The development of the professional standards of medical leadership and management is the top priority for the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) in 2014/15. Widespread consultation is taking place this autumn with the intention to publish the first phase at the FMLM annual conference in February 2015.
The definition of the professional standards of medical leadership and management is long overdue given the correlation between effective leadership and the quality of patient care, and the increasing accountability and responsibility faced by medical leaders. Currently, there is limited clarity regarding the expectations for medical leaders and no "gold standard" of achievement against which applicants for medical leadership and management roles can assess themselves and be measured.
The UK medical profession has a distinguished international reputation for clinical standards; it needs to replicate this for leadership and management. This was emphasised in the 2012 ‘Report of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry’ which called for “stronger healthcare leadership” and “the recognition that healthcare management and leadership is, or should be treated as a profession”.
Development of the standards so far
The standards are derived from, and built upon, earlier work including:
- General Medical Council’s guidance, Leadership and Management for all doctors.
- UK National Frameworks and Models e.g. Medical Leadership Competency Framework (MLCF), NHS Leadership Academy’s Healthcare Leadership Model, Academi Wales’ Core Competence Framework for Managers and Supervisors.
- research on medical leadership, management and engagement.
The work has also been informed by consultation at the first FMLM regional conference in Wales on 26 September and more informal discussions with a broad range of stakeholders.
Levels of leadership
The standards have been considered at three levels broadly following the Adair[1] classification. This recognises that doctors exercise leadership and management in both formal and informal roles and the nature of their leadership and management takes many forms:
- The individual team level
- The operational level (leading and managing a number of teams)
- The strategic level.
Four areas the standards will cover
Professional standards define what is expected of doctors working to lead, manage and improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes. The definition and delivery of standards will be described in four sections (see next page).
Early priority will be given to the under-pinning definitions and processes with two broad questions:
Standards for medical professionals: what is missing, what should be omitted?
Accreditation: what process(es) will be most effective; how many levels should be assessed?
Purpose of the consultation
To provide members, key stakeholders and patient groups with the opportunity to advise and comment on the standards in order to produce comprehensive, high quality, aspirational standards of medical leadership that will contribute significantly to the enhancement of patient care.
Who we would like to respond to the consultation
We would like to receive feedback from individuals, organisations and interest groups involved or with an interest in medical leadership across the UK.
A parallel consultation with patient and lay groups and organisations across the UK is being developed although we would be delighted to receive input to this version if preferred.
