Executive-level leadership and talent management in NHSScotland: overview paper

Background

2. NHSScotland has a 2020 Workforce Vision and Values ² . The vision makes a commitment to putting people at the centre of everything we do, and using our shared values to guide the work we do, the decisions we take and the way we treat each other. Developing leadership capabilities and capacity across NHSScotland is a key priority in the 2020 Workforce Vision and is an integral part of improving quality to enhance patient safety and people's experience of services. The values span: care and compassion; dignity and respect; openness, honesty and responsibility; and quality and teamwork. The Everyone Matters: 2020 Workforce Vision Implementation Plan ³ sets out a range of actions to secure progress towards the vision. Consideration of a new approach to executive level leadership development and talent management in NHSScotland has this vision and the values at its core.

3. The Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out a programme to further enhance health and social care services in Scotland. The overall strategic intention remains focused on ensuring people in Scotland can live longer, healthier lives at home or in a homely setting. The Delivery Plan sets the broad context for the design and delivery of services in the future. Further, it describes the opportunities presented by new and innovative approaches which will drive the design and delivery of high quality services, improvements in population health and reductions in inequalities.

4. Our approach to ethical leadership ⁴ , alongside supporting our current and future leaders to reflect on and develop their strengths within the context of the 6 core leadership capabilities for health and social care ⁵ , will underpin the changes necessary to ensure that people have access to the best possible care when they need it, and that resources are deployed efficiently and sustainably. This new approach to leadership and talent management also aligns with the National Workforce Plan - another component of the Delivery Plan - which is due to be published at the end of May 2017.