Edge Hill University is continuing to strengthen our partnership with Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust through the delivery of professional development programmes designed to support healthcare professionals in an evolving and demanding landscape.
Earlier this year, our academics designed and delivered a bespoke one-day CPD training programme for the Trust. Initially commissioned as an away day for Ward Managers across its sites, including Southport, Ormskirk, and St Helens, the programme aimed to strengthen leadership and management capability whilst encouraging greater connection.
Following the success of the initial delivery, the Trust commissioned a further five dates and opened the programme to a wider range of professional groups across the Trust.
Sarah O’Brien, Chief Nurse at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“We commissioned this programme because developing confident, capable leaders is critical to delivering our vision of five‑star patient care…Our Ward Managers and clinical leaders work in complex, demanding environments, and this training has given them the space, skills and insight to reflect on their leadership, connect with colleagues, and apply practical approaches within their teams. Investing in our people in this way supports their wellbeing and strengthens our ability to keep improving care for our patients.”
The multidisciplinary training combined core leadership and management concepts with psychological insights into personality, helping delegates to better understand themselves, their teams, and the complexities of managerial responsibility within the NHS. The programme was designed to be both reflective and practical, supporting participants to apply learning directly to their workplace settings.
The University’s Professor Paresh Wankhade, an internationally recognised expert in emergency services leadership and NHS management, led the leadership and management element, focusing on the practical challenges of balancing these roles in complex NHS environments. Participants explored coaching approaches and problem-solving techniques and discussed real workplace challenges in a safe, confidential peer setting. Professor Wankhade commented:
“It has been wonderful working with colleagues at the Trust to jointly explore the role and value of coaching, problem solving and distributed approaches to healthcare leadership, dealing with both operational challenges and planning strategic interventions. The glowing feedback is further testimony to the value of such interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, which we are so well placed to deliver.”
The psychology element, delivered by Professor Linda Kaye, a Chartered Psychologist with extensive experience in external engagement, including CPD and organisational development, focused on understanding personality, behaviour and team dynamics. Through interactive activities, participants explored how individual differences influence decision-making and working relationships and how psychological insight can be applied to everyday leadership practice. Professor Linda Kaye commented:
“Working with our colleagues from the Trust has been a real privilege and has been a great opportunity for us to bring the psychology expertise we have at Edge Hill to life, and bring positive impacts to our partners and wider health communities. I feel the success of this specific training programme has been as a result of the collaborations it has fostered across different subject areas, which demonstrates that there is significant value in bringing together a rich interdisciplinary approach to the way we work.”
Delegate feedback
The course evaluation data demonstrated a clear impact on leadership confidence.
- 95% of delegates reported feeling more confident as a leader following the programme
- 83% rating themselves as confident or extremely confident following the course, compared with 43% prior to attending.
Delegates described the training as informative and refreshing, valuing the opportunity to share experiences with peers, gain insight into personality and psychology, and develop practical coaching approaches they could apply in their roles.
One participant highlighted the importance of being able to discuss everyday issues with other Ward Managers, while others noted the course helped to create more cohesive teams through better understanding of individuality.
Overall, the programme was highly valued for its practical relevance, multidisciplinary approach and opportunities for peer learning across sites.
Expanding the partnership
Following the success of the leadership programme, we were commissioned by the Trust to deliver clinical skills training for nurses working in orthopaedic care, focusing on upper and lower limb conditions and injuries. The programme includes hands-on training in our Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre, further demonstrating our commitment to practical, workforce-focused education that supports NHS priorities.
We’ll also be working with the Trust over the coming year to develop an exciting programme of training for their nurses, midwives and allied health professions.
This ongoing collaboration highlights the growing strength of the relationship between the University and Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, with both organisations working together to support professional excellence and improved patient care.
Collaborate with us
If you are looking for health, social care or medical training and development for your workforce, get in touch: [email protected]
We offer non-credit-bearing short courses designed to enhance professional knowledge, clinical skills and workforce capability across a wide range of settings. Our flexible programmes can be tailored to meet the needs of your organisation, supporting continuing professional development, service improvement and staff retention.
