Leadership and Management Fellow Scheme
Scheme Overview
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is committed to embedding a culture of medical leadership to benefit patient care.
The Leadership and Management Fellow Scheme is a strong platform for achieving this ambition and embedding a network of emerging medical leaders across mental health providers throughout the UK.
We are proud to be accredited by The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) and progress beyond the basic capabilities expected of all psychiatrists, to accelerate fellows leadership and management development.
Through the combination of a high impact leadership development programme, with a local apprenticeship model, fellows proactively engage in leadership projects and are mentored by senior medical leaders within their organisations.
The scheme occurs in-programme, utilising special interest time over a 12-month period. Resident doctors in higher training and early and mid-career SAS Doctors on pay scale MC75 01-09 (SAS on the 2021 contract) or equivalent MC46/41 01-10 (SAS on the 2008 contract) will be eligible to apply for the Scheme. There is a requirement for SAS Doctors to demonstrate leadership experience to progress through the “higher threshold” (SAS 2021) and “threshold 2” (SAS 2008), so it’s anticipated that the scheme will not be sufficient for SAS doctors above these criteria.
Trusts can apply to nominate one resident doctor in higher training and one specialty doctor for the scheme. As in previous years, further places will be considered for Trusts wanting to nominate more fellows once the initial deadline has passed.
Trusts are responsible for the selection of suitable candidates as long as they meet the pay scale MC75 01-09 or equivalent MC46/41 01-10 and are employed by the trust under the national terms and conditions for SAS contracts.
Fellows unite with colleagues from across the UK through a suite of face-to-face and virtually-delivered modules that have been developed and are led by a faculty of established psychiatric leaders.
Delivers high-quality care
Improves clinical services
Enhances medical engagement
Fellows hold mutually enhancing conversations with resident doctors in higher training, Speciality and Specialist Doctors, senior leaders and management to boost the performance of the organisation.
Develops emerging medical leaders
Invests in local talent and nurtures the next cohort of medical leaders within your organisation.
Enhances leadership behaviours
The fellowship is accredited by The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM)
Fellows develop their leadership behaviours across all four domains of FMLM's Leadership and Management Standards for Medical Professionals as Fellows progress towards the standards required for Associate Fellowship of FMLM (AFFMLM).
Develops an authentic leadership style
Fellows gain a deeper understanding of their own leadership style and how to be authentic in their role as they realise their leadership potential.
Fellows learn from senior medical leaders and develop an inspiring network of like-minded peers, including from within the RCPsych Leadership and Management Fellow Scheme Alumni Network, which fellows are invited to join on completion of the scheme.
Career acceleration
Fellows accelerate their careers by extending their portfolio and building a local and national profile. They network with colleagues from across the UK and learn from their collective intelligence.
FMLM membership and FMLM 360
Fellows are provided with complementary membership to the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) and access to their bespoke leadership and management multi-source feedback tool specifically designed for doctors.
- Resident doctors in higher training ST4 and above
- Speciality and Specialist Doctors on pay scale MC75 01-09 (SAS on the 2021 contract) or equivalent MC46/41 01-10 (SAS on the 2008 contract)
- 12 month ‘in programme’ experience utilising protected special interest time
- Mentorship from senior medical leaders
- Local leadership and management experience
- National RCPsych leadership and management development programme
In addition to individual project supervision, Fellows should be supported and mentored throughout the scheme by a senior medical leader within their organisation. This is a key aspect of the scheme and is essential to the success of the Fellow’s role.
The mentoring role is anticipated to be held by the Medical Director, Deputy or Associate Medical Director who can ensure that they get access to the necessary meetings or contacts to support their work.
A minimum of six mentoring sessions should be held throughout the 12-month duration of the scheme. Mentors are invited to attend three 1 hour online information sessions in September, November and February provided by the scheme. We also encourage organisations to identify an additional mentor who may work more closely with their Fellow into the specific area that their project is in.
It is also expected that Fellows will have opportunities to shadow at an executive level and with key external health and local authority partners to gain a deeper understanding of healthcare leadership and management within the wider social, political and economic context.
The RCPsych Leadership and Management Fellow Scheme Alumni Network support Action Learning Sets to provide ongoing support and development.
Fellows unite with colleagues from across the UK through a suite of face-to-face and virtually-delivered modules that have been developed and are led by a faculty of established psychiatric leaders.
The fellowship is accredited by The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM). The programme is evidence-based, trainee-centred, and tailored to develop fellows’ behaviours in accordance with FMLM’s Standards for Medical Professionals. Fellows become better prepared to lead themselves, their teams, and lead within the organisations and systems of modern mental health services.
Fellows develop beyond the basic capabilities expected of all psychiatrists. Through a full-day’s programme, incorporating Action Learning Sets and support for their local leadership projects, fellows learn from established medical leaders and gain from the collective intelligence of the group who come from diverse geographical, specialty and demographic backgrounds.
Key features
- shaped and designed specifically for psychiatry Residents in higher training and SAS Doctors on pay scale MC75 01-09 (SAS on the 2021 contract) or equivalent MC46/41 01-10 (SAS on the 2008 contract).
- expert and inspirational leaders from diverse backgrounds, regions and specialties
- experiential facet-to-face and virtually-delivered modules
- dedicated support to help them rethink and refocus their evolution as a leader
- develops a personalised portfolio of learning resources
- an ideal platform for future leadership roles
- supports Fellows to apply for Associate Fellowship of FMLM (AFFMLM)
Organisational sponsors are required to identify and nominate a Fellow to the RCPsych Leadership and Management Fellow Scheme through an open and competitive process. Organisational sponsors are responsible for the selection of suitable candidates, their resident doctor in higher training must be at ST4 or above and/or their Speciality and Specialist Doctor must meet the pay scale MC75 01-09 or equivalent MC46/41 01-10 and be employed by the trust under the national terms and conditions for SAS contracts. Organisations can apply to nominate one resident doctor in higher training and one specialty doctor. To maximise equity of access organisations will be offered one place, further places will be considered for Trusts wanting to nominate more fellows once the initial deadline has passed.
The organisation must pay the sponsorship fee of £2,750 (VAT not applicable) for each Fellow on enrolment for Scheme 2025/26.
There is no cost to the Fellow for enrolling on the RCPsych Leadership and Management Scheme.
It is the organisational sponsor’s responsibility to ensure that the Fellow has sought permission from their Training Programme Director (TPD) and that they will be located clinically within that organisation for the duration of the programme.
It is the organisational sponsor’s responsibility to ensure that the Fellow has an identified senior medical leader within the organisation who will mentor the Fellow throughout the scheme. The expectation is that this is the Medical Director, Deputy or Associate Medical Director. We also encourage organisations to identify an additional mentor who may work more closely with their Fellow into the specific area that their project is in.
The leadership development programme combines face-to-face and virtually delivered modules. Please note module dates may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, Fellows will be given as much notice as possible. All expenses are negotiated at a local level and are not included within the Scheme £2,750 nomination fee. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is not liable for reimbursing travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses to participants in the scheme.
To be nominated for the RCPsych Leadership and Management Fellow Scheme, the Fellow should:
- be in good standing with the GMC
- be a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
- be appointed to a Resident in higher training post with a National Training Number (and not CCT during the scheme)
- be a Speciality and Specialist Doctor on pay scale MC75 01-09 (SAS on the 2021 contract) or equivalent MC46/41 01-10 (SAS on the 2008 contract)
- have evidence of satisfactory progress in training
- have the support of their TPD or MD
- commit to engaging with the scheme and the necessary requirements
It is the Fellow's responsibility to ensure their attendance at the national training programme and to utilise study leave if training days fall outside their special interest time.
