs
Audience: Available to all BAME NEDs and Chairs in the NHS health system
Description:
- Designed for aspiring/existing NEDs from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds.
- Associate membership is open to non-executive directors from other backgrounds who are interested in learning about and supporting the objectives of the group.
Link: Seacole Group | National Network for Black, Asian and Other ethnic NEDS and Chairs in the NHS
Offers for aspiring mental health nurse directors
Provider: NHS Confederation
Programme title: Aspiring Mental Health Nurse Directors Programme
Audience: Aspiring Mental Health Nurse Directors (requires membership of the Mental Health Network)
Description: The programme equips aspiring leaders with the knowledge, tools and insight to progress to a nursing director role.
Link: Aspiring Mental Health Nurse Directors Programme | NHS Confederation
Offers for EDI directors
Provider: NHS Confederation
Programme title: Tackling Inequalities Leadership Programme
Audience: EDI directors and senior responsible officers delivering strategic workforce and health equity programmes and interventions
Description: The Tackling Inequalities Leadership Programme provides the development and support to help you progress in your personal leadership goals, and to put your organisation at the forefront of tackling inequality
Link: Tackling Inequalities Leadership Programme 2024/25 | NHS Confederation
Dates for 25/26 programme on website.
Programmes and networks from other organisations
These are offers from organisations aligned to healthcare, or offering executive education and support with connections to the public sector. In some cases, the next available cohorts are listed on the website.
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Strategic Clinical Leaders
Audience: Board level Clinical Leaders
Description:
- Designed for senior clinical and professional leaders (often work as, but are not limited to, medical directors and directors of nursing) working in any area of the heath and care system
- Learning includes expert insight/challenge, reflection, critical knowledge, problem solving.
Link: SCL: Strategic Clinical Leaders | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Building Collaborative Leadership across health and care organisations
Audience: Senior leaders working in systems
Description:
- A programme enabling senior leaders to collaborate the newly integrated health and care landscape.
- Designed to give participants the opportunity to consider how to best lead ICSs.
Link: Building collaborative leadership across health and care organisations | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Release Your Potential: A Programme for New Leaders*
Audience: Those new to leadership (may be useful for senior managers who aspire to board but have not undertaken leadership development specifically)
Description: For aspiring leaders across health, social care, voluntary, third sector and public health.
*Included as many senior managers tell us they have never undertaken formal leadership development.
Link: Release your potential | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Clinical directors and lead clinicians leadership programme
Audience: Existing clinical directors, lead clinicians, and those stepping into roles or considering them
Description: Addresses the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to lead both operationally and strategically as a clinical director or lead clinician.
Link: Clinical directors and lead clinicians | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Top Manager Programme
Audience: Senior leaders working in any sector of the health and care system, including those who are working at executive director or director level, aspiring to director level or a clinician in a leadership or managerial position.
Description: Focus is on connecting with and creating shared purpose and developing the political and emotional intelligence needed when leading in senior roles in an increasingly demanding environment.
Link: Top manager programme | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: ShiftWorks by The Kings Fund
Audience: Available to all
Description:
- ShiftWorks brings the full diversity of the health and care workforce together, regardless of sector, experience, role, or status.
- Self-guided CPD.
Link: ShiftWorks | CPD Courses For Health And Care Professionals | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Leadership for Population Health
Audience: Relevant if you are already working at a senior level (in any sector) and want to play a more active role in leading system improvement with a focus on population health.
Description:
You will have the opportunity to work with other senior leaders in health and care and with experts, from The King’s Fund and further afield, to:
- explore concepts of population health
- identify local, regional and national opportunities for improving population health and approaches that work
- understand your leadership role and how to operate effectively in a complex system using your unique assets and experiences
- form a network of peers to work with during and after the programme.
Link: Leadership For Population Health | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Leadership for Population Health
Audience: Relevant if you are already working at a senior level (in any sector) and want to play a more active role in leading system improvement with a focus on population health.
Description:
You will have the opportunity to work with other senior leaders in health and care and with experts, from The King’s Fund and further afield, to:
- explore concepts of population health
- identify local, regional and national opportunities for improving population health and approaches that work
- understand your leadership role and how to operate effectively in a complex system using your unique assets and experiences
- form a network of peers to work with during and after the programme.
Link: Leadership For Population Health | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Building Your Authority
Audience: All Leaders
Description:
- The Building Your Authority programme will help improve your confidence to navigate the complex relationships within teams and across organisations.
- Participants will learn through a mixture of self-reflection and group work, workshops to develop key relational practices, conceptual sessions introducing new frameworks and one-to-one coaching with the programme director.
Link: Building Your Authority At Work | The King’s Fund | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: Activate
Audience: Anyone working in health and care, whether a new or established leader, looking to deepen your practice or adopt an anti-racist approach to leadership
Description:
During the Activate programme you’ll work with facilitators from The King’s Fund and brap to:
- understand race, racism and racialised thinking
- raise awareness of the role of whiteness in upholding racial hierarchies
- navigate the tensions inherent in racial justice work
- recognise how the status quo reproduces itself
- understand the impacts of racism in health and care.
Link: Activate | Anti-Racism Leadership Course | The King’s Fund
Provider: The King’s Fund
Programme title: The Circles Programme: Leadership Development for Women, Online Speakers Series
Audience: Women leaders of all levels
Description: Online speaker series 2023-2024 for all women regardless of seniority or experience.
Link: Circles | The King’s Fund (kingsfund.org.uk) Speaker sessions are in addition to the above programme
Provider: Social Care Institute for Excellence
Title: Health and social care integration webinar
Audience: CEOs and Chairs
Description: Series of webinars looking at ICS development, sharing good practice and learning.
Link: Webinars on integration with NHS England
Provider: The Civil Service College
Title: CEO and Deputy CEO programme
Audience: CEOs and Deputies
Description: Short courses and programmes to develop skills, knowledge and networks for chief executive officers, deputy-CEOs and their equivalents in public service.
Link: CEO and deputy CEO-level development
Provider: The Local Government Association
Title: The IGNITE programme
Audience: New and existing CEOs
Description:
- The programme is supported by the LGA and delivered in partnership with Collaborate CIC.
- Aim is to build stronger relationships with peers that can support deeper collaboration across local government and in systems.
Link: IGNITE – a Solace leadership programme for chief executives | Local Government Association
Provider: Healthcare Financial Management Association
Title: Healthcare Financial Management
Audience: Existing board level leaders
Description:
- Offers to support financial skills for non-executive directors.
- Healthcare Financial Management Association provides an assortment of resources and learning.
- Support for roles working in NHS finance at Board level.
Link: Career development | HFMA
Provider: The Leadership Centre
Title: The Future Vision programme
Audience: Existing board level leaders
Description:
- Delivered in collaboration with the Leadership Centre and the Birmingham Leadership Institute.
- This programme offers development for senior leaders who recognise that what they already know and how they already lead is not sufficient to meet the nature of the challenges they are facing.
Link: Future Vision | Leadership
Provider: NHS Confederation
Programme title: Integrated Care Systems (ICS) Network
Audience: ICS leaders
Description: An independent national network which supports ICS leaders – including leaders of Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) – to exchange ideas, share learning, provide peer support and challenge, and influence the national agenda.
Link: Integrated Care Systems Network | NHS Confederation
Offers from NHS Regional Leadership Academies
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Various
Audience: Boards
Description: Regional tools, resources and events.
Link: Regional Academies – Leadership Academy
Provider: NHS Leadership Academy
Programme title: Regional Coaching and Mentoring Offers
Audience: Available to all professions within the NHS and social care, irrespective of pay grade, and clinical and non-clinical roles
Description: Coaching and mentoring is an inclusive offering
Link: Regional Coaching and Mentoring Offers – Leadership Academy