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“Leadership is crucial, particularly Clinical Directors, but the Clinical Director role is poorly developed, supported and managed.”
Lord Darzi Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England May 2026
Whether you are currently a Clinical Director, or aspiring to be one, this well established virtual conference provides a unique opportunity to learn from the experiences of other Clinical Directors, and Medical Directors to develop your skills as an effective Clinical Director. The programme will focus on developing the skills, confidence and practical leadership approaches needed by Clinical Directors and aspiring Clinical Directors in today’s NHS.
Clinical Directors play a pivotal role in improving quality, safety, team performance and patient outcomes. Sitting at the interface between clinical practice, operational delivery, workforce pressures and organisational strategy, the role is both influential and demanding. The Care Quality Commission has also highlighted the importance of local clinical leadership, stating:
“Local leadership at clinical service level, and sometimes at individual ward level, can be critical in determining the quality of care.”
Care Quality Commission
A GMC commissioned report found that the job of a Clinical Director is one of the most demanding:
“Several leaders called attention to the pivotal role of Clinical Directors. They pointed to the paradox that Clinical Directors have perhaps the most difficult of roles in people management terms, and a direct impact on perceived working culture. However, they have the least experience of leadership and little developmental support.”
How doctors in senior leadership roles establish and maintain a positive patient centred culture, Research Report for the General Medical Council
“It is apparent from the reflections of senior medical leaders that in some respects the most demanding but unsupported period of the medical leadership journey is in the first step beyond consultant (or equivalent) leadership, often as a clinical director. Many participants acknowledged that performance in these roles can be central to the experience of colleagues, but that they are undertaken by those who are still novice leaders and receiving limited developmental support. ”
How doctors in senior leadership roles establish and maintain a positive patient centred culture, Research Report for the General Medical Council
As a result of delegate feedback, we have included essential sessions with tips and advice on difficult issues Clinical Directors face in practice, including managing job plan negotiations, HR advice, managing tricky grievances, and addressing common legal queries.
This conference will enable you to:
Network with Clinical Directors, Aspiring Clinical Directors and those who support them
Understand the key competences, attitudes and skills that make a good Clinical Director
Learn from outstanding practice in developing your skills as a Clinical Director
Reflect on national developments and learning including working under pressure
Understand the key elements of the role
Develop your skills in Clinical Leadership
Understand how you can improve your management and support for colleagues who are experiencing difficulties and exhibiting difficult behavior
Identify key strategies for improving team working, and wellbeing in your directorate
Drive improvements in quality improvement
Understand National Developments in Patient Safety and gain practical advice for improving patient safety, managing incidents and learning from deaths
Understand the highs and lows of the role from the perspective of experienced Clinical Directors
Gain practical advice on difficult issues such as managing job plan negotiations, managing tricky grievances and common legal queries
Self assess and reflect on your own practice
Supports CPD professional development and acts as revalidation evidence. This course provides 5 Hrs training for CPD subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes
