First Graduates celebrate Change Ambassador Programme
13 July 2023
The DHCW-led Change Ambassador Programme completed its first graduation event last week with more than 40 students successfully graduating and sharing their stories of how the programme has helped them to lead change.
The course teaches participants the principles of change in an organisation, and how they can influence it. They learn change management theories and its practical application through meaningful discussions within interactive workshops.
Opening the event - which was held on the 75th anniversary of the NHS - DHCW CEO Helen Thomas said, “The challenges for the future of the NHS will be multivarious as the NHS has to change and adapt, and digital is going to affect every aspect of it, so it’s never been more important to understand what it takes to adopt those changes.”
The graduates spoke about how the knowledge from the course had helped them to successfully implement change. Rhian Davies, Service Improvement Manager in Aneurin Bevan UHB said, “It’s enabled me to better articulate the change I’m proposing, and to guide and support my stakeholders and colleagues through the different emotions and situations faced as a result of change. I’m now able to recognise the different motivators and preferred communication styles of others to achieve the best possible outcome for all involved.”
The Change Ambassador Programme (CAP) was launched in 2022 and is accredited by University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and sponsored by the Wales Institute for Digital Information (WIDI). Professor Wendy Dearing, Dean of UWTSD’s Institute of Management and Health said, “This is a fantastic example of true partnership working, driving change, and empowering people. We take pride in our ability to work with partners and ensure our programmes are contemporary and reflect the ‘real world’ context, and this is no exception.”
Addressing the audience, Mike Emery, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer (Health and care) at Welsh Government commented, “You are the change ambassadors who will help drive the change that will be needed in the NHS. It’s inspiring that you have come together, to really embrace change, and to bring people along with you on those journeys.”
Two CAP programmes are run every year, each consists of 12 modules delivered every other week. The course is open to all NHS Wales staff, and wider public-sector employees, including some Welsh Government staff. For more information contact change.ambassador@wales.nhs.uk
More courses, following the same exemplar model as CAP are under development; these include ‘Coaching and Mentoring’ and ‘Delivering Service Excellence’.