We aim to lead on making inclusion a reality within the NHS. We’ll do this through investment in excellent, knowledgeable and capable leadership.
We know that diversity and inclusion leads to improved health and greater staff and patient experiences of the NHS, and we welcome the challenge of enabling staff from all backgrounds to develop and excel in their roles. From those just starting out to more senior colleagues, we’re here to support every staff member to develop their potential and to promote leadership at every level. We’re playing our part in addressing underrepresentation at senior levels and ensuring that the NHS truly represents our diverse patient population now and into the future.

For information on inclusive leadership development offers in the east of England, please contact
[email protected] or [email protected]
More details about inclusion, equality and diversity nationally can be found here
Information on staff networks can be found here
East of England offers

East of England Positive Action Programme
Open to alumni of the Leadership Academy’s Ready Now and Stepping Up programmes and other staff from ethnic minority backgrounds working across systems in the East of England.
Bookings are now open for the next series of workshops run by Patricia Ezechie, a creative and experienced coach who specialises in career management, personal development, resilience and wellbeing. Join Patricia for these thought-provoking and interactive sessions designed to challenge your assumptions, to offer practical tips and tools for career development, and to provide opportunities to learn from each other. And if you’re wondering whether these sessions are right for you, check out some of the feedback we’ve had so far Positive-Action-Programme-Evaluation-FINAL-2.pdf (leadershipacademy.nhs.uk)
Creating the Career You Want™
Wednesday 11 October 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Click here to book
Tuesday 17 October 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Click here to book
Developing a Proactive Mindset
Tuesday 31 October 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Click here to book
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Leading with Confidence
Wednesday 08 November 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Click here to book
Creating the Career You Want™ Career Development sessions
Patricia will be running two targeted Career Development sessions for those who have previously attended a Creating the Career You Want™ workshop and are working at bands 6-7 or band 8a and above (or equivalent). Please ensure that you will have attended a Creating the Career You Want™ workshop prior to a Career Development session.
Session 1: bands 6-7 – Tuesday 28 November 10:00 am – 1:30 pm: Click here to book
Session 2: band 8a and above – Wednesday 29 November 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Click here to book
Coaching sessions
Coaching is an effective tool in supporting both your professional and personal development and helping you to achieve your goals. A limited number of one-to-one coaching sessions are available with Patricia. Click here to find out more and express an interest.
Disability Confidence
Disability Rights UK are a registered charity with over 25 years’ experience in the disability and equality field. This Disability Confidence training is delivered by people with lived experience of disability or health conditions. The session is delivered in a jargon-free and open environment, and is interactive, involving discussion, group work, reading case studies and personal reflection.
Most people acquire their impairment or health condition during adult life, so it is important that managers and all staff become more confident when managing and working with disabled people in the workplace.
Wednesday 8 November 2.00 – 4.30: Click here to book
Tuesday 14 November 10.00 – 12.30: Click here to book
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Stonewall take an empowerment approach to help individuals create more inclusive cultures. These sessions are designed to increase people’s confidence through a blend of education and discussion to help participants better understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ people.
Delivering LGBTQ+ Inclusive Services
This session provides a great opportunity for participants to promote inclusive service delivery among their teams and ensure they are getting it right when it comes to best practice language and support for LGBTQ+ people.
Thursday 9 November 11.00 – 12.30: Click here to book
Championing LGBTQ+ Inclusion as a Senior Leader
This session focuses on engaging senior leaders on LGBTQ+ inclusion and developing an understanding of the positive impact they can have on promoting an inclusive workplace at the top of management, setting an example for the rest of the workforce.
Tuesday 5 December 2.00 – 3.30: Click here to book

Compassionate and Inclusive Cultures
Find out more about our compassionate and inclusive leadership development offers and book your place here
Regional offers
Inclusive Leadership in Health and Care
This course supports managers and supervisors working in health and care across the UK to develop inclusive and compassionate leadership skills. Further information and booking details can be found here: https://london.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/

NHS East of England equality, diversity and inclusion
The role of the East of England’s Equality and Inclusion team is to support NHS organisations within the region to meet their legal public sector duties under the Equality Act 2010 and deliver key priorities set out in the NHS People Plan. Their work on the EDI agenda supports organisations and our NHS people in ensuring their experience at work is the best it can be.
Visit the team’s website to find an overview of their key priorities, the East of England Antiracism strategy, and other resources to help organisations create workplace environments that are inclusive, equitable and compassionate: NHS England East of England » Equality, diversity and inclusion
Useful links and resources
- NHS equality, diversity, and inclusion improvement plan
- Leading for all: supporting trans and non-binary healthcare staff
- NHS England » New figures show NHS workforce most diverse it has ever been
- Combatting racial discrimination against minority ethnic nurses, midwives and nursing associates
- Dare to Care (Creating an Anti-Racist Environment)
- Shattered hopes: black and minority ethnic leaders’ experiences of breaking the glass ceiling in the NHS
- How to recruit and support disabled staff in the NHS
- Workforce Disability Equality Standard
- Workforce race inequalities and inclusion in NHS providers
- Creating a personal, fair and diverse NHS
- RCN Cultural Ambassador Programme
- TRUST an essential ingredient for effective and inclusive leadership in the NHS
- Building positive workplace cultures in the NHS
- NHS Race and Health Observatory