Bolton PCT Senior Management Development Programme
In April 2008 the first of three cohorts of managers from Bolton PCT began studying for the Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership in Health and Social Care at the university.
The cohorts are made up of a mix of managers from across the sector, e.g. managers of services such as disability services, nursing, risk, physiotherapy, dietetics and public health. The second cohort started the programme in September, and the third in January 2009.
The course is the first year of the Masters programme, and students can progress on this pathway to the MSc: Leadership in Health and Social Care.
The course content is highly applied and learning is centred on the improvement of services. The course is also very intensive as all of the managers combine professional postgraduate study with their careers.
The programme's staff have worked in services (in health and social care) as well as academia. Visiting Fellow Geoff Baehren, from Bolton Council, brings a range of insights from his work in social care to the programme including issues related to promoting joint working and service redesign.
Participants have had tremendous support from the PCT, in terms of funding and study time. As well as the analysis and development of their management skills (via Myers Briggs and other psychometrics, and use of the LQF 360 tool), they report development of thinking and writing skills, and the building of relationships and networks between each other. And of course, the development of service quality and efficiency is being carried through.