NHS launches national Leadership and Management Framework to strengthen leadership across health and care

The NHS has launched a new Leadership and Management Framework, providing the first national set of standards designed to define what good leadership and management should look like across the health service.

Developed as part of the new NHS College of Leadership and Management, the framework applies to anyone with leadership or management responsibilities within NHS-funded services, including both clinical and non-clinical roles. It also aligns with leadership expectations within the social care sector.

The framework introduces three core elements:

• A national Leadership and Management Code, setting out the principles and behaviours expected of all leaders and managers.
• Leadership and management standards, outlining the knowledge, skills and competencies required across five levels of responsibility.
• A self-assessment tool to help managers identify strengths, development needs and inform appraisal conversations.

NHS England says the framework has been created to establish a consistent national approach to leadership development while recognising that organisations may continue using successful local programmes where they align with the new standards. More than 150 NHS organisations helped test and refine the framework before its launch.

Organisations are expected to begin embedding the framework into recruitment, appraisals, talent management, leadership development and workforce planning during the 2026/27 financial year. Implementation can continue through to April 2027 where additional time is needed to integrate the standards into existing systems.

The framework has been designed to support the NHS Staff Standards and wider ambitions set out in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan. It also responds to recommendations from previous national reviews into NHS leadership, including the Messenger Review and the Kark Review, with the aim of improving leadership capability, staff experience and patient outcomes.

Alongside the framework, the NHS College of Leadership and Management will provide learning resources, online development programmes, communities of practice and a future 360-degree feedback tool to support leaders throughout their careers.

The framework is intended to provide a common language for leadership across the NHS, helping organisations develop compassionate, capable and accountable leaders while improving consistency in leadership expectations nationwide.

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