Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve nursing leadership at (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local levels.

The Aspiring Deputy Directors of Nursing programme is a well-established, nationally commissioned leadership development offer that sustains a strong and diverse pipeline of future deputy directors of nursing across providers and integrated care boards (ICBs).

A dedicated executive level leadership development programme is also being developed for chief nursing officers (CNOs) and deputy CNOs. This is a targeted offer, designed for senior statutory roles with accountability for quality governance, patient safety, safeguarding, workforce planning and regulatory compliance in increasingly complex and high-risk environments.

A leadership development programme for aspiring CNOs, currently in development, will provide a critical pipeline for future executive professional leaders.

A national provider and ICB career status and professional development tracker has also been established, to support succession planning and the development of a strong leadership pipeline.

These initiatives are delivered alongside locally led provision within trusts. The Government is also committed to establishing an NHS College of Leadership and Management to support and develop clinical and non-clinical leaders. Wider professional leadership and workforce initiatives will be set out in the 10 Year Workforce Plan.