Developing a Future Chief Executives Programme for the UK’s National Offender Management Service
The Ministry of Justice commissioned us to deliver first-class leadership development for those aiming for Chief Executive positions within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). They wanted a programme tailor-made to the fast-changing political and economic environments of a sector undergoing a shift from public to private ownership.
The overall aim was to provide their future leaders with a challenging, stimulating and supportive environment that would enhance their abilities and confidence to take on the role of CEO.
Our customised leadership programme combined workshops, master classes, Action Learning Sets and 1:1 coaching sessions.
The sector-specific programme comprised:
- A 360 skill assessment survey, followed by individual feedback and personal development planning sessions
- Leadership master classes, with guest speakers from companies including Google and Serco, along with Chief Executives from the public and third sector.
- Leadership workshops
- Action learning sets
- Individual executive coaching sessions.
The workshop themes included:
- Leadership key skills and behaviours
- Inclusive leadership
- Corporate working and service transformation
- Managing difficult conversations
- Conflict resolution.
Our programme equipped over 50 senior probation professionals with the skills needed to shape and lead in the new probation sector, including commercial and political awareness, adaptable behaviours and inclusive leadership. It ran successfully for two years before we launched our own Criminal Justice Leadership Programme.
Four of our delegates progressed to CRC Chief Executive positions, and three to Deputy Directors of the National Probation Service.
“The coaching, support and action learning sets enabled me to actively reflect on and put into practice a full range of leadership and change theories. This has been particularly useful at a time of significant organisational and structural change. Strategic thinking, emotional intelligence and transformational leadership were some of the areas the course focused on and are now toolkits that I rely on, to ensure effective leadership… The availability of EW Group facilitators post the course has been excellent, supporting and enabling me to progress further in my leadership career and securing a Chief Officer post.”
Manjinder Purewal, now Chief Executive Officer at Warwickshire and West Mercia Community Rehabilitation Company