Element 4: Leading transformation, change and improvement

Welcome to Element Four – Leading Change and Improvement

In the NHS, one guarantee is change and it’s up to the leader to create an atmosphere of effective transformation. A leader needs to know how to lead through change, and bring out the best in their people during times of extreme uncertainty.

We know that change is a natural and necessary part of life and in our work as leaders we seek to change and improve to help deliver purpose. This may be our professional practice, improving services and processes, informed by patients and service users, changing how we think about things – our mindset, and influencing others to support and be engaged with change.

So whilst change is normal and natural, many people find it hard, unsettling and creates anxiety. We also know that people experience so much change that they can develop ‘change fatigue’ and at worst become cynical to the reasons and drivers of change and improvement.

In this Element we will explore

• How to start change
• How to communicate change
• How to support people through change
• Leading quality and improvement
• Evaluating change
• This will includes resources, videos and your own reflections to enable you to be more confident and comfortable in leading change and improvement.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or of we wait for some other time. We are the ones that we’ve  been waiting for. We are the change we seek” Barak Obamba

Expectations of Success

• A clear strategy for the change – the “why”; the projected impact on patients, staff, STP community
• Clear identification, mitigation and management of unacceptable risks and an awareness of predicted benefits and outcomes
• Openness about the change and what’s happening
• Listening to (and where appropriate consulting) colleagues so they can express their views and how they feel – not everyone will like what’s changing
• Ongoing testing, monitoring, reviewing, communicating and evaluating of the change to confirm improvement and ensure it remains relevant

Before you embark on a change process, read through your Trust’s Organisational Change policy and guidance. There are lots of useful tools to support you to lead your team through change.