The Lothian Experiential Leadership Academy (ELA) is a key element of the NHS Lothian Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan 2023-2028. It is designed to develop systems leadership in Nursing and Midwifery through experiential learning across four progressive levels:
- Level 1 Discovering – shadowing opportunities open to all nursing and midwifery staff. Likely to be one day spent with another NHS Lothian staff member at any level.
- Level 2 Deciding – opportunities to understand other roles in the organisation, like the post holder’s own role but within a different part of the system. There may be opportunities for undertaking paired experiential learning for 1 week – 1 month.
- Level 3 Developing – developing at a more senior level to lead on specific projects and collaboratives where there are system-wide implications. This could be an extended period of learning for the lifetime of the project or acting as chair for a divisional or system committee or group.
- Level 4 Directing – leading on a systems wide programme of work, sponsored by an NHS Lothian Executive. This will involve chairing meetings and reporting to the Board.
Aims
The aims of the ELA are to provide a structured opportunities away from an individual’s current role to:
- Improve understanding of other roles and services
- Provide opportunities to consider a career move
- Support succession and career planning
- Contribute to the retention of staff
- Create opportunities for networking, collaborative working and relationship building.
The experiential learning experiences will be diverse, and may include the following:
- Clinical Shadowing: other clinical services or patient pathways
- Succession Planning: next steps in the career pathway
- Education/Research: understanding different career pathways
- Standards & Quality Improvement: QI methodology, assurance and using data
- Professional: professional advisory and governance structures and roles
Each level of award has criteria for application, application process and criteria for being given an ELA award certificate.
