This free programme matches experienced, high-performing leaders in the voluntary and community sector (VCS) with others in the sector to share their knowledge and provide peer support. It is designed for those who want to develop both their organisational and leadership skills and contribute to the sector. 
The programme is designed for anyone who is leading an organisation in the sector that focuses on health and wellbeing. The organisation can be of any size, and either in the early stages of development or well established. The Kings Fund are offering two opportunities: to join as a consultant or as a partner.
Cascading Leadership consultant (20 places available per programme)
You will be:
• an experienced and senior leader working in the VCS who can draw on a wide range of knowledge, experience and expertise to support another organisation
• willing to develop your own leadership skills and to share what you know with others
• interested in contributing to and learning from a peer group of VCS leaders
Cascading Leadership partner (20 places available per programme)
You will be:
• leading a VCS organisation that would benefit from the experience of others who can help you to reflect and learn and to develop your organisation
• interested in contributing to and learning from a peer group of VCS leaders
How will you benefit from the programme?
By joining this programme as a consultant, you will:
• develop a range of leadership and consultancy skills to use within your organisation and in wider networks – for example, using powerful questions; having techniques to question and challenge; providing non-managerial support; using active listening; understanding power dynamics; avoiding resistance; developing a reflective practice
• have the opportunity to test and refine these skills, with access to one-to-one supervision and a peer learning group
By joining as a partner, you will:
• have the support of a highly experienced VCS leader who understands the sector and will help you work through the real challenges your organisation is facing; this support may focus on:
- specific technical skills – fundraising, strategic planning, evaluation, policy development, management systems etc
- process skills – the consultants can offer objective and confidential peer support and a space to think through the challenges of your work – for example, working with your board, staff and volunteers; planning for change; managing disagreement and difficult conversations; how to influence internally and externally.
Both consultants and partners will benefit from being part of a wider learning network, with the opportunities to build connections, partnerships and collaborations, learning from and supporting peers.
What will you do on the programme?
As a Cascading Leadership consultant, you will:
• take part in a two-day training and development programme to develop different leadership and consultancy skills and make the shift from leading your organisation to facilitating the leadership of others
• receive individual supervision from our experienced leadership and organisational development consultants
• arrange an initial telephone call or meeting with your partner and take part in a minimum of three consulting sessions between November 2017 and April 2018
• take part in a peer learning group facilitated by The King’s Fund that will meet twice (part way through the programme and a final review session)
As a Cascading Leadership partner, you will:
• take part in an introductory event to meet the other partners and prepare for the consultancy
• be matched with a consultant and have at least three, confidential, face-to-face meetings plus some support by telephone and email
For further information and to register, visit: www.kingsfund.org.uk/leadership/cascading-leadership-programme
Deadline for applications: Thursday 20 July 2017