Celebrating Leadership and Growth: PSDP Completion Days for Essex Cohorts 37 & 38
Last month, we celebrated the completion of the Professional Support and Development Programme (PSDP) for two more Essex-based cohorts of care leaders. Congratulations to Cohorts 37 and 38!
The PSDP is our structured, evidence-informed programme designed to build leadership capacity, resilience, and confidence in the social care sector. These two cohorts were funded by Essex County Council.
Over several months, 22 participants engaged in a series of workshops and Action Learning sessions. This provided them with practical tools, reflective space, and peer support to help them lead more effectively in their services.
Cohort 37 – Reflection, Resilience, and Reframing Leadership
Cohort 37 consisted of managers, deputies and senior carers/team leaders from care homes for older people and supported living services.
Their programme was shaped by the realities of leading in a pressured care environment—balancing staff needs, inspection demands, and personal wellbeing. Care leaders explored tools such as Transactional Analysis, Appreciative Inquiry, and the Caring Conversations Framework to help them navigate these challenges.
The programme’s structure—three workshops and six Action Learning sessions over a 10 month period—allowed participants to apply these tools in real time, with outcomes including improved communication, delegation, and team engagement.
One care leader said:
“I want to empower carers now and I understand about how my tone of communication is important.”
Another reflected on the importance of self-care and peer support:
“I need to identify my sources of support and use them to look after myself, and that is okay.”
By the end of the programme, care leaders reported:
- 100% improvement in their leadership and communication skills
- 100% improvement in their understanding of how to improve the culture of care
- 100% improvement in their quality of management and leadership
- 89% improvement in their ability to meet CQC requirements
These outcomes reflect the PSDP programme’s ability to not only improve outcomes for the individual, but to also support service-wide improvements in team dynamics and care quality.
Cohort 38 – Measurable Impact and Meaningful Change
Cohort 38 entered the programme facing a range of challenges: new roles, low confidence, and difficult team dynamics. Through the PSDP, they developed the skills and mindset to be relational sources of support who lead with confidence.
One care leader shared,
“I’ve been able to set boundaries between myself and the manager who is a friend, and the team know that I can be trusted.”
Another noted,
“I liked the way that asking open questions made the talker think about how things could be done differently, or gave you confidence in your answers.”
Survey results from 7 of 8 participants showed:
- 100% reported improved confidence, leadership, and communication
- 86% saw gains in quality of life, job satisfaction, and working conditions
- 71% felt more valued and better equipped to improve care culture
- All observed improved team morale and a more positive care environment
The Action Learning sessions were particularly impactful, offering a confidential space to reflect on real-world issues and receive constructive peer support:
“It helps to know I’m not alone in facing these challenges. We relate, we share, and we grow together.”
It was fantastic to have Lesley Cruickshank, Quality Innovation Manager at Essex County Council, attend the Completion Day, and present participants with their certificates:
Looking Ahead
Across both cohorts, the PSDP created a space for participants to reflect, connect, and grow as leaders.
As the facilitator reflected:
“This group of bright, committed care leaders quickly developed trust in one another. They shared personal stories, celebrated each other’s achievements, and created a supportive space that brought out the best in everyone. Their growth and connection will have a lasting impact on social care in Essex.”
We’re proud of the progress made by Cohorts 37 and 38 and excited about the impact they’ll continue to have in their services and communities! Their journeys show that, with the right support, care leaders can thrive—even in the most challenging environments.