Richard talks about: ARC Leadership Programme

Richard Beeken, Chief Executive

Our new ARC Leadership Programme will ensure all colleagues are able to flourish and thrive within our organisation. The last 13 years have seen the NHS face funding constrictions which were exacerbated by the global pandemic leading to severe pressure on services.

We are facing higher levels of sickness than ever with more colleagues suffering a degree of psychological burn out and national and local vacancy rates are at an all-time high. This landscape we find ourselves in means there has never been a better time for us to develop our leaders in a different type of leadership that will benefit the organisation, our staff and patients in the future.

To respond to that challenge we have agreed three strategic objectives:

• Patients – To be good or outstanding in everything we do

• People – To cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff

• Population – To work seamlessly with our partners to improve lives

Our people plan is our strategic framework for delivering that “people” objective. It recognises the three fundamental contributors to staff engagement and morale – inclusive leadership, improved digital experience and a comfortable physical environment. It’s very simple: happy staff means happy patients and carers.

The new ARC leadership programme has three core modules:

1. Compassionate and Inclusive Leadership

2. Restorative People Management Practice

3. Leading and Inspiring Safety and Service Innovation

This year we are focusing compassionate and inclusive leadership programme. And I just want to make it clear, compassionate does not mean soft, fluffy or ineffective - it is essentially a way of leading a team, so they feel respected and valued so they are able to contribute in their own way, to our strategic objectives.

On a personal reflection – 20 years ago after being appointed in my first executive role as chief operating officer, I took part in a 360 appraisal which asked my immediate team what they thought of me.

The feedback was very powerful. It said, in essence ‘Richard will hit any target that you want him to hit but he won’t ask why and