Senior role recruitment across NSW Health poses a considerable challenge, as retaining staff after filling senior positions can prove difficult. The Transforming Your Experience (TYE) Leadership Academy aims to prepare future senior leaders within South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) by providing staff with coaching and support to transition them into more senior roles, allowing for the district to retain staff long-term. This process of upskilling junior staff enables existing senior staff to go on leave, as it serves as a succession planning model and reduces protracted recruitment campaigns.
After consultation with senior stakeholders across the organisation, a program was designed, aligned to the 70:20:10 model of learning, that was then amended to address the needs of SWSLHD. The TYE Leadership Academy was developed as a partnership model with the Institute of Leaders and Managers. It provides staff with leadership and management content, external coaching, expertise on project management whilst working through a project in small teams, and placement and mentoring with an internal senior staff member. There have been two cohorts to date, with the second cohort significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first cohort was limited to 15 participants, as SWSLHD wanted the TYE Leadership Academy to be considered a peak program requiring a selection process, whilst recognising the need to ensure participants could grow within future roles. Participants completed an application and interview prior to acceptance into the program. The 2019 program was completed in a 12-month period. This included face-to-face and virtual learning, and a workplace group project. Initial evaluation of the program indicated that a longer program period was required to ensure participants were able to meet program requirements.
All participants have undertaken higher duties following completion
The cost of the program is offset by the training of senior staff, who are then retained within the organisation and NSW Health. Retaining senior talent in the current competitive employment market is critical. The partnership with the Institute for Leaders and Managers has proved to be an important factor in the success of the program. It has provided contemporary knowledge and skills, and is an opportunity for participants to have access to ongoing mentors external to NSW Health.
From the two cohorts, there was an 89% completion rate, with 62.5% going on to secure substantive promotions, and 100% experiencing higher grade duties. At an individual level, participants reported an improvement against each self-efficacy measurement. At a team level, 360-degree observer assessments identified the greatest improvements were in managing conflict (4.4%) and developing high performing teams (3.9%). Of the participants that have left SWSLHD, three have achieved promotions within NSW Health. The TYE Leadership Academy will see its third cohort commence in October 2023.
