The NHS Leadership and Management Framework is designed to raise standards of leadership and management across the NHS. Here’s how you can start using it today.
For organisations
The Medium Term Planning Framework expects ICBs and providers to embed this framework across their organisations.
HR and people teams, organisational development heads and heads of leadership development should familiarise themselves with the framework and join the community supporting its roll out.
The framework is intended to be embedded across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, job descriptions and person specifications.
1. Getting started
Understand the framework’s 2 core elements:
- the Leadership and management code – sets out the behaviours expected of all leaders and managers
- the Leadership and management standards and competencies – define the principles and skills required at 5 different ‘stages’ of responsibility, depending on seniority and role
2. Building the community
- Sign up to the FutureNHS workspace.
- Attend regional communities of practice events.
- Brief your executive team and identify a board member to champion the framework.
- Appoint a local implementation lead.
3. Planning adoption
- Plan how your organisation will embed the framework and agree an implementation plan.
- Review current development offers and align them to the framework.
- Decide how self-assessment will be incorporated into appraisals.
- Encourage leaders and managers to familiarise themselves with the code and standards.
4. Embedding the framework
- Launch internal communications to promote the framework.
- Begin using the self-assessment tool.
- Provide protected learning time for staff to engage with development activities.
- Continue attending communities of practice events to share learning and progress.
For individual leaders and managers
If you plan, organise and oversee operations within a service or team, you’re a manager. If you set direction, guide others and drive change, you’re a leader. Many of us are both.
The NHS Leadership and Management Framework is designed to help us succeed in these roles.
It applies across clinical, non-clinical and social care (the code only) roles and defines the principles, behaviours and skills the NHS expects from all its leaders and managers.
How can you use the framework?
1. Check your stage
Work with your line manager to identify which stage of the standards applies to your role.
2. Explore the framework
Use the microsite to look through the leadership and management code, and the standards and competencies.
3. Use the self-assessment tool
The self-assessment tool will help you measure your progress against the standards and competencies. Use your results to informal appraisals and guide your development. You will be expected to provide evidence to support your self-assessment.
4. Support your team
If you lead or manage people who are leaders and managers themselves, help them engage with the framework and work with them to identify their stage. It’s common for managers and their teams to be at the same stage.
5. Plan your development
Check what training and development your organisation offers. Regional teams may also provide coaching, mentoring and other support. NHS Leadership Academy programmes and the Graduate Training Scheme will be updated to reflect the standards and competencies.
Further information and contact details
Further information about the Framework can be accessed via the microsite, and if you have any questions, you can email us via [email protected]