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HEIW champions compassionate leadership and inclusive culture across NHS Wales

As part of the Integrated Medium-Term Plan 2025-26, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) has announced 8 strategic priorities to develop a highly skilled and sustainable workforce, ensuring improved care and better health outcomes for the people of Wales.

Strategic priority 6: Compassionate Cultures and Effective Leadership, focuses on creating a supportive, inclusive and well-led working environment.

Compassionate leadership involves listening with intent, understanding, empathising and supporting other people to ensure the workforce feel valued respected and cared for, so they can reach their potential and do their best work. There is clear evidence that teams that embed compassionate leadership are more engaged and motivated, resulting in high-quality care for patients with a sustainable workforce.

We are committed to investing in those who undertake leadership and management roles to embed and support compassionate leadership at all levels across NHS Wales. We continue our work in response to staff survey results and WRES data. This priority also focuses on retaining staff, developing future leaders and the development of leadership and management framework that underpins this work across NHS Wales.

Over the next three years, we will build on existing programmes and collaborate with Welsh Government to scope new initiatives to support this strategic priority. Our key development objectives include:

  • Implementing the All-Wales Retention Programme to improve staff morale and continuity of care for patients
  • Increasing leadership and management development for operational NHS managers
  • Establishing a national leadership and management code of practice and competency framework in line with UK developments
  • Expanding diversity in leadership pipelines through new programmes and resources
  • Launching a national induction programme and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) offer for NHS Wales Board Members, building on the initial pilot

"At HEIW, we know that compassionate leadership is essential to delivering safe, effective and person-centred care. Embedding inclusive, values-led leadership across NHS Wales is vital to improving staff wellbeing, strengthening our workforce and ultimately achieving better outcomes for patients. These actions are not just about investing in managers and leaders, they are about working in partnership to shape a health service where everyone feels respected, valued and heard," commented Helen Watkins, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at HEIW.

In addition, HEIW will continue to oversee and deliver the national NHS Staff Survey and work with health organisations to drive increased participation and meaningful use of results.

HEIW's 2025–28 Integrated Medium-Term Plan includes clear milestones for this work, ensuring it supports both national priorities and local needs. With a continued focus on collaboration with Health Boards and stakeholders across Wales, the organisation is laying strong foundations for a healthier, more sustainable future.

For further information please see our Integrated Medium Term Plan (IMTP) or contact heiw@wales.nhs.uk.

If you are interested in understanding more about our other priority programmes of work, please see our news web page.