The new national programme on Leading Improvement for Health and Well-being 2009/10 is a multiagency leadership programme that supports the delivery of real improvement, designed for senior leaders of complex change in and across public services for the improvement of health and well-being.

Please click here to download a letter from Ruth Kennedy, Chief Executive of the Improvement Foundation inviting nominations/applications to the programme. Click here to download further information and programme dates.

This one year programme for a cohort of 70 leaders is designed and delivered by the Improvement Foundation working in partnership with David Hunter, Professor of Health Policy and Management at Durham University, using an evidence-based framework for improvement leadership development. Other partners include The Beech Consultancy (a highly credible national performance development consultancy) and the Local Government Association's Improvement and Development Agency (I&DeA). In addition, the University of Teesside will provide optional academic accreditation for this programme.The programme has a focus on World Class Commissioning, Healthy Ambitions, Vital Signs and Local Area Agreements, Place Shaping and other national and local priorities.

It has been designed to complement the Improvement and Development Agency's portfolio of local government leadership programmes and as a further leadership learning experience building on the Department of Health's National Public Health Leadership Programme (NPHLP).

Who should apply?

This programme is aimed at CEOs, Directors, Assistant Directors and Head of Service influencing improvement of health and well-being from all sectors, including (not exclusively): Health - from public health, primary care, acute, community and Foundation Trusts; local government - adult and children's services, local authorities (housing, education etc), environmental health; health protection, and information and intelligence; prison services, mental health, pharmacy; voluntary sector; emergency services - Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance.

Individual applications will be considered, but it is suggested that multiagency teams of 3-4 people working on a shared agenda (such as Local Area Agreements) apply to join the programme.

Applications

To apply for this programme, please click here. Please apply online by Friday 27th February 2009.

Please click here to download the Participant Contract which you should read before completing your application to join the programme. As part of your application you will be asked if you have read and agree with the contract.

To complete you application it is important that you have the agreement of a nominator or sponsor from your organisation.

Further information

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Catherine Hannaway, National Lead for Leadership Development at the Improvement Foundation on 07810 836306 or by email