Next Step: Leadership and Management Fellows Programme
Transforming healthcare through applied leadership
Applications for the 2026-27 Next Steps cohort are now closed
An innovative programme that will provide important tools, knowledge and confidence for Resident Doctors to thrive as leaders and managers within the NHS.
The context of leadership and management within the NHS has never been more challenging due to the pressures of a complex future. In response, NHS England - East of England are working with a powerful collaboration from King’s Health Partners and King’s Business School to deliver an innovative programme. The programme benefits from:
- Rigour and expertise drawn from a world-class university.
- Clinical insight through the lens of a leading Academic Health Sciences Centre.
- Cutting-edge content to tackle the challenges in delivering leadership and management successfully through specialist intervention.
About the Next Step programme
The Next Step Programme is a nine-month immersive development experience. Each year, 80 Leadership and Management Fellows from across the East of England will be equipped with the tools and confidence to thrive as leaders and managers within a complex environment. Fellows will then use this expertise to act as leaders, sharing leadership and management insights with other Resident Doctors and healthcare professionals from within their organisations.
The programme will be delivered in four blocks of activity. Each will include a face-to-face workshop which will allow Fellows to address emerging issues and focus on new skills and adaptability needed for the years ahead. These will be supported by online programme elements.
Dates and logistics
We have had considerable interest in the Next Step program starting in October 2026. Applications to the program have now closed for Resident Doctors. Applications for SAS doctors will still be considered up until 1700 on Friday 26 June. We hope to notify successful applicants in early July.
Face-to-face workshops will take place at The Jockey Club, Newmarket, Suffolk and at Bush House at the Strand in London (Government regulations permitting).
All participants on the program will be expected to have booked Study leave to attend the program in line with local Trust processes. Attendance at the face to face workshops is compulsory, and full attendance during the online Masterclasses. Resident Doctors will be expected to be able to make their own arrangements for attending face-to-face workshops.
Applications
Applications are open for SAS doctors all applications must be received by 17:00 on Friday 26th June 2026 (or sooner if all places on the course have been filled). Applications received beyond this time will not be considered.
If you are an SAS Doctor, please complete this form.
Queries and applications should be directed to kbsparticipants@kcl.ac.uk
The programme runs from September 2026 to June 2027. All participants in the programme will be expected to be available to attend all elements of the programme and should ensure they have booked the leave off and notified their employers in line with local processes. The programme is available to Resident Doctors and SAS Doctors from all disciplines; Primary Care, Secondary Care, Dentistry and Mental Health. Only doctors employed in the East of England for the entire duration of the programme may apply.
Eligibility criteria vary a little according to speciality and employment status as follows:
Eligibility Criteria by Group
|
Applicant Group |
Eligibility Criteria |
|
Resident Doctors – Secondary Care, Dentistry & Mental Health |
Must be within 2 calendar years of expected CCT date at the time of commencing the programme. |
|
Resident Doctors – GP Training |
Must be ST2 or higher and within 3 years of expected CCT date at the time of commencing the programme. |
|
Public Health Trainees |
Must be fully registered medical doctors (GMC) or dentists (GDC) and within 2 years of expected CCT date at commencement of programme. Funding is not available for non‑medical Public Health Trainees. |
|
SAS Doctors |
Must be on the Portfolio Pathway, within 2 years of submitting paperwork to their College at commencement of programme, and employed on a formal SAS contract an the East of England Trust. |
Doctors Not Eligible to Apply
|
Category |
Reason |
|
Doctors Out of Programme (OOP) |
Not eligible if OOP at any stage of the Next Step programme. Those OOP at time of application may apply if back in substantive training post by October 2027 |
|
Locally Employed Doctors (non‑SAS contract) |
Not eligible, even if on the Portfolio Pathway. |
|
Non‑medical Public Health Trainees |
No funding or programme places available. |
|
Academic Resident Doctors (East of England) |
Not eligible if they do not hold an NTN in the East of England. |
|
Doctors based in Deaneries other than the East of England |
NTN holders on rotation to the East of England for some part of their training programme are not eligible for this programme |
Total anticipated commitment of hours within the programme is 120 over the course of the year including the Fellows Quality Improvement Project which each Fellow will be expected to undertake as part of the programme. Key elements of this include 4 face-to-face days covering:
Module 1 – Systems Leadership
This first module provides an orientation to the programme, introducing various models of leadership and drawing distinctions between leadership and management. There will be talks by a variety of speakers who share their leadership journeys and reflections will be offered on both the possibilities and limitations of leadership within the NHS.
Module 2 – Power and Politics in Organizations
This module views clinical leadership practice through the lens of organizational behaviour. Drawing on insights from MBA teaching on this topic and grounded in examples and experiences from healthcare settings, participants will explore the nature of politics and power in both teams and wider organizational structures.
Module 3 – Change Management
Delivered by Faculty from the Business School, this module will explore the various change management initiatives that the NHS has pursued in recent decades and conceptually categorise different approaches to managing change. We will also look in detail at the introduction of new roles into the NHS such as physician associates.
Module 4 – Capstone, best practice, and next steps
The final module is a presentation day for the participants on their Quality Improvement Projects. The projects will be assessed by an Executive Panel from King’s Health Partners, Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) and King’s Business School. The panel will choose the five best Quality Improvement Projects.
In addition to the four face-to-face days there is a series of online masterclasses delivered live by faculty from King’s Business School and from King’s Health Partners:
Online Masterclass 1 – The Quality Improvement Project
Delivered by King’s Health Partners. The session will be 2 hours and will discuss the underlying principles, approaches and methods and how to plan and deliver quality improvement. This masterclass will outline the process of working with your supervisor and will include how Fellows can access the series of Action learning Sets and drop-in surgeries that will be provided for them to support their project through the programme.
Online Masterclass 2 – Crisis Management
This online masterclass presents the role of clinicians and leaders in responding to crisis situations, with a specific focus on the Covid-19 response. Other examples will be drawn from the aviation industry as well as the recent military conflict in Ukraine where rapid responses to setting up emergency medicine provision have been essential.
Online Masterclass 3 – Understanding finance in a healthcare setting
In this online masterclass Fellows will work interactively to interpret financial data, gain an overview of key financial trends in the NHS and deconstruct a set of financial statements from a relevant NHS trust. The objective of the online masterclass is to quickly improve the financial literacy of Fellows and enhance their understanding of the financial context within which they operate as clinicians.
Online Masterclass 4 – Disruptive thinking and entrepreneurial skills
We live in an uncertain world and the future is going to be shaped by those bold enough to lead and to create the world in which they want to live. This may seem grandiose but if you think about the products and services you use on a daily basis be that in travel, finance, entertainment, technology or even dating. Each of these innovations started with someone who was willing to question the way things are done, someone willing to solve a problem or take advantage of an opportunity. In this masterclass Fellows will be taken through a variety of tools, exercises, and games to help them bring out their inner disruptor. We will look at techniques Fellows can employ to come up with new and innovative ideas and apply these techniques to real challenges in the health care system today.
Online Masterclass 5 – Making and Evaluating Policy
This module explores policy making and evaluating processes. It enables participants to gain a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of how public policy is made in general and how specific public policies are designed and developed. It examines the different stages of the policy making cycle, and covers the techniques, systems and strategies used in policy evaluation. Opportunities are provided to apply different approaches to policy evaluation to particular policy initiatives.
Online Masterclass 6 – AI and the future of Medicine
This webinar will focus on cutting edge work in Healthcare and Medical AI based technologies such as expert and decision support systems for prediction and diagnosis. This webinar will explore recent developments and applications of AI to medical professionals. Examples will be drawn from radiology and elsewhere.
Online Masterclass 7 – Knowing yourself as a leader
This webinar will deconstruct different theories of leadership and work with an evaluation tool that helps you understand and articulate your own bespoke leadership style. While there are general principles around leadership, many specific leadership attributes need to be flexed to suit specific psychological preferences.
In addition to the taught elements of the programme Fellows will benefit from the following value-added programme elements:
- Through our partnership with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), participants gain CMI Recognised Programme status, confirming alignment with CMI Professional Standards and enhancing professional credibility and employability.
- A clear pathway to Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, with 20 places per cohort for appointees who engage in post‑programme evaluation 21–24 months following completion.
- The programme includes a networking event with current participants and alumni and will conclude with an informative session on how participants can join King’s Executive Alumni Association and gain access to King’s Alumni benefits; join the Graduates Mentor pool and support subsequent cohorts, enabling the transfer of their new knowledge to others.
The Next Step Leadership and Management Fellows Programme brings together the powerful combination of expertise into a single programme:
- The CMI introduces networking opportunities, Thrive resources, and the Management and Employability Diagnostic Tool
- Kings Health Partners (KHP) is an Academic Health Sciences Centre where world-class research, education and clinical practice are brought together for the benefit of patients. We are here to translate cutting-edge research and existing best practice into excellent patient care.
- King’s Business School (KBS) undertake ground-breaking research that improves the way people do business. And we engage with organisations around the world to create real value for society. Since 1989, King’s Business School has grown into a leading management institution – and one of the largest in London. We’ve appeared in the top 10 for business and management studies three years in a row.
Face to face sessions:
You will be required to attend each Module and provide feedback, in order to receive your certificate following each Module.
- Module 1 – Wednesday 14th October 2026 at The Jockey Club in Newmarket, Suffolk
- Module 2 – Thursday 10th December 2026 at The Jockey Club in Newmarket, Suffolk
- Module 3 – Tuesday 2nd March 2027 at Bush House, Strand, London - new date
- Module 4 – Wednesday 30th June 2027 at The Jockey Club in Newmarket, Suffolk
Masterclasses:
The programme has 7 formal afternoon Masterclasses, these are delivered online and attendance at all is mandatory. You will be required to attend each session and provide feedback, in order to receive your certificate following each Masterclass.
- Masterclass 1 – Monday 14th September 2026 17:00-19:00 online
- Masterclass 2 – Wednesday11th November 2026 17:00-19:00 online
- Masterclass 3 – Monday 11th January 2027 17:00-19:00 online
- Masterclass 4 – Wednesday 17th March 2027 17:00-19:00 online
- Masterclass 5 – Thursday 15th April 2027 17:00-19:00 online
- Masterclass 6 – Tuesday 18th May 2027 17:00-19:00 online
- Masterclass 7 – Wednesday 9th June 2027 17:00-19:00 online
Action Learning Sets:
The programme also includes four 90-minute small group sessions which will be held via Zoom with Daghni Rajasingam, in groups of approximately 10. These will be held between October 2026 and January 2027. The following four topics will be covered:
Topic 1 – What is the problem and why is it a problem
Friday 23rd October 2026 (90-minute slots between 12:00 and 18:00)
OR
Friday 24th October 2026 (90-minute slots between 12:00-19:30)
Topic 2 – Engaging the multiple perspectives including organisation and systems
Friday 13th November 2026 (90-minute slots between 12:00 and 18:00)
OR
Saturday 14th November 2026 (90-minute slots between 12:00 and 19:30)
Topic 3 – Logic model for change – facilitators and barriers at all levels
Saturday 5th December 2026 (90-minute slots between 12:00 and 19:30)
OR
Saturday 12th December 2026 (90-minute slots between 12:00 and 19:30)
Topic 4 – Action for change
Saturday 9th January 2026 (90-minute slots between 12:00 and 19:30)
OR
Saturday 16th January 2027 (90-minute slots between 12:00 and 18:00)
The programme is fully funded by NHS England.
Those accepted onto the programme are expected to apply for study leave on the programme dates at the time of accepting the application. Where this is not possible (because of lack of rotation information) they should notify the trusts/departments to which they will be rotating at the earliest opportunity. We would encourage you to do this prior to rotas being released if at all possible so that departments have as much notice as possible for your absence. Resident Doctors should ensure they apply for leave to attend the course in line with the local trust’s study leave processes.
If you are an SAS Doctor, please complete this form.
Queries and applications should be directed to kbsparticipants@kcl.ac.uk
