Inclusive Leadership Development
Programme for Women
Contents
01 Programme
02 Dates
03 Selection Process
04 Application Form
09 Booking T&Cs
NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 01
Programme
Aim
Increasing diversity and the number of women
in leadership in particular makes good business
sense for all organisations. Yet despite the
drive for more women on boards and gender
diversity initiatives in many organisations
progress is slow. The NHS Five Years Forward
View (October 2014) “backs diverse solutions
and local leadership”. To achieve diverse
solutions NHS South West Leadership
Academy recognise the need to develop a
more inclusive culture of leadership.
The following programme has been put
together by The Glass Lift working in
partnership with The South West NHS
Leadership Academy. Our aim is to develop the
leadership capability of talented women, drive
towards a more inclusive leadership culture and
a larger and more secure pipeline of female
talent leading to better gender balance at senior
level in the NHS.

Four one day workshops, some 24 hour
residential, others 9am-5pm.

Four Elevator Events with high profile
speakers.

Two psychometric profiles with feedback
session from qualified personnel.

Comprehensive e-learning via the Glass
Lift Member Area: Includes bespoke
exercises, the latest leadership research,
audio visual content, space to create
reflective logs, peer learning via member
only discussion forum and access to other
learning resources.

Bespoke exercises and projects designed
by The Glass Lift in collaboration with
members, NHS SW Leadership Academy
staff, critical friends, and sponsors.

The support and guidance of a critical
friend, NHS trained coaches.
Programme design and format
Programme Content
The Glass Lift is an innovative two year
inclusive leadership development programme
for women. Inside The Glass Lift members work
in cohorts of up to 12 talented women.
Programme delivery is bite-size and includes a
mix of face to face workshops, e-learning with
the Glass Lift Community in the online Member
Area, face to face and virtual support by a
critical friend (NHS coach) and the chance to
hear from expert speakers and network with
other members and senior leaders at Elevator
Events. Specifically the two year programme
includes:
The programme comprises four levels of work.
Each of the 4 levels lasts six months and is
specifically tailored to the cohort’s learning
needs & experience. The content includes the
latest theory and research from Psychology,
neuroscience, leadership and gender in the
workplace. The Glass Lift programme has
been designed and is facilitated by Chartered
Occupational Psychologists. The leadership
content is robust and uniquely integrates the
issues facing women on their path to
leadership.


NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 02
Dates
Activity
20th & 21st May 2015
Workshops 1 (24 hour residential)
10th November 2015
Workshop 2 (1 day workshop)
11th & 12th May 2016
16th November 2016
Workshop 3 (24 hour residential)
Workshop 4 (1 day workshop)
18th June 2015
Elevator Event
Bristol
21st January 2016
Elevator Event
Location to be confirmed
7th July 2016
Elevator Event
Location to be confirmed
January 2017
Elevator Event
Location to be confirmed
Intra-personal effectiveness
 My purpose & guiding principles
 My preferences, strengths & hazards
 Resilience and confidence
 Career planning
 Leadership & gender difference
 Visibility and knowing my ’brand’
 Networks, role models & sponsors
Inter-personal effectiveness
 Leadership, trust and integrity
 Emotional intelligence
 Leading high performance
 Leading teams
 Teaching, coaching & mentoring.
 Social stereotyping & unconscious bias
 Fitting in and finding voice
 Raising awareness of gender barriers
Intra-organisational effectiveness.
 Leading identity & community
 Collaborative & distributed leadership
 Leaders as connectors
 Functional skills vs. leadership skills
 Stewardship & succession planning
 Flexible working patterns
 Managing work life balance

Maintaining engagement during career 
Venue
Dillington House
Illminster
Taunton, Somerset
TA19 9DT
Inter-organisational effectiveness.
 Women on boards
 Introduction to board governance.
 Shaping vision & role modelling
 Assessing organisational systems
 Discerning trends, complexity, uncertainty
and leading change
 Strategic leadership – “the 33%”
 Power and politics.
 The external ambassador & building
reputation
Time commitment
The time commitment required from members
is equivalent to broadly one day per month: At
least four days out of office at workshops & the
remainder during out of office hours or within
negotiated work time.
Accreditation
The programme requires a commitment from all
stakeholders. Members may opt to gain
Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) level
5. Accreditation certificates are charged extra at
cost.
.
NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 03
Selection process
This development programme is for NHS staff
with the potential and desire to take a senior
leadership role in the NHS.
Applicants may express interest by self-referral
and/or be identified by a senior sponsor from
within their organisation.
Applicants are required to complete an
application form to establish their potential to
lead, plus their aspirations and engagement
within the NHS.
Applications will be analysed and members
selected by NHS SW Leadership Academy and
The Glass Lift team. Attention will be paid to
ensuring a good combination of members for
the initial pilot cohort.
The following criteria will be used for selection:

Demonstration of the desire and potential
to lead at a senior level.

Demonstration of commitment to own
personal development.

Commitment to develop leadership
capability and increase intention to become
a future leader.

Commitment to the principles of diversity
and inclusion in the NHS.

Commitment to attend all workshops and
events.

Commitment to work collaboratively with
other Glass Lift Members and to actively
engage in projects and assignments.

Acceptance of the booking conditions

For more details about The Glass Lift
Programme see www.theglasslift.co.uk
The closing date for submission of application
forms is Thursday 9th April 2015. Successful
applicants will be notified of the outcome as
soon as possible after that date.
Please complete the following application
form and email this form to
leadership@southwest.hee.nhs.uk.

NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 04
Application Form
Please answer all the questions below – feel free to expand the form as required to
suit your answers.
Personal Details (please complete all fields)
Name:
Role/title:
Organisation/Employer:
Email Address:
Postal Address:
Invoice details (in case of cancellation):
Mobile and work phone number:
The name of your manager or sponsor:
Your manager or sponsor's email address:
Do you have special dietary or any other
requirements?
We are committed to meeting the needs of our
members with disabilities and medical conditions
and would be pleased if you would advise us of
support you may need e.g. wheelchair access,
communication support.
NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 05
Biographical Information
Please tell give brief details of your educational attainment:
Please summarise any professional qualification:
Please provide a brief summary of your PREVIOUS roles and responsibilities:
Please provide a summary of your CURRENT role and your responsibilities
Do you manage other people? If so, how many people?
NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 06
Please provide information on any previous management and leadership development
undertaken. Include details such as the nature of the development, when, it’s duration and any
qualifications (e.g. ILM)
How would you rate your understanding of leadership theory based on previous learning and
development undertaken?
Do you have a formal coach and/or mentor?
Please tell us the name/s of any Psychometric profiles that you have completed e.g. MBTi, OPQ.
NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 07
What do you most enjoy doing at work?
What sort of thing worries or concerns you at work?
Is there anything else that would be helpful for us to know about you?
Please detail any questions you have about The Glass Lift Programme
NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 08
The following questions are intended to elicit an understanding of your leadership
aspirations and commitment to the NHS.
Please outline your aspirations with regards to taking on a more senior leadership role within the
NHS. This should include information such as the type of role you aspire to. Why do you wish to
lead others? What attributes do you believe you will bring to the role? (100-200 words)
What are your personal objectives in applying for this programme? How will you know if you have
achieved your objectives? (50-100 words)
What are YOUR expectations of The Glass Lift Programme and how it will benefit you?
NHS South West Leadership Academy | Glass Lift | 09
Line Manager Endorsement
I acknowledge that the NHS South West Leadership Academy is not responsible
for payment of backfill, accommodation, travel or subsistence.
I agree to provide the conditions, resources and study leave to ensure successful
attendance and completion of the entire programme. Where appropriate I will
ensure the release of the applicant from the necessary clinical case load.
I agree to provide ongoing personal support for the applicant’s development. I
agree that travelling expenses, subsistence and overnight accommodation will be
covered by my organisation.
Name:
Signature: (electronic signature acceptable)
Organisation:
Date:
Applicants Declaration of Commitment
I agree to develop my leadership capability with the intention of becoming a
future leader.
I agree to support diversity and inclusion in the NHS.
I commit to attending all Glass Lift workshops and events.
I commit to working collaboratively with other Glass Lift Members and to
actively engage in projects and assignments.
Name:
Signature: (electronic signature acceptable)
Organisation:
Date:
IMPORTANT - Booking Conditions
This programme is funded by the NHS South West Leadership Academy. In order to successfully
complete the programme you are expected to attend and complete the programme in full.
If you secure and confirm a place on this programme and fail to attend any element or cancel
with less than 4 weeks’ notice you/ your employer/ organisation will be charged £3000 for the
total cost of your place.
I have read and understand the booking conditions
We cannot proceed with your application unless the box above is ticked.
Thank you for completing this form - please return to leadership@southwest.hee.nhs.uk.
NHS South West Leadership Academy
South West House
Blackbrook Park Avenue
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2PX
Telephone: 01823 361145
Email: leadership@southwest.hee.nhs.uk
Website: www.southwestleadership.nhs.uk