Supporting non-executive directors: Evolving together in the north west
nhs North west career management guide
How can we best prepare our NED s to meet these evolving challenges? • Productivity and finance • Quality and safety • Health inequalities • Board dynamics • System leadership • Media messaging and communication • Personal awareness and impact • Political intelligence within healthcare
At the NHS North West Leadership Academy (NHS NWLA) we are committed to continuously evolving how we support our colleagues across the region - ensuring they have the tools, guidance, and opportunities they need to succeed. To explore this, we engaged directly with NEDs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs) and Chairs across the North West. Through focus groups and open dialogue, we identified the areas of support and guidance that matter most to them. While financial scrutiny and risk management remain key priorities, participants highlighted a wider range of challenges facing today’s NEDs.
The NHS North West Leadership Academy is proud to launch a brand-new resource for staff across the region: the NHS North West Career Management Guide. This comprehensive guide has been developed to support NHS colleagues at every stage of their career journey, offering practical advice and regionally tailored insight for those exploring their next step in the NHS. Whether you’re applying for your first role, transitioning into leadership, or rethinking your long-term career goals, this guide is designed to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
The guide is filled with real-world advice, reflection tools, and helpful prompts, making it an accessible and useful companion whether you’re actively job-seeking or planning your development over time. We encourage NHS staff, line managers, and organisational development leads to explore the guide and use it to support colleagues and teams in career conversations and progression planning.
Building on the foundation of the existing national career management resource, this guide covers key stages of the career journey, including: Career planning: Clarify your aspirations, strengths, and motivations. Job searching: Understand where and how to look for roles in the NHS system. CV writing and applications: Tips for writing impactful CVs and navigating NHS Jobs. Interview preparation: Practical advice to help you prepare, perform, and stand out. Leadership applications: Additional guidance tailored for those applying for leadership or senior roles.
As the NHS grapples with increasing financial pressures and growing governance complexity, the role of Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) becomes ever more critical. To provide effective oversight and strategic leadership, NEDs must be well-equipped and well-supported. Recent conversations among Chairs in Greater Manchester surfaced a vital question:
Click here to read and download the NHS North West Career Management Guide
From these rich conversations, we developed a toolkit of real-life case studies – designed to spark reflection, stimulate discussions, and strengthen strategic thinking. These scenarios offer a practical, collaborative way for NEDs to explore different approaches, share insights, and enhance their decision- making skills across critical themes such as:
Access the Resource Click here to explore the NED Case Study Toolkit
For more information, please contact: nwla.execleadership@nhs.net further support: the north west ned network
The North West NED Network offers a supportive space for Non-Executive Directors to connect, collaborate, and grow together. This peer-led community encourages shared learning and development, helping NEDs maximise their impact across the healthcare system. Members shape the agenda, ensuring that discussions and learning focus on the topics that matter most.
nw.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk | Leader
Leader | nw.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk
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