Background and aims The aim of this project was to introduce an innovative leadership programme aimed at hospice nurses within the community palliative care team to help enhance their leadership skills and build resilience to reduce the risk of burnout. The programme aimed to develop nursing leadership skills, to enhance patient care and to improve practitioner self-management. To ensure the programme reflects the needs of the individuals and the group as a whole, a range of teaching and learning methods were employed. The programme included Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), FIERCE training, training on self-management techniques and change, group coaching and a workbook which supported the programme with self-reflection exercises. The programme was underpinned by the Clinical Leadership Competency Framework (NHS Leadership Academy, 2011) to ensure optimisation of leadership potential.

Method Focus groups were used to gather information from the participants regarding their understanding of leadership and how they felt about themselves as leaders.

Results Prior to the programme participants felt that the traits of a leader and the relationship between leader and follower were of paramount importance. There was also an acknowledgement from the participants that they did not self-identify as leaders in their role. Following the leadership programme further focus groups were used to evaluate the programme. Participants felt they had increased their confidence around their leadership skills and the programme had helped them to understand themselves and others more which they felt led to better team working which consequently increased resilience. Questionnaires were also used to demonstrate change in individuals with most showing an improvement in their confidence, self-management and team working.

Conclusion Overall, the evaluation of the leadership programme was extremely positive with the only suggested improvement to shorten the one-year programme to intensify the experience.