Leading an Agile Workforce in the NHS: agiLab
We are excited to share with you research from agiLab on leading an agile workforce in the NHS. agiLab aims to promote and facilitate an evidence-based approach to best practice and research in agile working through academic and practitioner collaboration and knowledge exchange. It is a co-creation of the University of Sussex, the NHS South East Regional Social Partnership Forum and the NHS HR Directors Network South East. The NHS Leadership Academy South East have been proud to work with agiLab on this piece of research connecting to a number of our Leaders through trusts across the South East. Thanks again to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust for taking part.
The report outlines what NHS leaders need to focus on to effectively manage an agile workforce, based on interviews with 32 leaders and workers. Agile leaders need to effectively manage staff who may be working flexibly at different times, places and in different roles, to service the changing needs of the NHS. To facilitate effective management and foster good team working, the researchers found that ‘Professional Intimacy’ was an important and necessary key resource. In the report they outline what Professional Intimacy involves, and how leaders can develop and support this within their teams, as part of the NHS’s mission to become an organisation that offers ‘flexibility by default’.
Please download the full report to read below: