Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Primary Care Sponsorship Programme

Are you a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic woman in Primary Care who is committed to developing their career and leadership potential?

Or are you a leader in Primary, Secondary or Social Care who wants to recognise and support the potential of BAME women, create more equity in career progression and develop yourself as an inclusive leader? You will learn how to use your connections and influence to actively support your sponsees career development. This could include helping your sponsee extend their network, make connections, identify opportunities and personally advocating for them.

Background

The Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Primary Care Sponsorship programme is being delivered in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ambitions of the Long-Term Plan and NHS People Plan. Throughout the pandemic, leaders have had to operate beyond their comfort zone. Leaders at all levels have risen to the challenge in what has been an unprecedented year for the NHS. We need to recognise this talent; unleash their potential and we can do this through the power of sponsorship. For this to be effective, individuals need to be upskilled in the delivery of sponsorship-led interventions. For example: developing their leadership capabilities as sponsors who are compassionate, inclusive and distributive; to support innovation, new ways of working and sustainability; and support them in developing behaviours that enable them to deal with issues of equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly in the current context.

Across the NHS in the Midlands, too few BAME women are reaching senior leadership positions at the very top of their organisations.  A significant reason for this is that they are not getting the high-profile leadership and learning opportunities that are often the steppingstone into more senior roles.

Inclusion is a complex issue, with women and people from minority backgrounds experiencing a wide range of systemic progression challenges. These barriers stem from unequal power structures, unconscious bias and a lack of formal support.

11 ICS areas across the Midlands are committed to addressing the lack of representation of female BAME leaders (predominantly from Primary Care settings) through a proactive and ground-breaking sponsorship programme.

About the programme

There will be a programme welcome call w/c 7^th April 2022 and the programme will launch on 12^th May. Sponsors and sponsees will be matched and meet monthly over the course of 1 year.

You will be supported by a series of online facilitated workshops and access to leadership development courses to develop your sponsorship ability and leadership potential.

Benefits for sponsees and sponsors

• A strong and supportive network of peers, role models and senior sponsors
• Understanding how to achieve career development and progression through effective networking, visibility and active sponsorship
• Tangible career and development plan
• Increased confidence in your own leadership style and empowerment to pursue leadership opportunities
• Practical tools to enhance your leadership and your resilience
• Understanding how to become better allies for diversity and inclusion, and influence a more inclusive culture and behaviours at work.

Benefits for Primary Care in the Midlands

• Promote retention and progression of BAME women, who are under-represented in leadership roles
• Address population health inequalities by ensuring diversity in decision-making roles
• Build a more diverse and inclusive workforce in which contributions from all staff members are valued is directly linked to good patient care.

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest in participating in this programme should be completed by 28th March 2022 and we will then contact you to discuss this with you.

Who can attend the programme?

Midlands NHS staff from Primary, Secondary and Social Care

Is there a cost to participants?

No, the programme is fully funded by NHS England and NHS Improvement

How is it run?

This will be run via Teams and Zoom, and please put the session dates in your calendar.  Please note these sessions may be recorded.