Accidental management in healthcare
Strong management and leadership are essential in healthcare, yet many professionals find themselves in management roles without formal training. Recognising this, the University of Bolton’s School of Nursing and Midwifery is dedicated to supporting NHS Trusts across the region by equipping healthcare professionals with the skills they need to lead effectively.
“At the School of Nursing and Midwifery, we offer apprenticeship programmes because we know there is a clear demand for qualified managers,” explains Dawn Fletcher-Wilde, Programme Lead at the University.
“The impact of management and leadership is often the focus of public reviews in healthcare and part of standards set out by regulatory bodies like the Care Quality Commission.”
To address this need, Bolton aimed to develop Level 6 and 7 management degree apprenticeships designed to empower healthcare managers and leaders with the expertise to navigate the complexities of the public sector.
Partnership growth
Bolton partnered with CMI to benefit from an End-Point Assessment (EPA) that further boosts management and leadership skills in the NHS.
“Partnering with the CMI for EPA has really enhanced the quality of education and learning experience for learners due to it allowing them to start with their EPA front-of-mind,” explains Dawn. “This has also bolstered our curriculum design, feeding seamlessly into the teaching.”
Thanks to CMI’s guidance and support, we have expanded to work with multiple NHS Trusts across the country and in the wider health and social care sector.
Tangible achievement
This strong partnership between Bolton and CMI has created real success for the School, their apprentices and the NHS. One apprentice is Nicola Caffrey, Corporate Business Manager for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. Nicola’s EPA project was focused on lost property across hospitals. “As a result of introducing better processes for missing items, there has been increased patient satisfaction alongside decreased costs and complaints.”
Sarah Hulme CMgr MCMI, Cancer Performance Manager at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, has similarly made a real impact. “Through my EPA project I managed the improvement of the booking system for cancer patients; we’ve saved more than 3,000 cancer pathway days for patients across Greater Manchester.”
“I’m a different manager and leader than when I first started. What I really liked about the CMI-assessed apprenticeship was the evidence-based approach. CMI learning resources have enabled me to get to the root cause of challenges.”
Dawn highlights the success delivered as a result for the University and its learners:
Our latest cohort achieved a 90% EPA Distinction rate. I credit that to CMI EPA with Support, which instils our apprentices with confidence from the first day. They have access to CMI learning resources throughout the CMDA, making them proficient in underpinning management practice and how this can be applied in context.
Change and innovation
Overall, the combination of academic education with experience-led reflective practice creates qualified leaders who can actively work to improve patient care outcomes.
“The practical, hands-on experience in the CMI-assessed apprenticeship is very valuable,” notes Marvin Constantine, a Neighbourhood Leader within the Bolton Health and Care Integrated Partnership. “The foundations of management and leadership that you learn about as part of the programme really helps you to challenge your behaviours and approaches.”
According to Dawn:
A pathway to Chartered Manager status and the CMI-assessed degree apprenticeship with a formal qualification provides the consistency and quality that we’re looking for in leaders. The partnership with CMI means that our apprentices are taught to strive for change and innovation, which is so important in the NHS.
Watch the full video case study
Hear from Dawn Fletcher-Wilde CMgr MCMI, Programme Lead at the University of Bolton, and NHS apprentices about how CMI End-Point Assessment is transforming patient care and driving meaningful change.