Bury Care Academy

    Search Bury Care Academy

    search

    Bury Care Academy's First LEAD Programme: Leaders Complete Their Transformation

    Published 23rd Jan

    What Happened at the Final LEAD Programme Session?

    Yesterday marked a significant milestone for Bury's care sector as our first cohort of care leaders completed their five-week leadership transformation at BARDOC's Moorgate Primary Care Centre. The final session, Encourage the Heart, brought together everything participants had learned throughout the programme, focusing on how recognition, appreciation, and celebrating wins create the culture that high-performing teams need to thrive.

    The energy in the room was electric as managers and supervisors from across Bury's health and social care sector reflected on their journey and prepared to take their newfound skills back to their teams. This wasn't just a training completion – it was the culmination of five weeks of honest reflection, vulnerability, growth, and lots of laughter.

    Lead Programme participants pictured in a group phone smiling while holding their certificates

    How Did the LEAD Programme Strengthen Leadership in Adult Social Care?

    Built around the highly respected Kouzes & Posner leadership model, the LEAD Programme guided participants through five in-depth sessions, with each week building on the knowledge and skills developed previously.

    Week 1: Model the Way Participants began by exploring the differences between leadership and management, reflecting on their own leadership styles and behaviours. Using Wilson’s Quadrant, they developed greater self-awareness, guided by the thought‑provoking question: “What is it like to be on the receiving end of me?” This encouraged open, honest reflection from the outset.

    Week 2: Inspire a Shared Vision This session focused on helping leaders develop and articulate clear, motivating visions. Participants learned how to engage and inspire their teams, ensuring everyone is aligned around shared goals — a vital capability within complex, people-centred care environments.

    Week 3: Challenge the Process Leaders were introduced to practical tools to support innovation, informed risk-taking, and continuous improvement. The session encouraged participants to move away from a “this is how it’s always been done” mindset and confidently embrace positive change.

    Week 4: Enable Others to Act The emphasis this week was on teamwork and empowerment. Participants explored ways to build trust, encourage collaboration, and enable individuals to take responsibility and show initiative — key elements in developing motivated, high‑performing care teams.

    Week 5: Encourage the Heart The final session highlighted the importance of recognition and appreciation. Leaders learned effective methods for acknowledging contributions, celebrating successes, and fostering a positive workplace culture where people feel valued, supported, and inspired.

    What Made This Cohort Special?

    What made this group quite special was the humour. They created a room filled with laughter, trust, rapport and connection – the perfect climate and conditions for real development in the classroom and hopefully an ongoing support network across the locality.

    Session Highlights

    See all the highlights from the programmes conclusion

    LEAD Programme trainer points to whiteboard as classroom attendee looks on, the whiteboard shows a graph title the circle of influence Bethany discusses The Circle of Influence LEAD Programme attendees smiling with each other while discussing group activities Participants discussing a group activity LEAD Programme leaners working on a written task Learners working on a written task LEAD Programme trainer smiling to someone off camera as the group engage in a discussion, other attendees can be seen in the background also listening Classroom discussion Bury Care Academy manager speaking to the learners and the end of the programme. She is stood in the middle of the room with the learners and lead trainer looking towards her. Bury Care's own Sue Waldron visits the learners to congratulate them LEAD Programme trainer points to whiteboard as classroom attendee looks on, the whiteboard shows a graph title the circle of influence Bethany discusses The Circle of Influence

    Watch the full session highlights on YouTube

    Click below to see full highlights from the final day of the programme as well as interviews with some of our graduates.

    What Impact Will This Have on Bury's Care Sector?

    The graduation of this first LEAD cohort represents more than individual achievement – it's a strengthening of Bury's entire care sector. These leaders will return to their organizations equipped with:

    • Proven leadership frameworks they can apply immediately
      • Greater self-awareness about their leadership style and impact
        • Practical tools for inspiring and supporting their teams
          • Connections with other care leaders across the borough
            • Renewed confidence in their ability to lead through challenges

              Perhaps most importantly, they've been reminded that they're not alone. The relationships built during these five weeks create an ongoing support network – leaders who understand each other's challenges because they're living them too.

              Celebrating Our Graduates

              To every graduate of this inaugural cohort, you should be incredibly proud. Over these five weeks, you've shown up with openness and honesty, tackled challenging conversations, and supported one another through every step of the journey. You've pushed past comfort zones, brought humour and humanity to the classroom, and proven what's possible when leaders commit to genuine growth.

              Bury's care sector is stronger today because of your dedication. Take what you've learned, apply it with confidence, and continue to be the leaders your teams deserve. You've got this!

              Thank You to Our Partners

              The success of the LEAD Programme wouldn't be possible without our exceptional partners...

              Bardoc logo Click to visit the BARDOC Website Connected Consultants Check out Connected Consultants on LinkedIn

              Frequently Asked Questions

               What is the LEAD Programme? The Leadership and Development Programme (LEAD) is a 5-week intensive course for care sector managers and supervisors. Based on the respected Kouzes & Posner leadership model, it uses experiential learning to develop practical leadership skills that participants can immediately apply in their workplace.  

               Who should attend the LEAD Programme? The programme is designed for current managers and supervisors working in the health and social care sector who want to develop their leadership capabilities, increase their self-awareness, and improve outcomes for their teams.  

              How is the LEAD Programme different from other leadership training? LEAD uses experiential learning techniques rather than traditional lecture-based training. Participants learn by doing, reflecting on their experiences, and learning from each other. The programme specifically addresses the unique challenges of leading in the care sector and brings together leaders from different care settings for collaborative learning.  

              When and where is the next LEAD Programme? The next programme runs every Monday from 2nd - 30th March 2026, from 9:30am - 4:00pm at Outreach Community, 35-37 Blackburn Street, Radcliffe.

              How do I register for the March LEAD Programme?  Contact Bury Care Academy directly via our contact page,  to register your interest. Spaces are limited, so we encourage early registration.

              Can I attend individual sessions or do I need to commit to all five weeks? The LEAD Programme is designed as a complete journey, with each session building on previous learning. Participants commit to attending all five sessions to gain the full benefit of the programme and support their cohort's development.

              What other support does Bury Care Academy offer to care providers? We offer comprehensive workforce development support including recruitment services, training programme delivery, strategic workforce planning advice, and operational guidance. Visit our What we do page to learn more about our full range of services.