The Queen Elizabeth NHS Foundation Trust

Being a nurse leader in a “Special Measures” Trust is tough. Knowing that the drive for improvement is an imperative, but how do you remain motivated in times that are challenging and in an environment that is pressurised and complex?

Mandy Ashton was commissioned to devise a bespoke senior nurses leadership programme for The Queen Elizabeth NHS Foundation Trust to support leadership capacity and capability of matrons and ward managers. This included practical skills such as finance awareness, building personal resilience, understanding change and improvement techniques.

Competencies were measured before and after the programme and results showed an increased in self-esteem and resilience. Leadership turnover rates dropped and recruitment of newly qualified nurses increased by over 400%. The development programme formed a part of a wider programme of improvement that resulted in the trust coming out of Special Measures.