Here’s your full programme timetable. You might find it helpful to print a copy or save it somewhere easy to access.

Please make sure to add all key dates to your diary and note the compulsory sessions, which are colour coded on the timetable.

We’re delighted to have you on this journey with us. This Padlet will be your central hub for everything you need throughout the programme – from study dates and workshop details to resources, reflections, and support.

Here you’ll find:

• Key programme information and updates

• Guidance for your workshops, learning pods, and portfolio

• Resources to support your development

• Contact details and ways to access support

  
  

This is your space to explore, reflect, and connect with others (think of it as a virtual noticeboard). Please check back regularly for updates – new resources and module information will be added as we go.

My role is to manage, develop and facilitate the programme, but more importantly, to be alongside you throughout your journey. I’m proud to be part of a programme that supports you to step confidently into your senior leadership role - helping you to recognise the unique value you bring to your profession, to feel appreciated for the work you do, and to challenge yourself to think differently.

Through reflection, connection, and the Leeds Way Values, my hope is that this programme will not only strengthen your leadership but also sustain you as the compassionate, effective leader your teams and patients need.

I look forward to welcoming you to the programme!

It is not compulsory that you attend these sessions, but it is an excellent opportunity to know mor, and access support and guidance from the Programme Lead should you need it. If you are unable to make it, don't worry - the recording with be available for you to catch up on.

You will receive a meeting invitation to all these sessions, but for your information, the sessions will be held at 2 - 2.30pm on the following dates:

COHORT 2 (January 2026):

Module 1: this will be covered in your welcome day

Module 2: 16/03/2026

Module 3: 11/05/2026

Module 4: 13/07/2026

Module 5: 21/09/2026

COHORT 3 (May 2026):

Module 1: this will be covered in your welcome day

Module 2: 20/07/2026

Module 3: 28/09/2026

Module 4: 23/11/2026

Module 5: 18/01/2027

COHORT 4 (October 2026):

Module 1: this will be covered in your welcome day

Module 2: 02/02/2026

Module 3: 23/03/2027

Module 4: 11/05/2027

Module 5: 06/07/2027

Modules will start on the following dates:

COHORT 2 (January 2026):

Module 1: 12/01/2026

Module 2: 16/03/2026

Module 3: 11/05/2026

Module 4: 13/07/2026

Module 5: 21/09/2026

COHORT 3 (May 2026):

Module 1: 14/05/2026

Module 2: 20/07/2026

Module 3: 28/09/2026

Module 4: 23/11/2026

Module 5: 18/01/2027

COHORT 4 (October 2026):

Module 1: 10/10/2026

Module 2: 02/02/2026

Module 3: 23/03/2027

Module 4: 11/05/2027

Module 5: 06/07/2027

leedsth-tr.professionaldevelopmentteam@nhs.net

This inbox is monitored Monday - Friday between 8am - 6pm. If you require a quicker response, please email Elfie directly (or send a message on Teams).

If your query is related specifically to:

Your Learning Pod - contact your facilitator

Coaching - contact Ashley Brooks directly: ashley@ashleybrooks.co.uk

Xapimed/Portfolio/Workshops - Elfie via the Professional Development Team

You can access through any device - at work or at home. MS Edge of Google Chrome browsers work best (sometimes it doesn't work well on Safari if accessing on an Apple device).

To help you stay on track, we’ve provided a completion target for each module. These targets are there to support your progress - your Learning Pod discussions will link closely to the topics in the adjoining module, so keeping up with the content will help you get the most from those sessions. It also helps to manage your workload, avoiding a last-minute rush at the end when reflection time can feel limited.

Don’t be alarmed if you can’t see all the modules on Xapimed straight away. Each module will be released at set times, usually a little in advance of the official start date, so you can look ahead and get a head start if you’d like.

At the start of each new module, there will be a 30-minute virtual “Introduction to the Module” session on Teams. This is a chance to hear an overview of the upcoming content, ask questions, and get guidance or support. These sessions will be recorded, so it's not a problem if you can't make it.

You will receive 3 programme evaluation forms at month 3, 6 and 9, as well as a short form at the end of each workshop day. Please take a few minutes to complete them - this will help us continuously improve the programme.

This is an important part of your learning journey and will help you better understand your leadership style and how you work with others.

Please make sure you complete it before the Welcome Day. The OD team will tell you an exact date for when this needs completing by.

The OD team will send you your personalised report. Please make sure you have this to hand on your Welcome Day.

If you haven’t used it before, please take a few minutes to log in and explore. Please do not worry if you can't see the Excellence in Leadership portfolio on there yet - we will let you know when it becomes available.

If you experience any problems, get in touch with the Professional Development Team so we can help you.

This includes:

4.5 days of in-person workshops (around 34 hours in total)

5 Learning Pod sessions (4 hours each, around 20 hours in total)

We recommend discussing these dates with your line manager early on and ensuring they’re built into your roster or diary.

Remember – to complete the programme successfully, you’ll need to attend 11 core sessions (these are highlighted on the timetable).

These sessions are one of the most valued parts of the programme & are a chance to step away from the day-to-day, think together, and build a strong network of peers who understand the realities of leadership at Band 7.

• Develop confidence in tackling leadership challenges.

• Strengthen your reflective and critical thinking skills.

• Build supportive, lasting professional connections.

• Foster a sense of shared learning and community.

Your facilitator will guide the discussion but the learning is very much driven by you and your peers. The more open, curious, and engaged you are, the richer the experience will be.

Here are a few ideas to help you feel ready:

• Think about your leadership journey so far - what’s going well, what’s challenging, and what you’d like to explore or strengthen through the programme.

• Be open and curious - your pod is a safe, confidential space where you can be honest, ask questions, and learn from others.

• Bring a real situation or example - you may be invited to share something from your role that you’d like the group to reflect on with you.

• Protect the time - treat your pod sessions as dedicated development time. Step away from your usual environment where possible so you can really focus and engage.

  
  

Above all, come as yourself. The Learning Pods work best when everyone brings their real experiences, listens generously, and supports one another’s growth.

Across 5 workshops (including your Welcome Day), you’ll come together with colleagues to explore key aspects of leadership - from understanding yourself and leading others, to managing people, resources, and sustaining wellbeing.

Each session is interactive and practical, bringing leadership theory to life through discussion, reflection, and real examples from practice. You’ll aim to leave each workshop with new insights, tools, and connections to strengthen your leadership journey.

Your Welcome Day marks the start of your leadership journey on the programme. It’s a chance to meet the team, connect with fellow participants, and get a clear picture of what to expect.

During this session you will:

• Be welcomed to the programme and meet the facilitators

• Explore the structure, expectations and key elements of the programme

• Meet your Learning Pod

• Meet your coach and learn more about the coaching offer

  
  

This session will help you feel prepared, connected and ready to make the most of the year ahead.

Topics covered:

• Unconscious bias and inclusive leadership

• Psychological safety and trust

• Emotional intelligence

• Compassionate and values-based leadership

• Leadership identity and values in practice

• Understanding team dynamics

  
  

This session helps you explore who you are as a leader, how you influence others, and how to create the conditions for your team to thrive.

Topics covered:

• Personalised people management

• Attendance management

• Performance management

• Supporting performance (with human factors content)

• Accountability and decision-making

  
  

This session focuses on leading people with both compassion and confidence - understanding how to balance support with accountability.

Topics covered:

• NHS finance and resource management

• CQC readiness (Well Led framework, assurance vs reassurance, complaints, safety huddles)

• Quality improvement methods

• Innovation and change management

• Leeds Improvement Method (LIM)

  
  

You’ll develop practical understanding of the systems and structures that shape your role and learn how to lead quality, safety and improvement with confidence.

Topics covered:

• Leading under pressure

• Managing energy and boundaries

• Self-compassion and reflective practice

• Peer support and sustaining team wellbeing

  
  

This final session is about sustainability - helping you stay grounded, resilient, and supported as you continue to grow as a leader.

This dedicated coaching support is a key part of the programme’s investment in you - your growth, confidence, and wellbeing as a leader.

It’s a unique offer for participants of the Excellence in Leadership programme and has been consistently described by previous participants as one of the most valuable aspects of their development journey.

Coaching provides a confidential space to:

• Reflect on your leadership practice

• Explore challenges and opportunities in a supportive setting

• Strengthen your confidence and self-awareness

• Develop clarity and strategies to take forward in your role

  
  

Ashley will contact you directly to arrange your sessions and discuss what works best for you. You’ll agree dates and times together, allowing flexibility around your work and personal commitments.

We encourage you to approach coaching with an open mind and a willingness to reflect honestly - it’s a powerful opportunity to invest in yourself and your leadership development.

Ashley Brooks Coaching –

Throughout the programme, you’ll meet colleagues from across different departments, CSUs & professional backgrounds. These connections often become a lasting source of support, encouragement, and inspiration.

Building your network is a leadership skill in itself. It helps you:

• Broaden your perspective and share good practice

• Strengthen collaboration across teams and services

• Build confidence in influencing and leading beyond your immediate area

• Develop a trusted peer support circle that continues beyond the programme

  
  

You can choose how you stay connected - for example, some Learning Pods create WhatsApp or Teams groups to keep in touch between sessions. However you do it, we encourage you to keep those conversations going.

When we designed this programme, one of the strongest messages from our focus groups was the importance of connection and community. Participants told us that the relationships they built were what helped them stay grounded, motivated, and reminded of their shared purpose.

So, make the most of every opportunity to connect. Your peers are one of the most valuable resources you’ll gain from this programme!

Key themes:
🩵 Emotional intelligence and self-awareness
💬 Communication and influence
🌿 Compassionate, authentic and values-based leadership

Discover how your personal leadership style shapes the culture around you and how to lead with confidence and integrity.

Key themes:
🫶 Psychological safety and team culture
🌈 Inclusive leadership and unconscious bias (with some human factors content)
💡 Kindness, civility and engagement

Learn how to inspire trust, motivate others, and foster a positive team environment where everyone feels valued and able to thrive.

Key themes:
👥 Personalised people management
🧭 Attendance and performance management
⚖️ Just culture, accountability and decision-making
💬 Courageous conversations

This module will help you navigate complex people situations and support performance while maintaining fairness and empathy.

Key themes:
💷 NHS finance and resource management
✅ CQC readiness and the Well Led framework
🔍 Leeds Improvement Method and QI
🔄 Managing change and innovation

Understand how strategic leadership connects to quality, safety and improvement in everyday practice.

Key themes:
💪 Leading under pressure
🌸 Managing your energy and boundaries
💭 Reflective practice and self-compassion
💬 Sustaining team wellbeing and recognising burnout

This module supports you to lead with balance, self-awareness and care – for yourself and those you lead.

This includes:

4.5 days of in-person workshops (around 34 hours in total)

5 Learning Pod sessions (4 hours each, around 20 hours in total)

We recommend discussing these dates with your line manager early on and ensuring they’re built into your roster or diary.

Please make sure to add all key dates to your diary and note the compulsory sessions, which are colour coded on the timetable.

Here’s your full programme timetable. You might find it helpful to print a copy or save it somewhere easy to access.

Please make sure to add all key dates to your diary and note the compulsory sessions, which are colour coded on the timetable.