A new booklet promoting the stories of successful NHS leaders from the black and minority ethnic (BME) community in the Yorkshire and the Humber region is being published shortly.
The booklet, titled ‘Different Leaders’, promotes the stories of successful BME leaders in the NHS in Yorkshire and the Humber region who highlight their diversity as a leadership strength.
The Different Leaders initiative is part of Innov8NHS - leading differently for better healthcare, a programme of leadership development work sponsored by the Regional Leadership Council and funded by NHS Yorkshire and the Humber.
Abdul Khalifa, HR Business Partner for Bradford District Care Trust, and who also sits on Innov8 Executive Group has taken the lead on this booklet.
Despite significant efforts and vital contributions of black and minority ethnic staff across the NHS, we have far too few senior leaders from BME backgrounds on the boards of our organisations. This is not about whether there are talented people in the workforce this is more about whether people are aware of the different strategies that individuals can apply to help them get to where they want to be, whilst at the same time ensuring that organisations are able to spot those aspiring individuals. Sharing stories of those individuals that have done exactly that either through determination, development support or with an attitude of yes I can is fundamental to individual success. These are the sort of leaders needed to create a more effective workforce that is well equipped to realise and respond to the challenges of a 21st century NHS.
Abdul says, “We hope that by reading these stories people are able to make a connection between the reader’s situation and the profile story whilst in addition providing some clear support to achieve their aims”. Beyond this, the hope is to illustrate the importance of coaching and mentoring of aspiring leaders.
Case Study
Reva Stewart, one of the profiles in the publication has recently moved on from her role as Business Manager at Bradford District Care Trust to Head of Adults Service (Reading) Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, having initially started working for the NHS as a nurse. In the publication she and others, highlight a number of key attributes which they feel are needed in a good leader, self belief being a common theme. Reva said “you’ve got to believe in yourself and your abilities...” in order to move ahead in your career.
To read this and other such inspirational stories highlighting how certain individuals have made the journey within leadership whilst highlighting strategies for success and personal drive to get to where they are now, contact Abdul Khalifa for more details- abdul.khalifa@bdct.nhs.uk .
Ends
For more information contact : Carl Jessop
NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, part of NHS North of England
0113 2952111
Notes to Editors
The Different Leaders initiative is part of Innov8 NHS leading differently for better healthcare, a programme of leadership development work sponsored by the Regional Leadership Council, managed and funded by NHS Yorkshire and Humber and led by the Innov8 Executive Group, a partnership of aspiring BME leaders and existing senior leaders. It looks at ways that organisations and existing leaders can do things differently, highlighting the need to recognise, utilise and reward the many talented and aspiring BME leaders in the workforce.
