Health services manager : Career development

Trainees on the graduate training schemes are not guaranteed employment after completion of training but are supported into a first post. A wide range of opportunities is available within NHS management  upon completion of training, including roles in community or hospital settings, and in policy development and operational or strategic planning.

Managers coming through the graduate trainee schemes will usually be expected to gain rapid promotion, largely subject to achievement and performance in initial roles. A degree of mobility and flexibility is helpful to enhance development prospects. Many trainees gain their initial job through their final placement.

It is possible for highly successful managers to move into director or chief executive roles within ten years of completing their training.

For those entering management from internal administrative or other roles, qualifications in management and/or relevant specialist areas, such as facilities management, human resources (HR) or finance, would assist promotion. Management training is also offered by the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) . Specific higher-level management qualifications, such as a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), a Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) or NVQ Levels 4 and 5, would also greatly assist progression.

A good understanding of health policy and the trends in government thinking can also assist career development. In recent years, the National Health Service (NHS) has had to deal with many new policies and initiatives in funding, organisation, approaches to management, and patient care; along with a demand for increasing accountability and measurement of performance. These require managers to adapt successfully and to implement changes quickly.