Equipping you to lead and manage.
Our Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship in partnership with the NHS Leadership Academy has been designed for individuals who are from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds, and who aspire to build their strategic leadership skills to progress in their health care careers. The programme aims to enable individuals to acquire the knowledge, skills, behaviours and mindset of a leader who can undertake transformational change and support their teams in doing so.
This programme will fully support apprentices in becoming effective transformational leaders, with a focus on compassion, inclusion, and the ability to lead across complex systems within healthcare. Apprentices will engage in topics including personal and professional development, systems leadership, creating change, and maintaining resilience in oneself and others.
The design of the programme has taken into account the future skill needs required of healthcare professionals, including those areas such as big data, data analytics, systems leadership and sustainability.
Apprentices will be supported throughout their programme by a specialist Apprenticeship Tutor, who will help them to identify the key learning acquired from the modules, and how this aligns to workplace practice. The tutor will be involved in monitoring the apprentices’ progress, undertaking Tripartite Progress Reviews and helping them to prepare for their End Point Assessment.
Apprentices will also have access to a Pesonal Development workbook, which they will be encouraged to engage with regularly as part of their programme. This will enable them to track their own learning progress and identify areas for improvement. It will encourage regular self-assessment and promote a clear understanding of strengths, weaknesses and personal values. The workbook will aid apprentices’ conversations with their Cranfield Apprenticeship Tutor and their line manager in 121s and Tripartite Progress Reviews
Overview
- Start dateJanuary 2025, May 2025
- Duration15 months + 5 months End-point Assessment
- Study typePart-time
- CampusCranfield campus, Online
Delivery mode
Our blended delivery model consists of:
- Face-to-face workshops at Cranfield, and live online sessions: These will draw on contextualised health and care case studies and experiential exercises. These workshops will draw on apprentices’ personal and professional competencies, using group work, simulation exercises and networking opportunities. Attendance at these workshops is mandatory.
- 5 x facilitated impact groups: These will encourage apprentices to critically evaluate their learning and work-based application of the learning content, helping them to explore their individual, group and organisational impact.
- Self-directed learning (NHS virtual campus): The virtual campus is where apprentices will find all of the resources needed for the programme. This consists of articles, videos, questions, activities and discussion forums. Apprentices must make regular contributions to the discussion forums. There will also be materials provided by facilitators which supplement this initial content.
Benefits of the blended approach
- Networking opportunities: Apprentices can engage face-to-face with their cohort, fostering relationships and sharing diverse approaches to organisational challenges.
- Experience sharing: Apprentices can share best practices from their varied healthcare roles, enhancing their critical thinking and applied learning.
- Personal and professional development: Whilst on campus, apprentices will have immediate access to tutors and facilitators for guidance on their learning, workplace issues and receive direct, personalised feedback on performance and areas for improvement.
- Resource access: Utilisation of campus facilities like the library and additional learning resources.
Facilities at Cranfield
Apprentices will stay at Cranfield’s Management Development Centre (CMDC) which offers:
- High-quality service and facilities.
- Includes food, refreshments, and a gym.
- Location provides easy access via road (J14, M1) and rail (nearest train station is Milton Keynes).
Eligibility
This programme meets the requirements of the revised Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship Standard. Organisations can use £14,000 of their Apprenticeship Levy to cover the programme tuition fee. View fees and funding and eligibility information
Outcomes
Apprentices who successfully complete the programme will receive the following:
- Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship Award
- CMI Award in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
- NHS Leadership Academy Award in Senior Healthcare Leadership
Programme modules
The modules on the apprenticeship are as follows:
- Programme orientation and apprenticeship overview
- Preparing for success
- Developing organisational strategy in healthcare
- Finance for Healthcare leaders
- Taking stock
- Creating change
- What to do when things don’t go to plan
- Sustainability in healthcare
- Maintaining your energy
- Looking to the future
- Celebration and sharing the learning
The apprenticeship will commence with an Orientation Day and also consist of a Foundations event, with facilitated impact groups integrated throughout the 15 months.
Assessments
Apprentices will be assessed on:
- Ongoing workplace application of knowledge, skills, and behaviours throughout the apprenticeship programme, and the creation of an evidence portfolio.
- Completion of all online content on the virtual campus.
- Regular contributions to online discussion forums and use of the Virtual Campus material.
- Submission of module assignments including Learning and Workplace Impact Reports to assess knowledge, understanding and workplace application.
- Submission of a 5,000-word critically reflective essay at the end of the programme demonstrating development capabilities and applied leadership throughout the programme.
- Attendance and completion of the End Point Assessment (EPA), consisting of two assessment methods: A Professional Discussion and a Strategic Business Proposal.
The EPA is conducted by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), with successful outcomes being awarded as a Pass or Distinction.
Programme benefits
An apprentice on the programme will benefit from:
- Engaging in a leadership programme which contributes to professionalising the healthcare sector and providing the opportunity to support the valuable role that leaders play in ensuring high quality care and outcomes for staff, carers, patients and their families.
- Improving personal impact to help drive progress in team(s) and inspire organisations to build compassionate, inclusive, person-centred cultures of care.
- Delivering greater value to the senior healthcare role, or to progress your career as a senior leader within the healthcare sector/NHS.
- Acting as a mentor and coach, supporting others development, enabling them to be resilient and confident leaders.
- Developing strategies that bring immediate and productive changes to the individual, team and organisation, including service users/patients.
- Delivering commercial and strategic business initiatives, acting as sponsors and transformers of change.
- Leading on transformational change initiatives in the healthcare setting, including those in the areas of sustainability, waste reduction and more efficient use of resources.
- Applying economic theories and financial modelling to develop strategies and allocate resources in line with legal, governance and procurement requirements within the healthcare sector.
- Developing the competencies associated with being a systems leader enabling the management of teams across complex organisational boundaries.
- Pursuing confidently other postgraduate learning and development opportunities.
Accreditation
Cranfield School of Management is one of an elite group of business schools worldwide to hold triple accreditations from:
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Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes excellence in UK management and leadership. The institute aims to boost career development across the management sector and connect you with like-minded professionals across diverse sectors. This course awards a CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as well as becoming a Chartered Fellow, on successful completion of the apprenticeship.
