PCN Leadership Development Programme (South East)

Supporting primary care networks (PCNs) and their leadership teams to develop and collaborate in new ways at system and place.

Commissioned by NHS England South East, the South East PCN Leadership Development Programme has been supporting PCNs and their leadership teams to develop and collaborate in new ways at system and place. It is part of a larger menu of support from NHSE South East's primary care transformation team and the NHS Confederation's Primary Care Network.

About the programme

Delivered in partnership with the Health Systems Innovation Lab, part of London Southbank University, the programme has brought together PCN clinical directors and managers across the South East in ICS-based cohorts to learn and apply new knowledge to immediate and future challenges.

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB), Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Kent and Medway, Surrey and Sussex ICSs have all launched cohorts, with some now complete.

With increased recognition of the benefits of system-based leadership development, the programme aimed to deliver the following learning outcomes:
- Understand the importance of purpose and network working.
- Develop critical thinking and methods to design / implement strategy.
- Build skills to create and lead true multidisciplinary teams.
- Refine skills to use population health management and other innovative data-driven approaches to implement new models of care.
- Explore methods to work across functional boundaries to create innovative solutions at the level of place and ICS.
- Acquire new knowledge to plan and build effective infrastructure.
- Understand true integrated working and how that is achieved.
- Refine core skills and understanding in the management disciplines of estates, finance, HR and information management.
- Ensure primary care is a valued member of the specific ICS.

Leadership reflections

Participants on initial South-East cohorts have reported that they are already reaping the benefits of attending the programme. In early 2023 they were invited to share their experience of leadership now to ensure their voices were represented in our wider work on leadership. Their thoughts and ideas are valuable and will support thinking on further support to equip and enable leadership in the current and future primary care context.

The following articles share their reflections. Insights have been aligned to the different elements that were covered in their programme. This series of articles is co-written by Dr Rupa Joshi, clinical adviser for the SE PCN development programme, and further attended the cohort for BOB as a participant.

Module one: The role and purpose of primary care networks

Module two: Understanding why what happens, happens

Module three: Creating new models of care through new data

Module four: Making the most of MDT working

Module five: valued partnerships within the ICS

Module six: communities as assets in health

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