September 2026 News Bulletin
Latest News:
Implementing the Management & Leadership Framework? Join the regional conversation
As we move closer to implementation of the Management & Leadership Framework, join colleagues from across the North East and Yorkshire for our next Regional Community of Practice, taking place face-to-face on Wednesday 4th November
Wednesday 4th November | 10.00am–1.00pm | Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel
Since January, our Community of Practice has brought together colleagues involved in organisational implementation to share learning, explore challenges and connect with others across the region.
This in-person session offers more time for conversation, networking and shared problem-solving as organisations prepare to embed the framework.
Why attend?
If you have a role in preparing your organisation for implementation, this is an opportunity to:
- Share ideas, approaches and emerging practice with colleagues across the region.
- Explore practical implementation challenges and opportunities.
- Discuss key areas including appraisal, recruitment, data and activity reporting.
- Build relationships, strengthen regional collaboration and take learning back to your organisation.
Be part of the regional conversation
This session is aimed at colleagues involved in the strategic or organisational implementation of the framework across health organisations in the region. Attendees should have a baseline understanding of the framework and its aims, allowing us to focus on practical implementation and shared learning.
If you’re involved in implementing the framework within your organisation, we’d really encourage you to join us.
A full agenda and further venue details will follow shortly.
Managers: When did you last take time to focus on you?
Managing people through ongoing change and competing pressures can be demanding. When you’re focused on supporting your team and keeping things moving, it can be easy to overlook your own energy and wellbeing.
Our upcoming Managers Toolbox: Staying Steady & Connected Under Pressure session offers managers the chance to pause, reflect and explore practical ways to look after themselves and lead effectively when the pressure is on.
Tuesday 8 December | 9.30am–12.30pm | Virtual
In this practical, interactive session, you’ll explore how to:
- Reconnect with your work’s meaning and purpose.
- Recognise your strengths and what energises you.
- Use your mindset to navigate setbacks and maintain perspective.
- Understand the value of connection and support.
- Develop realistic strategies to protect your energy through challenge and change.
Could you benefit from taking a step back?
You don’t have to wait until things feel overwhelming to make time for yourself. Take three hours away from the day-to-day to reflect, recharge and pick up practical approaches you can use straight away.
Places are available now!
Celebrating our Future Leaders: Building a Strategic Mind-set Cohort 3
On 9 September, colleagues came together to celebrate the successful completion of Cohort 3 of our Building a Strategic Mind-set programme, reflecting on their learning, successes and achievements.
Designed for colleagues aspiring to their first Director-level role, the programme supports participants to broaden their thinking beyond operational responsibilities and develop the confidence, awareness and skills to operate effectively at a strategic level.
Across four linked workshops, participants explored:
- Moving from operational thinking to a strategic mind-set
- Power, politics and influence in complex systems
- Culture, change and organisational dynamics
- Improving quality through systems thinking
Participants also benefited from mentoring and individual career coaching, helping them apply their learning in the workplace and explore their future career aspirations.
Turning learning into practice
Feedback highlighted the value of dedicated time to reflect and think strategically, alongside practical tools and learning with colleagues from different organisations and roles.
Participants are already putting their learning into practice, from taking a more considered approach to strategic decisions and reflecting on their leadership behaviours, to sharing strategic thinking with their teams and prioritising wellbeing and managing pressure.
Celebrating success
The celebration event provided an opportunity to share how participants’ thinking and leadership had developed, recognise their progress and look ahead to how their learning, relationships and insights will support their future leadership journeys.
Congratulations to everyone who completed Cohort 3! We look forward to seeing participants continue to put their learning into practice and take the next steps in their leadership careers.
North East and Yorkshire Leadership Academy OD Networks
We’re pleased to host our third OD Network session for North East and North Cumbria on 8 October, and our second OD Network session for Yorkshire and the Humber on 12 November. Both networks provide a safe, supportive and barrier-free space for colleagues to connect, build relationships, share brilliant local practice and learn together.
Booking links for both sessions are below.
8 October for NENC OD Network (Online): North East and North Cumbria OD Network (3) The OD Cycle Uncensored with Lucy White – North East and Yorkshire Leadership Academy
12 November for Y&H Network (Face to face) : Yorkshire and the Humber-wide OD Network – Session 2 – North East and Yorkshire Leadership Academy
We’re also delighted that on 10 December, we’ll bring colleagues from both networks together for a shared OD Network session exploring Organisational Trauma with Gareth Evans. This will be a great opportunity to connect across the two networks, share experiences and learn together.
10 December for NE & Y&H OD Network: OD Network: Organisational Trauma with Gareth Evans – North East and Yorkshire Leadership Academy
Help shape the future of NHS leadership and management
The new NHS College of Leadership and Management is developing its 3-year business plan and wants to hear from colleagues across the NHS.
Join one of the upcoming national virtual town halls to share your views on the College’s draft offer, including leadership development, talent management, EDI and clinical leadership.
Town halls run from 22 September to 6 October.
- Talent Management and Career Development – Thursday 24 September from 2pm to 3pm
- Attraction, Onboarding and Support – Tuesday 29 September from 2pm to 3pm
- Placing EDI at the heart of the College’s offer – Thursday 1 October from 1pm to 2pm
- Clinical Leadership and Management – Tuesday 6 October from 1pm to 2pm.
A short questionnaire, that takes 5 to 7 minutes to complete, is also an opportunity to share your views, experiences and priorities and help shape the future direction of the college.
Events:
(some events may be waiting list only)
Leading Well at the Strategic Level: Delivering Impact, Engagement, and System Change.
A series of themed, stand-alone workshops, delegates can choose to attend just one or all three, depending on your needs.
The Curious Leader Series
Each webinar combines current research, practical tools and reflective exercises to help participants think differently about the challenges they face every day. They explore how curiosity supports better decision-making, healthier transitions, personal resilience, thoughtful use of artificial intelligence, deeper thinking and hope-filled leadership.
Coaching Supervision
The Supervision Café offers accredited coaches an opportunity to engage in group supervision. In this setting, coaches can collectively address current challenges in their practice. The format is informal, with facilitated supervision
Coaches Cafe
In our Coaching café, our aim is to create a virtual space where coaches can come to meet other coaches to share learning, resources and to inspire each other.
Management & Leadership Framework CoP
To support planning for implementation of the Management and Leadership Framework across the region we have offered a Community of Practice (CoP) since January 2026. This will now continue, as a whole region CoP as we move toward launch of the framework.
The CoP is open to all staff working across the region to support implementation of the framework within their own organisations, and is open to all health organisations across the region. Each CoP will have a theme to structure conversations and exploration of ideas such as appraisals, data and activity reporting, recruitment strategies etc.
Managers Toolbox
The Managers’ Toolbox is a series of practical sessions tailored for managers with at least 12 months’ experience in role – particularly those leading teams while balancing demands from across the organisation.
These new workshops focus on real-world challenges, offering tools to build high-performing teams, sustain engagement, and lead more effective meetings and more.
Manager as Coach
Manager as Coach (MAC) is a leadership programme consisting of 3 linked workshops. These can be accessed as a complete series, or in isolation, depending on your own learning needs. The aim of MAC is to support development of a coaching approach when working with individuals, or with the whole team. The programme is aimed at managers at all levels and roles, and those aspiring to their first management role.
Join us to gain insight and skills into how you can give and receive feedback to support appraisal & talent enablement conversations.