Leadership for health commissioning in the new NHS : Exploring the early development of clinical commissioning groups in England
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 16 March 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the early experiences of those involved with the development of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), examining how the aspiration towards a “clinically-led” system is being realised. The authors investigate emerging leadership approaches within CCGs in light of the criterion for authorisation that calls for “great leaders”.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative research was carried out in eight case studies (CCGs) across England over a nine-month period (September 2011 to May 2012) when CCGs were in their early development. The authors conducted a mix of interviews (with GPs and managers), observations (at CCG meetings) and examined associated documentation. Data were thematically analysed.
Findings
The authors found evidence of two identified approaches to leadership – positive deviancy and responsible guardianship – being undertaken by GPs and managers in the developing CCGs. Historical experiences and past ways of working appeared to be influencing current developments and a commonly emerging theme was a desire for the CCG to “do things differently” to the previous commissioning bodies. The authors discuss how the current reorganisation threatens the guardianship approach to leadership and question if the new systems being implemented to monitor CCGs’ performance may make it difficult for CCGs to retain creativity and innovation, and thus the ability to foster the positive deviant approach to leadership.
Originality/value
This is a large scale piece of qualitative research carried out as CCGs were beginning to develop. It provides insight into how leadership is developing in CCGs highlighting the complexity involved in these roles.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the participants who were very generous in allowing us access to their organisations at a time of considerable turmoil and change. The authors are also grateful to Rosalind Miller, Christina Petsoulas and Andrew Wallace for their hard work during the data collection.
Citation
Coleman, A., Segar, J., Checkland, K., McDermott, I., Harrison, S. and Peckham, S. (2015), "Leadership for health commissioning in the new NHS : Exploring the early development of clinical commissioning groups in England", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 75-91. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-04-2013-0075
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited