This course explains what leadership means for every healthcare professional, not only managers, and teaches practical skills for leading a shift or team, delegating safely, communicating in a crisis and managing conflict. It uses NHS frameworks and worked examples, including a case study of a difficult shift, to help you lead with confidence and fairness.
What you will learn
- Describe the dimensions of the NHS Healthcare Leadership Model and the principle of compassionate leadership.
- Lead a shift or clinical team using a structured approach to briefing, allocation, situational awareness and escalation.
- Delegate tasks safely and accountably in line with your regulator's standards.
- Use structured communication and closed-loop techniques in time-critical situations.
- Manage conflict and challenging behaviour using a recognised framework, and speak up about safety concerns.
Course content
- Leadership is everyone's job (2 min)
- Leading a shift or team (3 min)
- Delegating safely (3 min)
- Communication in teams and crises (2 min)
- Managing conflict (3 min)
- Building effective teams (2 min)
- Case study: a difficult shift (2 min)
- Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
- Guided reflection (15 min)
Standards and guidance covered
- GMC: Leadership and management for all doctors and Good Medical Practice (2024)
- NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018), including working cooperatively, delegating effectively and raising concerns
- HCPC: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2024), including the standard on delegation and working with colleagues
- GPhC: Standards for pharmacy professionals (2017), including demonstrating leadership
- NHS Leadership Academy: Healthcare Leadership Model
- NHS England: Freedom to speak up policy for the NHS
Certificate
Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.
Study free at your own pace on any device.
Related guides
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Practical teaching skills for doctors and nurses: learning outcomes, the one-minute preceptor, SNAPPS, Peyton's four steps, and bedside and group teaching.
Giving Feedback in Clinical Supervision: Pendleton and Other Models
Pendleton's feedback model explained with a worked example, plus SET-GO, Ask Tell Ask and R2C2, and how to give feedback well in clinical supervision.
Leadership Skills for NHS Staff: Leading Shifts, Teams and Change
Leadership skills for NHS staff: how to lead a shift, delegate safely, communicate in a crisis, manage conflict and lead small changes, with worked examples.
Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.