Background
Having completed a Strategic management leadership course at Morley College, I applied for the scholarship to continue developing my management and strategic skills. Working right across First Community, and at all levels, I needed to develop my current role, highlight the contribution pharmacy can make and become more innovative within a medium sized organisation by expanding my horizons through some “blue sky thinking”. The networking and learning with the scholarship helped me achieve all this and more.
Personal Leadership Development
The first course I attended was the Leading Change through Organisational Renewal (LCOR), a 4 day residential course at Lensbury in Teddington, Middlesex. The course was run by Dr Finkelstein (Stanford) and the Upstart Logic Team. This was also the first time I met the other FNF scholars.
The course was stimulating and highly interactive with discussions using Harvard/Stanford business cases. We had the opportunity to break into groups, network and critically assess colleagues’ “performance gap” in their organisation. We used various processes, for example, organisational alignment theory to complete a Root Cause Analysis. The course taught theory processes from strategy to diagnosis of a specific problem to action planning. We discussed Leadership in the context of skills, culture, engagement and change within organisations.
The interaction with the other scholars high-lighted the similar challenges we face whether in a Nursing or Pharmacy Directorate. The theory will help me develop to make more effective decisions and lead organisational change which is a constant in the NHS. Networking, and building experience onto the theory, I should be able to embed new ways of change and leadership within the corporate culture. To work within the financial pressures I need to be innovative using strategies to assess and manage organisational culture, diagnose problems and implement cultural change. The theory that I learned and the personal skills I developed will help me build organisational success and empower staff to embrace change whilst delivering safe and effective health care.
This was followed by a Leadership Diagnostic Assessment with Sue Machell, which consisted of psychometric tests such as Myers Briggs, a 360 Feedback, Influencing Styles, Emotional and Political Intelligence.
There is need for Leaders to manage change by better understanding their teams and team dynamics. Personal and team Psychometric assessments encourage team building and improve working relationships.
The understanding of my Personal Leadership style will lead to a greater ability to build, lead and maintain a team towards achieving more effective influence whilst achieving a more significant role for pharmacy within First Community. This will enable a more seamless transition towards improved safety and outcomes for patient care.
I attended a one day workshop in Westminster. The day was stimulating and highly interactive with discussions and events unfolding around us. The day focused on fast and effective decision making, and presenting public statements on key issues, for example in the NHS, which can be mirrored to everyday problems that arise in our organisation. The day was a bespoke simulation, tailored to be up-to-the minute and provided insights into and a better understanding of how the most successful people in government learn, react, decide and iterate those decisions. During the day:
- I obtained a deeper understanding of the relationship between politicians and civil servants such as NHS England
- I increased my knowledge of how political thinking is translated into policy and implemented
- My understanding of how to influence the political agenda at a national/regional level improved
- I increased my awareness of how much influence the media has and how to navigate around it.
A Co-Consulting GroupDay helped me learn more about a specific problematic work issues related to my Project. It helped me to think about how I could change my behavior, for example, to be more visible on the Ward and develop a more positive relationship with the Ward Service Lead; create a Ward Champion, and determine the positive benefits the project would have on patients and staff.
Although it was completely out of my comfort zone, I was strongly recommended to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) communications skills for leadership workshop which helped me develop and build my confidence and be much clearer in communications so that I can exhibit increased professional credibility. The course was great fun and included real actors who encouraged active role play. It had a serious side of course and my personal scenario was specifically based on being more persuasive and influencing others and to become more engaging and inspirational in communication.
On the excellent Interpersonal Relationships in Organisations Couse (IRO)at Roffey Park I developed a clearer awareness of myself and the impact I make on others. I gained useful feedback on how to become more effective and how to improve working relationships. The course had a definitive reflective perspective so that I had time to reflect on myself, my style and how to use or change this and build more productive and satisfying working relationships and promote effective patient outcomes.
The trip to Belfast organized by the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Belfast gave me an overview, set within the political climate in Northern Ireland (NI), how advanced the GP Federations are in NI and advances and innovative ideas within Integrated Care Partnerships. The trip was very enjoyable, inspirational and allowed the cohort to network and share further ideas.
Career Leadership Objectives
My career in the Community Interest Company (CIC), First Community, had reached the stage where I needed external development, mentoring and preceptorship which I found during the Scholarship which was specifically designed to meet my needs.
My Mentor, Professor Shona Brown, was particularly responsible for developing my skills to lead change management on the Ward, taking the Ward Staff with me on the journey which is the only way to make change sustainable. Many of the other events increased my confidence, presentation and communication skills.
My professional Mentor, Theresa Rutter, encouraged and supported me to achieve Faculty status in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPSG).
Building on this, I feel that I am ready to take on a larger management role and build and lead a cohesive and innovative team. Improved team management and integrated change will result in better outcomes for patients The interpersonal skills that I have developed has empowered me to improve communication with external stakeholders. I will continue to develop these skills to deliver integrated services.
Patient Care Improvement Project
Self-Administration of Medicines (SAM), the process of patients administering their own medicines, is recommended by the Audit Commission and is welcomed and supported by the NMC. I am passionate about the safe empowerment of patients to be independent and responsible for their own medication administration.
The institute of Health Care Improvement recommends the use of the “five rights”: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time, to reduce medication errors and harm. The five rights should be accepted as a goal of the medication process. Administration of medicines relies on all five rights.
SAM is an option to patient care. First Community has all the tools for use of SAM on the ward, but the nurses were not offering it. My project was to implement SAM to promote patient empowerment and lead change on the ward.
To support my project I chose to visit Jönköping in Sweden because Sweden has gained national and international recognition for innovating and sustaining large-scale improvements in healthcare. In the field of quality improvement, Jönköping exemplifies the innovation, strong and stable performance and social values on which Swedish healthcare was founded, and provides a model of healthcare system transformation that ranks among the best in the world.
One of the best examples of Swedish Health care and of sustainable rehabilitation post discharge is the renal self-dialysis unit at Ryhov County Hospital, Jönköping.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank and acknowledge all the expert support provided to me by:
Professor Elizabeth Robb OBE and the interview panel that selected me, it was an honour for me to be given this scholarship as a Pharmacist.
The Florence Nightingale Foundation (“FNF”) and the Health Education Kent Surrey and Sussex (HEKSS) for sponsoring the scholarship.
The FNF Team, particularly, Sue Neville, Janet Shallow, Laura Trewick.
My employer, First Community Health and Care (“First Community”), particularly Denise Thiruchelvam and Director of Nursing, Elizabeth Mouland who supported and encouraged me with my application and for allowing me time off for development.
All my fellow scholars for their support and hope we will continue to network.
My FNF Mentor, Professor Shona Brown.
My Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Mentor, Theresa Rutter.
The very hospitable Swedish contingent in Jönköping, Raymond Lenrick, Anne Hiselius and all the others Doctors, Nurses and Pharmacists.
All the Tutors and Facilitators.