We know how important it is for clinicians and leaders at all levels to keep their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams.
The Leadership Learning Zone (LLZ) is a suite of free to access e-learning modules created to support your leadership journey and improve your skills and effectiveness.
The LLZ has been developed to provide individuals with a tool that will enable learning, enhance understanding and embed vital skills and knowledge and can be accessed free of charge by all NHS staff in the North West.
It features a suite of leadership learning modules, developed by leadership subject matter experts, on key topics including Effective Communication, Time Management, Resilience, Equality & Diversity, Unconscious Bias and more. The e-learning mode of delivery contributes to the attainment of staff training and makes learning available that is flexible and contemporary, at the same time releasing staff time to care.
A summary of the different module areas and topics is below.
Modules on the leadership learning zone are equally relevant to learners who are just starting in their careers as well as experienced managers looking to build capability.
The LLZ has been created so you can access modules at a time that suits and is relevant to you. You can also repeatedly return to the platform and complete your learning in a truly flexible way.
Module topics:
Leading Transition in Primary Care
Coping with today and planning for tomorrow
This module explores the challenges facing primary care leaders in balancing the strategic and operational – working on the business as well as doing the business. It is designed to help you step back and reflect on how can you find the space and capacity to move out of the busyness into more virtuous cycles of improvement.
Articulating the voice of primary care
This module explores the power dynamics in the new integrated care system and how to maintain an influential Primary Care voice. You will consider different approaches to influencing others, apply some practical tools and understand the different ways in which the voice of primary care can be articulated in the new Integrated Care Systems.
This module explores the challenges facing primary care leaders in balancing the strategic and operational – working on the business as well as doing the business. It is designed to help you step back and reflect on how can you find the space and capacity to move out of the busyness into more virtuous cycles of improvement.
Articulating the voice of primary care
This module explores the power dynamics in the new integrated care system and how to maintain an influential Primary Care voice. You will consider different approaches to influencing others, apply some practical tools and understand the different ways in which the voice of primary care can be articulated in the new Integrated Care Systems.
Leading Transformation for Integrated Care
Who leads in a System?
This topic will explore who leads in a systems context and how to lead across boundaries. Participants will gain a better understanding of how leading in a system is different to leading in a single organisation, as well as the knowledge, skills and behaviours important for those leading in systems.
Improving the Health of our Local Communities
Participants will gain a better understanding of how population health insights can inform leadership practice, the challenge of inverse care needs, and why a focus on organisational performance metrics alone can fail to deliver whole systems outcomes.
Leading alongside your Local Communities
This topic will explore engagement and co-production with communities. How can you work as leaders to hear the voice of local communities and work with their strengths and assets?
Rethinking Recovery – A Systems Perspective
This topic will explore system responses to crisis and recovery. Participants will gain a better understanding of collaborative approaches to service and workforce recovery and leading recovery in networks and across boundaries.
Collaborating within Your Neighbourhood / Place
This topic will explore how to collaborate across statutory partners and communities at place levels. Participants will gain a better understanding of Place-based working and building trust and how to work together for real change.
System Workforce Innovation
This topic will explore innovative approaches to our workforce and the challenges working in a system brings to the workforce. Participants will gain a better understanding of a system perspective on workforce challenges and opportunities, working with differences across ICS partners and places and Innovation and transformation opportunities and tools.
Humanising the machine
This topic will explore how culture can be developed and nurtured at a ‘system’ level. Participants will gain a better understanding of how leadership and learning can be facilitated in systems as well as creating a sense of shared belonging across a system.
Collaboratives – A New Way of Working
This topic will explore the different approaches to ‘Collaboratives’ as ways of working together across organisations and sectors at Place, across Providers and at System level.
This topic will explore who leads in a systems context and how to lead across boundaries. Participants will gain a better understanding of how leading in a system is different to leading in a single organisation, as well as the knowledge, skills and behaviours important for those leading in systems.
Improving the Health of our Local Communities
Participants will gain a better understanding of how population health insights can inform leadership practice, the challenge of inverse care needs, and why a focus on organisational performance metrics alone can fail to deliver whole systems outcomes.
Leading alongside your Local Communities
This topic will explore engagement and co-production with communities. How can you work as leaders to hear the voice of local communities and work with their strengths and assets?
Rethinking Recovery – A Systems Perspective
This topic will explore system responses to crisis and recovery. Participants will gain a better understanding of collaborative approaches to service and workforce recovery and leading recovery in networks and across boundaries.
Collaborating within Your Neighbourhood / Place
This topic will explore how to collaborate across statutory partners and communities at place levels. Participants will gain a better understanding of Place-based working and building trust and how to work together for real change.
System Workforce Innovation
This topic will explore innovative approaches to our workforce and the challenges working in a system brings to the workforce. Participants will gain a better understanding of a system perspective on workforce challenges and opportunities, working with differences across ICS partners and places and Innovation and transformation opportunities and tools.
Humanising the machine
This topic will explore how culture can be developed and nurtured at a ‘system’ level. Participants will gain a better understanding of how leadership and learning can be facilitated in systems as well as creating a sense of shared belonging across a system.
Collaboratives – A New Way of Working
This topic will explore the different approaches to ‘Collaboratives’ as ways of working together across organisations and sectors at Place, across Providers and at System level.
Managing Yourself
Imposter Syndrome
Learn about Imposter Syndrome and its affect in the workplace. Identify ways to successfully mitigate feelings of ‘being a fraud’ in the workplace without losing valuable leadership traits.
Understanding Yourself
Have a better understanding of your strengths, identify areas for potential change and generate a development plan for your next steps.
Interview Skills
This module has been designed primarily to meet the needs of staff who are returning to the NHS in anticipation of an upcoming interview. It may also be useful for new applicants to the NHS, for those employees who have applied for an internal vacancy and for people who are faced with an interview in relation to a job change or re-structure.
Time Management
Draw on a range of techniques for prioritising tasks, analyse your own use of time, distinguish between important and urgent activities, including effective use of time at a leadership level.
Stress Management
If work-related stress is affecting you personally, understanding its causes, recognising the signs, and putting strategies in place to avoid or deal with it should help you minimise the impact it has on you. Use a range of stress management techniques, applying what you have learned within a leadership/management context.
Resilience
This e-learning is suitable for anyone interested in the impact of change, and for anyone wanting to strengthen their resilience by developing their adaptability.
Patient Experience
We’ll be exploring key concepts and challenges, and looking at why patient experience matters. And we’ll run through the essential patient experience evidence sources – how to find them, and how to start making sense of them.
Learn about Imposter Syndrome and its affect in the workplace. Identify ways to successfully mitigate feelings of ‘being a fraud’ in the workplace without losing valuable leadership traits.
Understanding Yourself
Have a better understanding of your strengths, identify areas for potential change and generate a development plan for your next steps.
Interview Skills
This module has been designed primarily to meet the needs of staff who are returning to the NHS in anticipation of an upcoming interview. It may also be useful for new applicants to the NHS, for those employees who have applied for an internal vacancy and for people who are faced with an interview in relation to a job change or re-structure.
Time Management
Draw on a range of techniques for prioritising tasks, analyse your own use of time, distinguish between important and urgent activities, including effective use of time at a leadership level.
Stress Management
If work-related stress is affecting you personally, understanding its causes, recognising the signs, and putting strategies in place to avoid or deal with it should help you minimise the impact it has on you. Use a range of stress management techniques, applying what you have learned within a leadership/management context.
Resilience
This e-learning is suitable for anyone interested in the impact of change, and for anyone wanting to strengthen their resilience by developing their adaptability.
Patient Experience
We’ll be exploring key concepts and challenges, and looking at why patient experience matters. And we’ll run through the essential patient experience evidence sources – how to find them, and how to start making sense of them.
Managing Others
Appreciative Inquiry
Thinking about how we use AI and how it is influences our thoughts and feelings will help us develop, embed, and share the practice.
Introduction to Leadership
Develop your understanding and explore theories of leadership and management, and how these fit in the context of your role as well as in health and social care.
Kindness in Leadership
This module will help you identify and understand some of the principles of kindness in leadership and recognise how these can support your colleagues, team and organisation.
Coaching Skills
This module will help you, as a manager, identify and understand some of the principles and processes of successful coaching, and recognise how these can support your team and organisation.
Influencing Stakeholders
Recognise how identifying, mapping and engaging with stakeholders can impact the success of your company.
Managing People
Skilled managers are good at inspiring, coaching, empowering, developing and motivating people. Understand the difference between managing and leading as well as key mistakes managers make.
Effective Communication
The focus of this module is for you to appraise your management skills and identify how you can make improvements.
How to give Effective Feedback
This e-learning module is aimed at anyone who would like to be able to deliver feedback to other people in an effective way. It may be particularly useful for managers of individuals and teams who play a key role in developing others.
How to run Action Learning Sets
Explore why we use Action learning sets (ALS), learn how to structure and develop the ALS discussion and ALS in practice.
Agile Project Working
Explore how you can encourage collaboration as a leader and gain an initial understanding of agile project working and how to do it.
Talent Management
We have designed this learning package to introduce health and care staff to best-practice principles in maximising the potential of the employees they manage or work with, and to help staff develop their understanding in this area. Some people call this process of maximising employee potential ‘Talent Management’.
Thinking about how we use AI and how it is influences our thoughts and feelings will help us develop, embed, and share the practice.
Introduction to Leadership
Develop your understanding and explore theories of leadership and management, and how these fit in the context of your role as well as in health and social care.
Kindness in Leadership
This module will help you identify and understand some of the principles of kindness in leadership and recognise how these can support your colleagues, team and organisation.
Coaching Skills
This module will help you, as a manager, identify and understand some of the principles and processes of successful coaching, and recognise how these can support your team and organisation.
Influencing Stakeholders
Recognise how identifying, mapping and engaging with stakeholders can impact the success of your company.
Managing People
Skilled managers are good at inspiring, coaching, empowering, developing and motivating people. Understand the difference between managing and leading as well as key mistakes managers make.
Effective Communication
The focus of this module is for you to appraise your management skills and identify how you can make improvements.
How to give Effective Feedback
This e-learning module is aimed at anyone who would like to be able to deliver feedback to other people in an effective way. It may be particularly useful for managers of individuals and teams who play a key role in developing others.
How to run Action Learning Sets
Explore why we use Action learning sets (ALS), learn how to structure and develop the ALS discussion and ALS in practice.
Agile Project Working
Explore how you can encourage collaboration as a leader and gain an initial understanding of agile project working and how to do it.
Talent Management
We have designed this learning package to introduce health and care staff to best-practice principles in maximising the potential of the employees they manage or work with, and to help staff develop their understanding in this area. Some people call this process of maximising employee potential ‘Talent Management’.
System Leadership
System Leadership
Learn about the context, practice and challenges of system leadership – a term which is becoming increasingly common in the service sector, voluntary organisations, the public sector and the NHS.
Introduction to Systems
Develop an understanding of what is systems working in health and care.
Collaborations – What Makes Them Tick
Develop an understanding of collaborations and what makes a successful collaboration.
Collaboration – Keys to Success
Understand how to apply some simple tools for improving collaboration, recognise the importance of how we listen in developing effective relationships.
Stuckness – Tools for Shifting Patterns
Understand and recognise stuckness in systems. Explore six tools for helping to get unstuck.
System Leadership: In Their Own Words
Understand more of what system leadership involves in practice.
Learn about the context, practice and challenges of system leadership – a term which is becoming increasingly common in the service sector, voluntary organisations, the public sector and the NHS.
Introduction to Systems
Develop an understanding of what is systems working in health and care.
Collaborations – What Makes Them Tick
Develop an understanding of collaborations and what makes a successful collaboration.
Collaboration – Keys to Success
Understand how to apply some simple tools for improving collaboration, recognise the importance of how we listen in developing effective relationships.
Stuckness – Tools for Shifting Patterns
Understand and recognise stuckness in systems. Explore six tools for helping to get unstuck.
System Leadership: In Their Own Words
Understand more of what system leadership involves in practice.
Equality & Diversity
Unconscious Bias
This module provides an introduction to the topic of inclusion. It is suitable for anyone who is starting to explore this topic or as a refresher for people who already know a little about the basics.
Generations
Understand key influences & trends for different generations and how these impact in the workplace, understand and practice modelling behaviours to help team & colleague cohesion and inclusion, learn and engage more confidently with different generations at work.
Equality & Diversity
In this module, you will be able to complete your required national statutory equality, diversity & human rights training compliance. Be clear about the definition of equality and diversity, explore relevant legal frameworks and consider issues of social identity in relation to our work.
This module provides an introduction to the topic of inclusion. It is suitable for anyone who is starting to explore this topic or as a refresher for people who already know a little about the basics.
Generations
Understand key influences & trends for different generations and how these impact in the workplace, understand and practice modelling behaviours to help team & colleague cohesion and inclusion, learn and engage more confidently with different generations at work.
Equality & Diversity
In this module, you will be able to complete your required national statutory equality, diversity & human rights training compliance. Be clear about the definition of equality and diversity, explore relevant legal frameworks and consider issues of social identity in relation to our work.
Change Management
Managing through Change
This module will help you to understand how people respond to change and therefore allow you to better support your own team through a period of transition.
Succession Planning
Identify key roles in your team, understand why it is important to have a succession plan and the importance of continual review and evaluation.
Complicated or Complex?
Explore different types of systems environment and better understand how to make decisions in system working.
Working with Complexity
Understand about how to work in complex environments, learn tools and approaches for working with complexity.
Leading in Complexity
Understand some of the practices and behaviours which system leaders need to develop.
Working with Tensions
Understand how to recognise and work with tensions in systems. Explore an approach to mapping and working with wicked issues or polarities in systems.
This module will help you to understand how people respond to change and therefore allow you to better support your own team through a period of transition.
Succession Planning
Identify key roles in your team, understand why it is important to have a succession plan and the importance of continual review and evaluation.
Complicated or Complex?
Explore different types of systems environment and better understand how to make decisions in system working.
Working with Complexity
Understand about how to work in complex environments, learn tools and approaches for working with complexity.
Leading in Complexity
Understand some of the practices and behaviours which system leaders need to develop.
Working with Tensions
Understand how to recognise and work with tensions in systems. Explore an approach to mapping and working with wicked issues or polarities in systems.
System OD and Transformation
Influencing without Formal Authority
Learn how to find and use your power positively, with less reliance on the hierarchy, and support others
to do this, too.
Challenging the Status Quo
Learn practical strategies for speaking up with courage. Role model this for others, creating a climate where
uncomfortable tensions can be constructively explored.
Releasing the Potential of Human Systems
Learn why people behave as they do in organisations and systems, and how to release the positive potential of
group dynamics to improve outcomes.
Consulting Mindset and Skillset
Build your skills, capability and confidence to be an effective systems change consultant in and across
organisations and systems.
Self as a Courageous Role Model
Enhance and extend your practical strategies to care for and challenge yourself as you lead and support system
transformation, so you can be a role model for others and “be the system change”.
Learn how to find and use your power positively, with less reliance on the hierarchy, and support others
to do this, too.
Challenging the Status Quo
Learn practical strategies for speaking up with courage. Role model this for others, creating a climate where
uncomfortable tensions can be constructively explored.
Releasing the Potential of Human Systems
Learn why people behave as they do in organisations and systems, and how to release the positive potential of
group dynamics to improve outcomes.
Consulting Mindset and Skillset
Build your skills, capability and confidence to be an effective systems change consultant in and across
organisations and systems.
Self as a Courageous Role Model
Enhance and extend your practical strategies to care for and challenge yourself as you lead and support system
transformation, so you can be a role model for others and “be the system change”.
Leading a Multi-Disciplinary Team
The Why. The case for MDT working
In this introductory module, we dive into the context, evidence, and rationale for multidisciplinary teamwork.
You’ll leave understanding why MDT collaboration is so critical for integrated, patient-centred care.
The What. Establishing effective MDT working
This module will equip you to actually establish effective multidisciplinary teams in your workplace with a diverse range of colleagues. We’ll explore overcoming barriers, developing shared purpose, and handling conflict.
The How. Developing MDT shared vision and common language
This module will equip you to develop shared vision and ways of working across a diverse group of professionals and practitioners. We’ll explore overcoming barriers, developing shared purpose, and handling conflict.
Running successful MDTs
This module will equip you to run successful MDTs .We’ll explore facilitation, managing change and how to manage when things don’t go well.
Developing wider system leadership skills
This module will equip you to build collaborative relationships in and beyond the MDT to lead change.
Sharing the MDT story
This module will equip you to champion MDT working and help other colleagues build MDTs.
Inspirational stories
In this module 3 leading practitioners share their stories and perspectives on MDT working. They will inspire and inform you!
In this introductory module, we dive into the context, evidence, and rationale for multidisciplinary teamwork.
You’ll leave understanding why MDT collaboration is so critical for integrated, patient-centred care.
The What. Establishing effective MDT working
This module will equip you to actually establish effective multidisciplinary teams in your workplace with a diverse range of colleagues. We’ll explore overcoming barriers, developing shared purpose, and handling conflict.
The How. Developing MDT shared vision and common language
This module will equip you to develop shared vision and ways of working across a diverse group of professionals and practitioners. We’ll explore overcoming barriers, developing shared purpose, and handling conflict.
Running successful MDTs
This module will equip you to run successful MDTs .We’ll explore facilitation, managing change and how to manage when things don’t go well.
Developing wider system leadership skills
This module will equip you to build collaborative relationships in and beyond the MDT to lead change.
Sharing the MDT story
This module will equip you to champion MDT working and help other colleagues build MDTs.
Inspirational stories
In this module 3 leading practitioners share their stories and perspectives on MDT working. They will inspire and inform you!
Professional Identity
Professional Identity: What is it and why is it important
This module explores what professional identity is, its significance and maintenance. It looks at Social Identity Theory and how this applies to professional identity. Throughout the module you will be asked to reflect on what this means to you and to think about how you can have a more positive and secure professional identity.
Professional Identity: What is integration
Module 2 looks at the practical application of Professional Identity particularly looking at us in an Integrated Environment. The module will explore what integration means and what can happen when we work in a multi-professional team and some of the threats we can sometimes feel to our professional identity.
Supporting Practice Nurses to Flourish in a Multi-Professional World: Leadership challenge
Building on from Module 1 & 2, this module will explore the role of a practice nurse in the multi-professional environment. The module will focus on Leadership, what it means and what your role as a leader is to support your team to have a positive professional identity and flourish in order to improve patient care.
Supporting Individuals to Flourish in a Multi-Professional World
This is the final module looking at Professional identity and integration, this module will look at ways in which you can have a positive professional identity where you feel secure in your role and can flourish in a multi-professional environment. Please note this module contains similar content to module 3 and is aimed at non-nursing staff.
This module explores what professional identity is, its significance and maintenance. It looks at Social Identity Theory and how this applies to professional identity. Throughout the module you will be asked to reflect on what this means to you and to think about how you can have a more positive and secure professional identity.
Professional Identity: What is integration
Module 2 looks at the practical application of Professional Identity particularly looking at us in an Integrated Environment. The module will explore what integration means and what can happen when we work in a multi-professional team and some of the threats we can sometimes feel to our professional identity.
Supporting Practice Nurses to Flourish in a Multi-Professional World: Leadership challenge
Building on from Module 1 & 2, this module will explore the role of a practice nurse in the multi-professional environment. The module will focus on Leadership, what it means and what your role as a leader is to support your team to have a positive professional identity and flourish in order to improve patient care.
Supporting Individuals to Flourish in a Multi-Professional World
This is the final module looking at Professional identity and integration, this module will look at ways in which you can have a positive professional identity where you feel secure in your role and can flourish in a multi-professional environment. Please note this module contains similar content to module 3 and is aimed at non-nursing staff.
GPN Leadership Fundamentals
Module 1 – Leadership for General Practice Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
This module reflects on what leadership means in a nursing role, illustrating learning points from scenarios. It will offer opportunities to reflect on what you learn and how to apply it to your own experience.
Module 2 – Leadership for General Practice Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Building on module 1, this module delves deeper into the role of nurse leadership focusing on change, performance, behaviours and conflict.
Module 3 – Leadership for General Practice Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Building on modules 1 and 2, this module delves deeper into the role of nurse leadership focusing on compassionate leadership, influence, and self-compassion.
This module reflects on what leadership means in a nursing role, illustrating learning points from scenarios. It will offer opportunities to reflect on what you learn and how to apply it to your own experience.
Module 2 – Leadership for General Practice Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Building on module 1, this module delves deeper into the role of nurse leadership focusing on change, performance, behaviours and conflict.
Module 3 – Leadership for General Practice Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Building on modules 1 and 2, this module delves deeper into the role of nurse leadership focusing on compassionate leadership, influence, and self-compassion.
Additional Resources
If you are interested in learning more about the Leadership Learning Zone (LLZ) please email [email protected]