Introduction
To continue to improve diversity in senior pharmacy professional leadership roles in the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s senior leadership team, it is key that pharmacy professionals have equal access and opportunity for career progression.
A talent management process which supports aspiring leaders, provides individuals with career advice and encourages and signposts training and development opportunities is vital. The Inclusive Pharmacy Practice partnership aims to provide aspirant leaders with well-communicated signposting to development and training opportunities and clear routes to new roles.
Aims
The table below details available opportunities, the intended (overall) target audience, whether the programme is available for pharmacists (Ph) and/or pharmacy technicians (PT) and, where available, details regarding application timelines. Further information regarding each scheme, programme or opportunity is available via the links provided.
Table 1: leadership frameworks
| Opportunity | Target audience | Ph/PT application timetable |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Leadership Development Framework | Every pharmacist (or foundation trainee pharmacist), in every sector. The framework aims to help develop leadership attributes by outlining the behaviours of effective and engaging leadership. Based on NHS Leadership Academy Healthcare Leadership Model (see below). Key features: self-assessment tool. | Ph N/A |
| NHS Leadership Academy Clinical Leadership Competency Framework | All clinical staff. The framework describes the leadership competences clinicians need to become more actively involved in the planning, delivery and transformation of health and social care services. Key features: self-assessment tool. | Both N/A |
| NHS Leadership Academy Healthcare Leadership Model | Clinical and non-clinical leaders or those aspiring to their first leadership role. The framework aims to identify strengths and areas for development through self-assessment. Key features: self-assessment tool. | Both N/A |
Table 2: fellowships
| Opportunity | Target audience | Ph/PT application timetable |
|---|---|---|
| Darzi fellowship | Multi-profession clinicians. Designed to develop leaders in their ability to undertake complex change initiative. Darzi fellowships are available in a number of organisations nationwide. Key features: typically full time (secondments available), 12 months. | Both* Once yearly |
| NHS Population Health Fellowship | Early to mid-career healthcare professionals with an interest in population health who will incorporate population health into their everyday roles. Key features: 0.4 WTE, 12 months. | Both Once yearly |
| Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellowship Scheme | Pharmacists from all sectors. Aimed at aspiring future leaders who have had limited leadership opportunities and have not held a senior leadership role in pharmacy. Key features: full time (secondments available), 12 months. | Ph Once yearly |
| Chief Sustainability Officer’s Clinical Fellowship Scheme | Multi-profession clinicians. Aimed at aspiring future clinical leaders and sustainability champions of the future that have not held leadership roles previously. Key features: full time (secondments available), 12 months. | Both Once yearly |
| Topol Digital Fellowship | Health and social care professionals. Provides fellows with the time, support and training to lead a digital change project in their workplace. Key features: 0.2-0.4 WTE, 12 months. | Both Once yearly |
| Early to mid-career healthcare professionals with an interest in population health who will incorporate population health into their everyday roles. Key features: 0.4 WTE, 12 months. | Both Once yearly | |
| Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Sustainability Fellowship | Multi-profession clinicians. Provides fellows with a strategic role in accelerating transformation towards sustainable healthcare and integrating sustainability into QI methodology. Fellows may also register for and complete a research degree (MSc or PhD) as part of the programme. Key features: 0.2-0.4 WTE, 12-36 months. Cost associated. | Both Ongoing |
| Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship Programme for Working Parents | Clinical and non-clinical staff with young children who are passionate about their career development. Key features: part time, 6-9 months: spilt into two parts: 1. An initial 6 month foundation fellowship (0.5 day/month) 2. An optional 3 month NHS Changemaker Fellowship Programme follow up (4-5.5 hours/month). Cost associated. | Both Once yearly |
| NIHR In-Practice Fellowship (IPF) | Multi-profession primary care clinicians. Offers academic training to those who aspire to be a future clinical academic leader, or those who can demonstrate commitment to a career as a clinical academic in primary care. Key features: 50% clinical (must have own arrangements in place) and 50% academic (funding available to support this). Typically over 2 years (can be taken part time over 30 or 40 months). | Ph Once yearly |
| Other NHS Arm’s Length Bodies fellowships | Fellowships are available in a number of NHS Arm’s Length Bodies: see individual jobs/careers webpages for further details. Key features: dependant on individual fellowship opportunity. | Both Ongoing |
Table 3: pharmacy leadership programmes
| Opportunity | Target audience | Ph/PT application timeline |
|---|---|---|
| CPPE Pharmacy Technician Impact Groups | Pharmacy technicians working in all sectors providing NHS services who want to develop their leadership skills. Key features: 12 months, 6 online sessions. | PT Ongoing |
| CPPE Leadership for Healthy Living Pharmacy | Community pharmacy professionals (including foundation trainee pharmacists) with an interest in developing their leadership skills as part of the requirements towards achieving or maintaining Healthy Living Pharmacy status. Key features: self-directed e-learning course (8 hours). | Both N/A |
| CPPE Life skills – developing your potential | Pharmacy professionals (including foundation training pharmacists) from all sectors. Helps participants reflect on their personal skill set and identify how they can develop a range of life skills to help them reach their full potential. Key features: tutor supported e-learning course over 8 weeks (approx. 4 hours/week). | Both Once yearly |
| Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Pharmacy Leaders’ Development Programme | Experienced pharmacy professionals from any sector who aspire to lead large and complex NHS departments, services, teams or systems of care to benefit patients and local communities. Key features: 9 months (with 2 residential workshops (3 days and 2 days), optional online study days and small group support). | Both Ongoing |
| Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education (CPPE) Leading for Change | Experienced pharmacy professionals from all sectors who have responsibility for leading a team or leading services within their organisation and would like to develop their skills further. Key features: 6 months, online modules (including workshops, discussion forums and networking Zoom calls). | Both Ongoing (6 cohorts in 2023) |
| CPPE Leadership and Management guides | Pharmacy professionals from all sectors. Tools to enhance your leadership, management and networking skills. Key features: self-directed e-learning courses. | Both N/A |
Table 4: coaching and mentoring schemes
| Opportunity | Target audience | Ph/PT application timetable |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Leadership Academy – Regional Centres | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff working in the NHS and social care. Regional centres across England which help identify and support people with the skills, behaviours and values to be the leaders of tomorrow. Key features: find out about local offers via the link provided. | Both Ongoing |
| Regional Mentoring and Coaching Offers [through NHS Leadership Academy] | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff working in the NHS and social care. – Mentoring supports and encourages individuals to realise their potential by inspiring and helping to shape the leaders of tomorrow. – Coaching inspires the coachee to maximise their personal, professional and leadership potential. Key features: find out about local coaching and mentoring offers via the link provided. | Both Ongoing |
| CPPE Coaching support | Pharmacy professionals from all sectors. Provides a supportive framework to empower individuals to find their own solutions to achieve a specific goal. Key features: provides up to 6 x 1 hour coaching sessions. | Both Ongoing |
| NHS England Coaching and support for the primary care workforce | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff working in primary care. Coaching sessions focused on looking after you, your team and your career. Key features: sessions tailored to your needs. | Both Ongoing |
| Local Mentoring and Coaching offers (see NHS regional/local/integrated care board websites) | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff. Key features: dependent on individual mentoring or coaching offer.
| Both Ongoing |
| RPS Mentoring Scheme | Pharmacists who want to be mentored or to mentor. Key features: allows pharmacists to choose key support areas and skills they wish to mentor/be mentored on. | Ph Ongoing |
Table 5: NHS multi-profession leadership schemes
| Opportunity | Target audience | Ph/PT application timetable |
|---|---|---|
| Core Managers: Developing Inclusive Workplaces programme | Clinical and non-clinical health and care professionals. The programme aims to develop core inclusive leadership skills. Key features: self-directed e-learning. Courses 1-3: 16 weeks (approx. 38 hours). | Both Ongoing |
| NHS Leadership academy: Edward Jenner programme | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff who are aspiring to their first leadership or management role within the health and care sector within the next 1-2 years. Key features: self-directed e-learning course (approx. 6 weeks). | Both Monthly |
| NHS Leadership academy: Mary Seacole programme | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff who are first time leaders in healthcare. It’s for you if you are in a ‘formal’ position of leadership with responsibilities for people and services, and able to relate what you learn to your workplace. Key features: online (6 months, approx. 100 hours, 3 workshops delivered online). Cost associated. | Both Ongoing |
| Digital Health Leadership Programme | Health and social care professionals. Aimed at aspiring and current leaders who have a desire to drive large scale, digital change and transformation across health and social care. Leads to award of postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Digital Health Leadership (option to extend to master’s degree). Key features: 10-15 hours/week (outside work), 12 months. | Both* Ongoing |
| Sustainability Leadership for Greener Health and Care Programme | Clinical and non-clinical health and care professionals. The programme aims to develop leadership abilities, giving participants the tools and knowledge to build a greener, more sustainable health system. Key features: Predominantly (see below) self-directed e-learning, 16 weeks. Two tracks: 1) online 2) online and face-to-face workshops | Both Ongoing |
| Foundations in system Leadership; collaborating in health and care | Cross sector professionals working in health, care, local authorities and voluntary organisations who are interested in understanding about how systems work and working across organisational boundaries Key features: self-directed e-learning course (delivered over 5 weeks: 25 hours in total). | Both Ongoing |
| Health Education England (HEE) / NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Programme HEE has now merged with NHS England. | Provides research training awards for health and social care professionals, (excluding doctors and dentists), who wish to develop careers that combine research and research leadership with continued practice and professional development. The ICA programme comprises 4 schemes: – HEE Internship Scheme – HEE/NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (PCAF) Scheme – HEE/NIHR Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (DCAF) Scheme – HEE/NIHR Advanced Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (ACAF) Scheme Key features: dependant on individual opportunity. | Both Ongoing |
| UK Research and Innovation Clinical research training fellowship | Registered healthcare professionals planning to undertake a PhD (or similar) or wishing to reacquire research skills (having obtained a PhD and working outside of research for 5 years or more). Key features: salary and project costs funded for 3 years. | Both 3 times per year (closing Jan, April and Sept) |
| NHS Leadership academy: Rosalind Franklin programme | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff who are middle level leaders aspiring to lead large and complex programmes, departments, services or systems. Key features: online (9 months, 4-5 hours/week, written assessment). Cost associated. | Both Ongoing |
| NHS Leadership academy: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson programme | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff who are middle to senior level leader currently responsible for other leaders and aspiring to lead large and complex programmes, departments, services, or systems of care. Leads to award of MSc in Healthcare Leadership. Key features: online and face-to-face workshops (24 months (15 hours/week). Cost associated (bursaries available). | Both* Ongoing |
|
Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff who are senior leaders looking to move into a board level role in the next 12 to 24 months. Key features: 12 months (15 hours/week, presentations and written assessments). Cost associated (bursaries available). |
Both Ongoing | |
| NHS Leadership Academy Learning Zone | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff with an interest in keeping their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams. Four key areas (Leadership modules, Systems and Relational Leadership, Integrated care modules, Leading Transition in Primary Care). Key features: self-directed e-learning modules. | Both Ongoing |
| NHS Leadership Academy Bitesize Learning | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff with an interest in developing new skills (including leadership skills) and improving their experience of work. Key features: self-directed e-learning modules. | Both Ongoing |
| NHS Leadership Academy Visible Leaders Network | Black, Asian and Minority ethnic staff leaders and aspiring pharmacy leaders in primary and secondary care. Key features: a network to help support progression to senior leadership roles within the NHS. | Both Ongoing |
Table 6: others
| Opportunity | Target audience | Ph/PT application timetable |
|---|---|---|
| Empowering Student Leadership in Healthcare (ESLIH) | University healthcare students. Aims to inspire, empower and promote student leaders in healthcare. Key features: Annual conference facilitating networking and developmental opportunities. | Both* Once yearly conference |
| 10,000 Black Interns programme | Black and Black heritage university students or recent graduates matched with hosts from across 25 sectors (including healthcare) for a 6 week internship. Key features: 6 week paid internships. | Both* Once yearly |
| Clinical Entrepreneur Programme | Multi profession NHS staff with an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. Aims to equip participants with the commercial skills, knowledge and experience needed to successfully develop and spread innovative solutions to the challenges facing the NHS. Key features: participants engage in full time work alongside their participation in the scheme. | Both Ongoing |
| NHS Leadership Academy Visible Leaders Network | Black, Asian and Minority ethnic staff leaders and aspiring pharmacy leaders in primary and secondary care. Key features: a network to help support progression to senior leadership roles within the NHS. | Both Ongoing |
| NHS jobs | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff. Key features: dependant on individual opportunity. | Both Ongoing |
| NHS England jobs | Multi-profession clinical and non-clinical staff. Key features: dependant on individual opportunity. | Both Ongoing |
Ph = pharmacist; PT = pharmacy technician
*See eligibility criteria for further information
References
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (2023). Talent management
- Department of Health and Social Care (2022). Health and social care review: leadership for a collaborative and inclusive future
- NHS England (2023). Inclusive Pharmacy Practice