NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s Nursing and Urgent Care team supported the development of clinical leaders at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) through a year-long mentorship programme, helping Band 7 and Band 8a nursing staff enhance their leadership skills, boost confidence, and improve patient care outcomes.

Background

The year-long mentorship programme, led by Nursing and Urgent Care Clinical Lead Samantha Singh, aimed to equip Band 7 ward managers, clinical nurse specialists, and Band 8a matrons with the leadership skills needed to drive positive change within QEHB. The programme was created to address gaps in leadership development and to empower clinical staff to take on greater responsibilities, ensuring they were confident and equipped to lead teams effectively.

Action

Samantha developed and delivered a tailored mentorship programme, focusing on:

• Individualised development plans

Personalised growth plans to address each participant’s career goals and learning needs.

• Regular mentorship sessions

One-on-one sessions providing guidance, support, and actionable feedback.

• Skill-building workshops

Sessions covering key leadership topics such as communication, conflict resolution, strategic planning, and quality improvement.

• Reflective practice

Encouraging self-assessment to enable continuous personal and professional growth.

Throughout the programme, participants were guided to develop leadership strategies, strengthen their decision-making skills, and apply their learning directly to their roles.

Impact

The mentorship programme had a transformative effect at QEHB.

• Improved leadership skills

Participants demonstrated measurable growth in team management, communication, and decision-making abilities.

• Increased confidence

Participants were better equipped to embrace challenges and step into senior leadership roles.

• Enhanced patient care

Strengthened leadership directly contributed to improved patient satisfaction and outcomes.

• Knowledge sharing

The programme fostered a collaborative environment, enabling participants to share best practices and innovative ideas.

This initiative not only developed the leadership capabilities of QEHB’s clinical staff but also inspired a culture of continuous improvement. The programme’s success has had a lasting impact on both participants and the wider organisation.

Feedback

“Recently I reached out to Sam as I wanted to reach the next level of my career and seek opportunities for senior management. Her coaching and mentoring helped me understand the high-level leadership style I needed to develop and also thinking strategically and operationally. A secondment opportunity arose for Associate Director of Clinical Support Services which I applied for. Sam supported me prior to the interview. I was successful.” Stephen Groves, Associate Director of Clinical Support Services (Acting), University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust

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