Clinical Leader of the Year

Clinical Leader of the Year
Clinical Leader of the Year
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How to apply

  1. Register an account.
  2. Start your entry (save it in-progress).
  3. Submit your entry to be in the running.

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This award recognises exceptional NHS clinical leaders - doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, advanced practitioners, and others - who go above and beyond to make a lasting impact on patient care. These leaders are not just managing day-to-day tasks; they are pioneers, innovators, and change-makers, inspiring their teams to challenge the status quo and deliver excellence in care. Through vision, resilience, and commitment, they ensure that patient-centred care is always at the core of everything they do. 

Judges will be looking for leaders who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, empowering their teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, and improving patient safety, clinical quality, and outcomes. The winner will be someone who drives meaningful change, encourages innovation, and leads by example, creating an environment where learning and growth thrive.

This award will recognise a leader who has made a lasting impact, not only improving patient care but also shaping the future of the NHS. Through their dedication, passion, and unwavering focus on excellence, they will inspire others, setting new standards in clinical leadership and making a positive difference to patients, colleagues, and the wider healthcare community.

Eligibility

This award recognises exceptional NHS clinical leaders - any NHS clinician, regardless of management responsibility or pay band, is eligible for nomination. 

Ambition

The challenge and context within which your project, person or organisation is set alongside your goals and targets whether quantitative or qualitative, and how this aligns with national priorities.

  • Describe the vision the nominee has created for their organisation, department or team. What is that vision, what targets have been set and how has it been planned and managed?
  • How has the nominee engaged colleagues, stakeholder departments, patients and partners in their planning and targets?
  • Judges will be looking for positive vision and initiative in areas such as culture, patient safety, performance, representation and inclusion

Collaboration

The stakeholders' involvement in co-designing and delivering the project. How have patients, staff at all levels, communities and other parties worked together to realise the outcomes?

  • How has the nominee included others in their initiatives and planning? Judges are specifically looking for evidence of meaningful staff and patient engagement
  • How has the nominee created an inclusive culture in which staff feel able to raise concerns and make suggestions for improvement?
  • Judges will be looking for emphasis on inclusion and support for colleagues in the planning and execution of initiatives

Impact

The measurable benefits delivered to patients, staff, your organisation or the wider system. Provide data and evidence showing improvements to outcomes, quality, access, equity or efficiency.

  • How has the performance of the team, department or organisation improved as a result of the nominee's leadership? This should include both quantitative and qualitative assessment measured against the targets outlined above
  • Judges will be looking for positive outcomes for patients primarily, but will also want to see evidence of staff engagement, a learning and just culture, safety, representation and inclusion, alongside any relevant financial outcomes
  • Describe how the nominee has directly contributed to the delivery of consistently high-quality care, with supporting evidence using both qualitative and quantitative information

Scale

How your work has been shared, adopted or replicated beyond your immediate team or organisation. This includes dissemination through publications, presentations, toolkits, partnerships or inspiring similar initiatives elsewhere.

  • How has the nominee clearly and directly influenced the behaviour of colleagues? Provide supporting testimonials from colleagues and patients where appropriate
  • Describe how the initiatives, processes or behaviours of the nominee have positively affected other teams and departments and how best practice learning is being shared
  • What evidence is there that the nominee's approach could inspire or be adopted by others across the wider NHS?

Sustainability

The potential for the project/work to continue and create lasting impact. Evidence of how it can be sustained or built upon.

  • How has the nominee's leadership improved patient experience, staff wellbeing and satisfaction, the working environment, or process and efficiency? Provide tangible examples with written testimonials from patients or staff in your supporting information
  • How has the nominee shaped a culture of continuous improvement that will endure beyond their direct involvement?
  • What evidence is there that the nominee's impact will have a lasting effect on their team, organisation or the wider NHS?

Clinical Leader of the Year

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To find out more

Partnership opportunities:  Sponsorship Sales Team
Awards entry enquiries: Delegate Sales Team
Judging and event management: Awards Support