Skip to main contentSkip to footer
LEF students at BSMS presenting posters to a group
Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Leadership and Education Fellows with NHSE KSS DEANERY

BSMS > Postgraduate > Continuing Professional Development > Bespoke training and commission > Leadership and Education Fellows with NHSE KSS Deanery

Leadership and Education Fellows with NHSE KSS Deanery

The Leadership and Education Fellows (LEFs) programme aims to enhance the experience and education of the medical workforce, and/or implement service improvements to locally identified priorities, whilst developing the leadership skills of resident doctors.

These prestigious and developmental fellowships, made available through NHS England Kent, Surrey and Sussex (NHSE KSS) Deanery, are specifically designed for career-minded IMT3+ or ST3+ resident doctors with an interest in leadership, medical education and service improvement.  They provide an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and experience in these areas, through practical project work and academic study, learning alongside a cohort of peers.  

The programme is managed by Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), with Fellows completing our post graduate certificate in healthcare leadership and commissioning.   

Participating Trusts from across KSS recruit to the one-year fellowship post, during which the fellow spends the majority of their time leading improvement projects and completing the bespoke development programme. The rest of their time is spent on clinical duties.

Read Luke's story >

Outcomes from previous leadership and education fellows

In July 2025, the 2024 Leadership and Education Fellows completing the programme, gave brief poster presentations on their work over the year to an audience of Trust supervisors, Directors of Medical Education (DMEs) and Medical Education Managers from across KSS.

This year’s fellows:

  • Established sustainable wellbeing services for resident doctors
  • Designed and implemented point-of-care ultrasound training
  • Developed simulation resources and supported the initial set up of a simulation suite
  • Delivered QI projects including: induction of labour; improving clinical handover
  • Implemented a collaborative perioperative smoking cessation project
  • Supported resident doctors in the transition to a new-build hospital
  • Created and implemented a new appraisal process for Locally Employed Doctors

All while developing their ability to lead with authenticity, navigate complexity, and influence others. In total 53 fellows have completed the fellowship since 2017. The table below summarises the main themes of fellows’ work and examples of project outcomes:

Main themes
ThemeProject outcomes
Enhancing local education delivery

New educational experiences developed – simulation sessions; in-situ leadership sessions; learning from Serious Untoward Incidents; development of Virtual Reality resources

Improved education events – induction; in-person specialty training quality and attendance; transitioning to online delivery

GMC trainee survey analysis and implementation of improvements to education
Improving local experience of resident doctors

Made improvements to wellbeing support for resident doctors

Increased resident doctor engagement in rotas, service improvement, design and use of digital health records

 
Service and quality improvement

Created new pathway for pre-optimisation of elective patients

Sustainability improvements in anaesthetics
Supporting International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

Improved induction and orientation to the UK and the NHS as well as the post

Research into IMG experienceDesigned and delivered tailored education and skills development 

Investigation and recommendation for improved supervision support

 

100% of evaluation survey resondents would recommend the programme to others:

  • “Absolutely superb programme… Helpful, insightful journey…”
  • “The programme was a leap in my development.” 
  • “I feel very priviledged to have been able to take part in the programme. I have developed personally and professionally… I feel that I have been able to have an impact that will continue for some time to come.”
  • “Development programme is excellent.”
  • “The Learning Network meetings were particularly helpful.”

LEF students at BSMS presenting posters to a group

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL
A group of people at an event standing around having a conversation

Development Programme 

The Leadership and Education Fellows are supported by a comprehensive education and development package, delivered and designed and delivered specifically for the programme by BSMS.

By the end of the development programme, fellows will have:

  • Attained a deep knowledge and understanding of leadership, education and service improvement in the healthcare setting
  • Developed their skills in applying their learning to real issues identified as priorities in their Trust
  • Completed post-graduate certificate studies in Healthcare Leadership and Commissioning
  • Made a significant contribution to improving the local education and experience of the medical workforce.

Visit the course page below to find out more about the PGCert in Healthcare Leadership and Commissioning.

PGCert in Healthcare Leadership and Commissioning

Contact

For more information, please contact: 

Programme Director: Samantha Greenhouse
S.Greenhouse@bsms.ac.uk 

Programme Adviser: Breda Flaherty