About the Application

Annual dates


Application deadline
Programme start date
31st January, 2025
Mid March, 2025
TBC Mid September, 2025

How to Apply?

  1. Begin your application process by clicking the 'Register Now' button at the top of this page.
  2. Complete the programme application form which is available in the portal and submit it.
  3. Your application will be reviewed by the academic team
  4. Once accepted onto the programme you will receive a letter of confirmation.
  5. If you are applying through the NHS England South West deanery bursary process (usually around May-June each year), complete and submit your bursary application. (Information on the bursary window and bursary application can be found on the bursary information page for which the link is given below)
  6. Once your bursary has been approved by the deanery, forward the letter of confirmation (issued by Medics.Academy) to the NHS England South West bursary team


The Healthcare Leadership Academy (The HLA) and Medics.Academy have together developed a series of leadership programmes that are accredited and supported by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Medical School. The Intermediate Level 1 Programme is designed and built on the experience of delivering content to hundreds of scholars, fellows and clinicians over several years. This practical programme, accredited both by a university and professional body, is worth 20 module masters credits which can be used in one of our postgraduate PGCert or MSc programmes with our university partner if you so wish. 

 

Completion of this programme will also make you eligible to become a Member of the HLA (with MHLA letters after your name).


NHS England South West Programme

NHS England South West and The HLA have worked together to develop a programme based on the successful international HLA programme, for trainees in the South West to access the programme of Leadership Development and Education developed by The HLA and Medics.Academy. It is a competitive entry programme and will provide the trainee with access to the lifetime support community in Leadership and Personal Development, should the trainee successfully complete the programme. 

The Curriculum: Course Content

The programme covers the six domains of The HLA framework. The following curriculum is delivered through a combination of webinars, assignments and online content with a range of speakers, tutors and workshop hosts:

  • The Leader as a Communicator
    • How to define and formulate your message
    • How to use communication channels to raise the impact of your role as a leader

  • The Leader as a Manager
    • How to manage people, resources and time
    • What to focus on

  • The Leader as a Negotiator
    • How to get what you need for yourself, your team and your institution

  • The Leader as an Innovator and Entrepreneur
    • How to stand out as an innovator
    • How to become the future of your organisation

  • The Leader as a Follower
    • How to empower your team to spread the burden of leadership

  • The Leader as a Philosopher
    • How to do the right thing
    • How to inspire


Time Commitment 
The programme is designed to be completed over 12 months. The programme will require you to complete:

  • 70 hours of reading and online learning content
  • 30 hours of tutor facilitation of the project development
  • 20 hours exploration of interest and career coaching and development
  • 100 hours on facilitated leadership project

 

This is a community driven programme. All candidates are invited to take part in an international network of healthcare leaders, as well as having  access to a series of HLA community events as part of the programme. 

 

Candidates will be able to join the programme in September and March each year. Assessment will be through delivery of a practical project, a series of video presentation submissions and a series of multimedia assignments.


Eligibility

Due to this programme granting Masters level credits, you will be required to demonstrate eligibility criteria for your enrolment. The criteria are: 

  • Graduates of Medicine in their Foundation Year (or equivalent)  or above; or postgraduate clinical staff in allied health professions, for international students this is the equivalent to for a first year doctor or nurse. 
  • Students must have a UK honours degree (2:2 class or above), or medical degree   or equivalent, in a relevant subject; for international students this would be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree
  • Students must have sufficient competency in English language (IELTS Level 6.5 or equivalent) 
  • Students must be enthusiastic, organised, and autonomous, preferably with prior experience of adult and distance learning  


Fees 


The HLA Intermediate Leadership Level 1 programme is £2,290 for the programme, with the assumption that you complete the programme within 12 months. 

This programme has been subsidised by Health Education England SW for ST1 level and above:


Eligibility for subsidy: The applicant must hold a recognised training post with South West Postgraduate Medical Education Deanery (Peninsula & Severn) and a substantive contract of employment for at least 12 months from the start date of the year of the course for which you have applied for a Bursary.


If you are approved by NHS England South West, You will be given a scholarship for £1,345 from NHS England South West and will need to pay the £945 balance.


NHS England South West Bursary Information page - 
https://www.peninsuladeanery.nhs.uk/about-us/bursary-funding/show/hla-il1-programme
 

  

What happens if I apply to be a HLA scholar in subsequent years?

If an individual undertakes the Intermediate Level 1 programme and then subsequently applies to become a HLA Scholar, they will be able to use their scholar year to complete their Intermediate level 2 component. They will also benefit from a scholarship to other programmes in the Medics.Academy and HLA portfolio at the same level as they would have benefitted if they had not already undertaken the Intermediate Level 1 programme. The HLA Scholars application also has specific awards for previous commitment to The HLA and so the individual will be able to recognise their completion of the Intermediate Level 1 programme in their application. 


If you would like to find out more about the programme, you can email [email protected] and one of the team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

About the Instructor(s)

Dr. Milan Makwana

HLA Intermediate Level 1 Programme Lead

Milan trained at UCL medical school and subsequently completed medical Foundation Training in 2014 at the Royal Free Hospital in London. He is currently a Specialist Trainee in Neurosurgery at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Milan completed his PGCert in Clinical Leadership, Management and Education as part of the Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) and has continued to be part of the HLA community and its development with a current role as a tutor for IL-1 course.

Dr Carina Dowson

Core Principles of Healthcare Leadership (CPHL) Lead tutor at Medics.Academy

Carina is an Acute Medicine Consultant and Clinical Lead at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. Originally an HLA scholar in 2019, she is currently a cohort director for Newcastle and the network lead of the Women in Healthcare Leadership (WIHL). She is passionate about improving flexible and LTFT working, focusing on this during her MSc in Medical Leadership and setting up the HEENE LTFT forum, which continues to aim to improve LTFT raining across all specialties in the Northeast. Carina is also an Honorary Clinical Tutor for UCLan, teaching the Core Principles of Healthcare Leadership (CPHL) PG Cert module.

Dr Sarah Malawana

Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer Clinical Programme Manager at Medics.Academy

Dr Sarah Malawana (MBBS, nMRCGP, BSc Hons Physiol, MSc Hons Clin Derm, DRCOG, DFSRH) was a GP Partner in Hertfordshire for 9 years and a Full Trainer for GP Registrars. Dr Malawana currently still works in General Practice, teaches on the Applied Clinical Education module of the PGCERT in her role as Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer and has excelled as the Clinical Programme Manager for both UK and International Projects.

About the Organisation

The Healthcare Leadership Academy

The Healthcare Leadership Academy formed in response to the demand from young clinicians and medical students to learn about leadership. Founded by Dr Johann Malawana and a team of like-minded professionals the Healthcare Leadership Academy launched on the 20th of December 2016. HLA houses an exciting faculty from across the health sector and beyond. Their shared aim is to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and develop their understanding of leadership. Too often in healthcare, leadership is confused with management. Through a combination of mentoring, socratic discussion and rigorous training in practical leadership skills, The HLA aims to inspire our scholars to change the world of healthcare, one small step at a time.