Leadership training has many identifiable benefits including higher productivity, increased morale and improved decision-making, all of which contribute to helping people to lead their teams with vision, to communicate and collaborate effectively and also to perform better under pressure.
Medequip’s bespoke LEAD initiative (Learn, Engage, Accelerate, & Deliver) is a comprehensive leadership development programme designed for first line managers at Medequip, helping individuals to develop the skills, behaviours and confidence to become effective and capable leaders with the ability to manage and inspire others.
It is headed up by Management Learning & Development Partner Karen Baldwin, who spent a decade working for one of the UK’s leading leadership, management and talent companies. LEAD focuses on developing and implementing leadership development initiatives which will eventually cover every management level within the company. The first stage is the development of team leaders and supervisors; as Medequip continues to grow as a business, it is imperative to equip people with the right skillsets to achieve this.
Defining the competency framework
Work began initially in consultation with Medequip’s General Managers across the depot network, to revise the current competency framework and build this out to different band levels with clear indicators of what good looks like at each level. The revised competency framework has been used to define the skills and behaviours needed for team leaders and supervisors and has provided the basis for the LEAD programme.
Putting the plans into practice
Roll out of the LEAD programme across the Medequip depots is now well under way, with 105 managers now actively participating in their LEAD journey. Covering a national depot network, forward planning has been an important consideration to ensure the programme is managed as creatively and effectively as possible to overcome logistical challenges in terms of releasing personnel for essential training.
In terms of impacts, the LEAD programme is still at a very early stage. However, one of the biggest wins has been individuals feeding back on how they are using what they have learned in order to be more effective in their roles.
Positive engagement
The programme has been extremely well received within Medequip, with participants really engaged and able to clearly articulate the perceived benefits. The response across the depots has been positive and receptive, with teams happy to look at how to do things differently to achieve their goals.
There are indirect benefits for everyone involved with Medequip too, from commissioners and prescribers through to the people who use the services. Engaged managers and team leaders are sharing best practice, new ideas and innovations, working towards continuous service improvements.
Into the future
Medequip’s new LEAD programme began in November 2024, with the first stage scheduled for completion in Summer 2025. Impact sessions will take place at end of this first stage, to discuss and evaluate results and progress made. The LEAD programme is also up and running at Medequip Connect, tailored to the specific needs of the technology enabled care side of the business.
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