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The Senior Leadership Development Programme consists of five two-day modules.

The modules need to be attended in order, starting from module one. 

Module one introduces some of the key ideas we think it’s important for all leaders to understand. It also provides the opportunity for you to experience the Staff College experiential approach to leadership development which is primarily concerned with raising your awareness as a leader. Our approach holds up a mirror to leaders and helps you to become more aware of how you impact on and influence others. We understand that different people learn from different approaches and that our approach isn’t for everyone.

At the end of the first module, we will have a conversation with you and recommend whether we feel that attending the rest of the programme is right for you at this time.

If you decide to continue with the programme, you will need to commit to attending the four remaining modules within a two-year period.

The first module of the Senior Leadership Development Programme introduces some of the key ideas we think it’s important for all leaders to understand. Including the importance of leaders having awareness of themselves, others and the wider system within which they lead. It will also explore ideas around what leadership is, and the role of leaders within the context of leading in health and social care.

Over the course of two days, you will develop a deeper insight into your own behaviours and the impact and influence you have on others as a leader.  With the benefit of your own reflections, feedback from peers and feedback from faculty, you will develop greater confidence in your strengths, and identify areas that you could develop your leadership further in order to have more impact.

It will also give you a chance to decide whether the Staff College approach is for you, and whether to commit to attending the rest of the programme.

Module aim: To develop a deeper awareness and accountability for managing your assumptions, behaviours and impact on others

In order to: Further develop your ability to influence others as a leader

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the importance of developing awareness in order to be an effective leader of people
• Understand the difference between content (what you work on) and process (how you work on it)
• Understand the dynamic demands of tasks, teams and individuals
• Develop a deeper awareness of your personal assumptions, behaviours and impact on others
• Develop a deeper insight into how you can better manage your assumptions, emotions and behaviours

The second module will develop your awareness of the complexity of the health and social care systems you lead within. It will explore the different types of problems you face as leaders and the different approaches required for working with them.

Over the course of two days, you will develop a deeper understanding of the influence you currently have within your system or organisation. And further develop your ability to influence others.

Module aim: To develop your understanding of working with complex problems and influencing in complex systems

In order to: Develop your ability to effectively lead and influence within the context of health and/or social care

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the implications of leading and working in complex systems
• Understand that there are different types of problems, and that they require different leadership approaches
• Develop ability to work with wicked problems

The third module will develop your understanding of the relationship between organisational culture, teams and leaders and the elements and conditions that can enable and develop high-performing teams.

Over the course of two days, you will develop a deeper understanding of how your personal traits and behaviours impact on the way you lead teams now. And further your thinking about how you can develop your team to be more effective.

Module aim: To develop your ability to influence and be influenced by others

In order to: Be a more effective leader of teams

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the relationship between organisational culture, teams and leaders
• Understand the elements and conditions that can enable and develop high-performing teams
• Develop ability to lead better meetings
• Understand the importance of feedback in developing teams
• Develop greater understanding of decision-making processes.
• Develop a deeper awareness of how your personal traits impact or fail to impact on the performance of self and team

The fourth module will develop your understanding of the nature of change, the need for leadership and introduce you to different models for leading change.

Over the course of two days, you will develop your ability to lead change in complex situations and collaborate more effectively with others.

Module aim: To develop your ability to lead change

In order to: Be a leader that makes things better!

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the relationship between past change, the current state and implications for the move to a desired future state
• Understand the nature of collaboration and its importance when working across cross-system boundaries
• Understand the nature of communication and dialogue when working collaboratively
• Develop your ability to lead change

The final module will bring together all your learning from the programme to date and explore the ethical and moral nature of leadership, continuing to develop your influence as a leader and the need to maintain your resilience as a leader and cope under the pressures of leadership.

Over the course of two days, you will develop a deeper awareness of how you can continue to develop your influence and resilience as a leader and develop your personal leadership strategy for your ongoing development.

Module aim: To develop your awareness of your influence and resilience as a leader

In order to: Continue to further develop your reach and impact for good

Learning Outcomes:

• Develop a deeper awareness of your agency, choices and appropriate points of leadership intervention
• Understand how you can continue to develop your influence as a leader and to influence others
• Develop your ability to manage yourself under pressure and further develop your resilience
• Develop your personal leadership strategy
• Develop capacity to continue to develop as a leader

If you have already attended some modules of the Senior Leadership Programme pre the launch of the 2024 programme, please get in contact with the team at info@staffcollege.org.

Please refer to our infogram here which shows those who have completed the current modules what modules of the new format programme they will need to complete. Please get in contact with the team for us to advise you and confirm.

This programme is open to senior leaders from all professional backgrounds who work in health and social care and who:

1. Have direct reports
2. Have budget responsibility
3. Attend cross department/organisation meetings
4. Make choices and use their influence more broadly than solely within their department

We review all applications on an individual basis. If you do not meet all the above entry criteria, please speak to us before you apply. We can discuss the programme, better understand your current leadership context and advise whether the programme is likely to be suitable for you at this point.

The location and dates we are delivering module 1 in 2025 are below:

The location and dates we are deliver the remaining modules 2, 3, 4 & 5 in the programme in 2025 are below:

To apply you will need to complete our online application form. A link to access the online application form can be requested by contacting the team, or you can access it here.

Completed applications must be received prior to the application deadline. You must include a method of payment for the course fees on the application form. It is advised that applicants book their study leave when they apply.

All applications will be reviewed following the application deadline date.

Applications that meet the entry criteria will be accepted. Places will be confirmed in writing at this point.

Where an applicant does not meet the entry criteria, we will review their application on an individual basis. If we have reason to be concerned about an individual’s ability to attend, we will speak to the applicant.

Our courses will run only when we have enough candidates to fill a course. We will cancel a course where reduced numbers may have a detrimental impact on the quality of the course, or should we not receive enough applications to make a course financially feasible. If we cancel a course, we will provide as much notice as possible to those that have applied.

The fees for attending the programme are below:

We offer a reduced rate for modules 2-5 when booked and paid together up front: