As we launch the Management and Leadership Code for Health and Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse – Adult Social Care, discusses what this means for leaders and managers across health and social care.
I’m really excited that the first ever cross-sector leadership and management principles are now available. These principles have been developed with people working across both health and care, underpinning our different leadership frameworks.
Who is the Code for?
The code is for anyone who has any type of leadership or management responsibility in health or social care. And remember, it’s not only people managers who can be leaders. Whether you’re managing a small team, leading a big organisational priority, or sitting at the senior leadership table, these principles are meant to guide how you show up every day.
When considering this code, it’s worth thinking about what both management and leadership mean, so you can understand how you and other team members may be leaders even if you’re not necessarily a manager.
- Management is about the nuts and bolts: planning, organising, making sure the work gets done.
- Leadership is about people: inspiring, guiding, building trust, and helping others succeed. Most of us end up doing both — and the code recognises that doing them well together is what makes the biggest difference.
Why do we need the Management and Leadership Code?
The updated framework follows the 'Leadership for a collaborative and inclusive future' review (known as the Messenger review 2022), which focused on the best ways to strengthen leadership and management across health and adult social care in England. The review made it clear that we need stronger, more consistent support for managers and leaders in health and care. This code is here to set out the basics — the non‑negotiables — so everyone knows what good looks like.
What does the Code look like?
There are six principles at the heart of the code:
- be accountable
- be collaborative
- be compassionate
- be curious
- be inclusive
- show integrity.
In social care, the code will support the updated Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF). The LQF focuses on the behaviours, skills and mindsets for effective leadership and aligns with the Care Workforce Pathway.
Ultimately, this code isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about how you show up as a leader or manager every day — with accountability, compassion, curiosity, inclusivity, collaboration, and integrity. Do that, and you’ll not only deliver better care, you’ll help create a healthier, fairer workplace too.
Leave a comment