We have significant experience in co-developing and facilitating system-wide, multi-faceted leadership development programmes and currently lead the consortium that delivers the DfE commissioned national Aspiring and New Director of Children’s Services programmes. We are instrumental in championing, developing and supporting courageous and diverse leadership focused on excellent outcomes for children, young people and families.
Our Leadership Development programmes – typically aimed at senior, middle and aspiring leaders – have been described as “inspirational” and “transformational”. Our programmes are carefully designed, covering key areas such as systems leadership, managing volatile and complex environments, building trust and relationships in and across teams, developing ‘coaching habits’ for the workplace, managing change, planning and delivering for improvement, and using data and evidence to deliver positive outcomes. We know how it feels to be a new and aspirational leader from experience, and that helps to provide programmes that are engaging, relevant and empathetic.
Our programmes range from 2 – 8 days, and each session will build naturally into the next one, with all learning embedded and informed by:
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An ongoing Leadership Challenge
Participants engage in a real-time leadership challenge either individually or as a group to enhance the learning from the programme and to make real change in their own system. From experience, we have found this encourages individuals to utilise best practice, building on the strengths of participants to create a sustainable and supportive culture. -
Learning resources via an online portal
A wide variety of support frameworks and tools that will provide the glue for learning in the programme. This will include the rich and comprehensive VUCA resource which is explored in the programme. -
Action Learning Sets
Groups facilitated by experienced trainers from The Staff College, creating a rich and reflective leadership space.
Fantastic couple of days with brilliant people. Loved the style of facilitation and the expectation to step outside of your comfort zone. I've learnt so much.
Our programme provides a connected, cohesive and agile approach to strengthen leadership capabilities for your staff, to improve practice by enhancing professional pride, credibility, building trust, integration and confidence across the team and within the organisation.
All our programmes go through an intensive co- production stage to ensure it captures local context and culture, and speaks to nuanced development needs. While we have the initial foundations established for our development support, we always offer flexibility around meeting your needs and see the importance of remaining agile and adaptable.
We work with a number of local authorities and organisations across the UK who have successfully commissioned leadership programmes with us, and we are expert at developing programmes that are bespoke to your needs. Whether it is specific areas of leadership development, a theme or topic that you want to explore further, a new team that is coming together, or any other organisational requirement, we have experienced and skilled Staff and Associates that can provide support.
We work closely with you to be clear about your requirements, plan inclusively with you, and provide flexible and diverse experiences including workshops, Action Learning, 1-2-1 sessions, and coaching and mentoring, all designed to meet your outcomes.
At the time of attending the programme, I had not long stepped up into a Head of Service role, and I really benefitted from the opportunity through action learning sets to reflect on my social work journey, and some of my feelings of imposter syndrome.
The network of support that the programme offered was invaluable in terms of building my confidence, supporting new connections and allowing me to pause and reflect on the kind of leader I was, and wanted to become, which I have now been able to take into this new role and embed in my leadership approach.