OxLead Frontline / Firstline Leaders
Characteristics of leaders at this stage: This stage focuses on leaders who typically hold responsibility for a single team or a clearly defined area of accountability. As both clinical and non-clinical leaders, they operate closest to the point of care and day-to-day service delivery. They play a critical role in coordinating people, managing resources, and ensuring that high-quality, safe, and timely care is consistently delivered.
Examples of roles sitting in this area include;
Senior community speech and language therapist – You manage your own caseload and are now supervising junior therapists. You are learning to balance your own work with supporting others and want to feel confident managing workload, team dynamics and competing priorities.
Community pharmacist – You manage medication plans and reviews, supporting patients with long term conditions to optimise treatment. You’re the go to for your GP practice on medication queries, repeat prescriptions and clinical audits. You’re aiming for a lead pharmacist role and want to know what skills you’ll need.
Ward nurse – You coordinate patient care on a busy ward and regularly support colleagues. You are keen to take the next step in your career and would like to become a ward matron one day. You want to build skills in communicating priorities, managing upwards and leading in changing clinical situations.
Corporate staff member – You plan, manage and deliver services or projects that support the organisation. You work with colleagues across teams and may liaise with external partners such as contractors, suppliers and specialist advisers to help deliver safe, efficient and effective day-to-day operations.
Leadership development you should consider at this level = OxLead Front/Firstline leaders programme
The OxLead Frontline / Firstline Leaders Programme is Oxleas’ core leadership development offer for leaders who are closest to day-to-day service deliver, whether in clinical, corporate or support roles—where leadership has a direct impact on staff experience, service quality, and patient care.
Designed for leaders who manage teams or coordinate work within a defined area of responsibility, the programme supports participants to confidently translate organisational priorities into consistent, high-quality practice. It focuses on what matters most at this stage of leadership: leading people well, managing performance, and delivering outcomes in real time.
OxLead strengthens both the human and operational aspects of leadership, building self-awareness, practical skills and the confidence to lead effectively in complex and pressured environments.
Grounded in Our Leadership Way and aligned to the NHS Management and Leadership Framework, the programme develops leaders who are compassionate, inclusive and values-driven, while also being confident in driving performance, improvement and results across a wide range of settings.
The programme is designed for frontline and firstline leaders, typically in Band 7 roles, who:
OxLead is open to clinical and non clinical leaders, reflecting Oxleas’ belief that effective leadership matters at every level and in every service. The programme is inclusive by design and supports leaders across different professions, settings, and services to develop a shared leadership language and approach.
The OxLead programme focuses on the practical realities of frontline and firstline leadership, combining self insight with applied leadership skills. Key areas covered include:
The programme uses a blended learning approach, combining workshops, facilitated discussions, practical tools and supported reflection, enabling leaders to apply learning directly to their role and workplace challenges.
Coming Soon – Click here to view the leadership behaviours and competencies expected at this level. These outline what is required as you move into a leadership role—taking responsibility not only for your own work, but for leading, managing and delivering through others.