The NIHR Leadership Programme ...for NIHR Leaders
Supporting Information March 2017 Group 15 Commencing July 2017
www.nihr.ac.uk/leadership
1. About Ashridge and NIHR 1.1 Ashridge Ashridge has been a place of executive learning and development for over 50 years, delivering education, consulting, coaching and research. Ashridge is one of the world’s leading business schools consistently ranked within the top ten schools in Europe. It offers 30 open programmes, including MBA, Ashridge Masters in Executive Coaching, and Ashridge Masters and Doctorate in Organisation Consulting. Ashridge has a team of over 70 consultants from 20 countries. It works internationally, in multistakeholder, multi-national and multi-cultural environments in the private, public and charitable sectors. In its work, it combines learning with practical action and innovation with bottom-line focus. It specialises in: • • • •
Facilitating management and leadership development Enabling the processes of organisational change Supporting strategy development and engagement Leading and managing well in difficult times
Ashridge is a centre of excellence for developing other consultants and executive coaches. 1.2 NIHR and Ashridge NIHR and Ashridge have worked together since 2009 to support the development of leadership in translational research. We hope that groups will have strong views about what they want to cover. We will respond to these views within the overall framework of the programme set by NIHR. The final group conference is a particular opportunity for participants to set the agenda. In addition there will be cross–stream conferences between 2015 and 2018 on “compelling questions” identified by NIHR. Participants’ views on what topics conferences should address are welcome. A team of Ashridge coaches, who all have considerable experience of health and health research, delivers the programme. Most have worked on the Programme for more than 5 years. In addition, we work closely with a panel of outside experts in research and health. Our experience is that learning is most effective when there is a genuine learning partnership between the Ashridge team and participants.
www.nihr.ac.uk/leadership
2. Eligibility Criteria The application will be assessed, and selection made, in terms of: •
An applicant’s significance to the NIHR. Significance of contribution to the NIHR is in terms of: o Holding a leadership role in an organisation or network supported by the NIHR or o Holding an NIHR Programme Grant or o Being an NIHR Senior Investigator
•
An applicant’s active presence in leading and influencing in health research. Applicants should provide evidence of their being “in the thick of” leading or influencing health research. This could be in terms of policy, the management of research teams and resources or the carrying out of research projects and studies. Applicants need to demonstrate this presence not only in terms of the work they are doing, but also through their insight into the challenges and opportunities that working and leading in this environment present.
•
An applicant’s commitment to learn and develop as a leader in research. Applicants should demonstrate that they understand what is involved in taking part in, and benefitting from, this leadership programme. Applicants should identify: o o o o
Their personal learning objectives and how they fit with the objectives of their organisational context How they will find the time to take part in the programme How they will contribute to the learning of others in the programme How others will contribute to their own learning
3. Components of the Leaders Programme: The Programme involves a range of experiences, fitted around the reality of day-to-day priorities, which take place where participants work and also at intensive away days. The main features of the process are: 3.1 Accompanying of participants in their workplaces. This consists of a visit from an expert member of the Ashridge faculty who will spend time alongside a participant as they go about their daily leadership work. Support, development and encouragement are provided in the moment, within the unique context of that individuals working reality. 3.2 Supported and focused feedback from colleagues. No one knows what it actually takes to thrive and succeed within the research world as well as colleagues who are involved in similar situations. The Programme will provide settings where feedback and support can be given by colleagues, in a way that is felt to be useful and developmental.
www.nihr.ac.uk/leadership
3.3 One-to-one coaching. Each participant will be given an experienced Ashridge coach, who will provide a forum in which confidential conversations can take place, exploring personal and professional ambitions, challenges and developmental needs. Coaching conversations take place at a time and in a place to fit with the preferences of each participant, as far as is feasible. 3.4 Peer learning networks. Participants will be supported and encouraged to take part in facilitated meetings with a small group of peers. These small meeting groups will provide the crucible in which real-time problems and paradoxes are explored and practical next steps identified. These networks are an essential feature of the learning community that will continue after the formal Programme. 3.5 Experiential workshops around ‘hot topics’.
There are 3 residential workshops (see below for information on dates and time commitment) provided in which participants are invited to explore the practical reality of engaging with the knotty problems of leadership. These problems will include – how to engage constructively with politics and power as they play out at both national and local levels, and how to have conversations on topics and with people who are often perceived as being difficult. 3.6 Conferences around compelling questions for NIHR leaders. The Programme provides opportunities for NIHR leaders to come together to address questions that are unique to the NIHR – its progress, ambitions and organisation. NIHR leaders from all areas are given the opportunity to talk freely and frankly about what is working, and not working, and what the emerging agenda for the NIHR should be. 3.7 Optional Masterclasses There are one day ‘skills top up’ workshops, for example on ‘Power & Influence’, ‘Developing Coaching Skills’ or ‘Leading Strategy & Change’. Masterclasses will typically take place in London (10.00-16.00) and be open to Leaders on the current programme as well as NIHR Trainees, R&D Managers & Directors currently participating in other streams of the NIHR Ashridge Leadership Programme.
www.nihr.ac.uk/leadership
3.8 Key dates and time commitment 1 to 3 days per month, over the 15 to 18 months of the Programme’s duration. There is, of course, a relationship between the amount you put into the programme and what you get out. The participants who have reported the greatest benefit are those who have given priority to Programme commitments and taken up the optional elements of the Programme. Specific commitments are as follows: Dates
Activity
Commitment (days)
05 - 06 July 2017
Workshop 1: Transition
From 10.30am on th th 05 to 4pm on 06
To be scheduled for a mutually convenient day
Visit to your place of work by Ashridge coach
0.75
To be scheduled for a mutually convenient day
Peer learning Group meeting by phone
0.25
To be scheduled for a mutually convenient day
One to one coaching
0.5
13 – 14 November 2017 o Workshop 2: Relationships
From 10.30am on 13th to 4pm on 14th
2.0
2.0
To be scheduled for a mutually convenient day
Peer learning Group meeting by phone
0.25
To be scheduled for a mutually convenient day
Visit to your place of work by Ashridge coach
0.75
4 - 5 April 2018
Workshop 3: Ambition into Practice
From 10.30am on th th 4 to 4pm on 5
Dates to be advertised
Masterclasses: One day Masterclasses in London for all participants in NIHR leadership development
Optional but encouraged
To be scheduled for a mutually convenient day
Peer learning Group meeting by phone
05 July 2018
Conference
www.nihr.ac.uk/leadership
2.0
0.25
09:00 - 16:00
1.0
3.9 Financial support The costs for the Programme, including all professional fees and one night of residential costs (for each of the three workshops) at Ashridge will be met in full by NIHR. This includes all meals at Ashridge. Costs associated with travel, however, will not be covered, nor costs associated with overnight accommodation, if needed when participating in Masterclasses. These costs are to be funded by the participant’s institution. 4. Application process There are a number of stages in the application process: • • • • •
Submit an application form Applications screened for their eligibility Complete Equal opportunity questionnaire Telephone conversation with a member of the Ashridge team if required Final Selection of the Group & Notification
We ask that you only apply if you are able to commit to ALL advertised workshops and conference dates (highlighted above in grey). Please ensure that you hold availability for the proposed dates until you have been notified whether your application has been successful and for which group. We expect a high level of interest building upon the successful experience of 12 previous groups of Leaders. The overall timeline for application and selection of the first group is: Deadline for submission of completed application form:
No later than 5 pm on Friday 14th April 2017 Telephone conversation with a member of the Ashridge team: Between 15 March 2017 and 30 April 2017 Final selection announced: 26th May 2017 4.1 Submit an application form Applications must be completed in full and submitted by 5pm on Friday 14th April 2017 Late applications will not be considered. In completing the application form you must confirm your availability for all published dates. Please find the application form on our website here.
www.nihr.ac.uk/leadership
4.2 Equal Opportunities form You will be sent an email by the NIHR’s Equal Opportunities Recording System (EDRS) on 17th April 2017 when the application deadline is passed, with an Equal Opportunity form to complete. 4.3 Telephone conversation with a member of the Ashridge Team If you meet the eligibility criteria (above) you will be invited to have a scheduled phone conversation with a member of the Ashridge team (up to 45 minutes). The purpose of this call is to explore your interest in the Programme at this point in your career as well as answering any questions you have at this stage. 4.4 Final Selection of the Group & Notification The final selection will be made by an Ashridge-NIHR panel who meet to review all applicants. The results will be announced not later than 26th May 2017. The selection will be based on a detailed review of all applicants we have spoken with. We ensure that there is an overall Group composition that is as diverse as possible - enough diversity for people to be exposed to different perspectives and experiences and that has the greatest potential to create a good learning environment. We look forward to hearing from you. Your Ashridge Leaders Team:
George Binney
Gerhard Wilke
www.nihr.ac.uk/leadership
Liz Wiggins
Isabelle Read
Katie Brooks
Sonny Loveridge
