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NHS Scotland

Management Training Scheme

East of Scotland Placements

East of Scotland Region is looking for one General Management Trainee for the 2025 Cohort.  

East of Scotland Region  

The challenges facing the NHS in Scotland are complex. There are the considerable financial constraints, alongside significant service pressures in key areas such as waiting times, emergency departments and delayed discharges. These impact the organisation at all levels for example uncertainty, pace and management of change, service reviews or restructuring, and workforce morale. 

As well as experience working in both, territorial and national Boards, opportunities come from the above challenges, for example organisations under high pressure balancing competing demands and priorities, finance and budget management, strategic decision-making, chance to influence change through fresh eyes and ideas. 

Regional arrangements 

Lead Board: NHS Lothian  

A designated host Board. Provides a Placement Coordinator, who is the key point of contact for the trainee in the region, working closely with the national Scheme Manager.  

Other Participating Board(s) providing placement opportunities for the trainee during the Scheme: National Services Scotland (NSS). 

Induction  

We offer a 6-week induction plan (tried and tested, and successfully delivered for previous Year 1 trainee). The plan covers the scope of the entire Board including orientation around every Site/Corporate Management Team Director’s area, hands on ‘day in the life of’ shadowing in roles such as catering and portering, as well as analytics and observing Board meetings.   

One day per week will be spent easing trainee into their placement role, to build confidence, build relationships, ensure a sense of meaning and purpose, and feel part of the team early on. 

Trainee will have a desk assigned for them at NHS Lothian Headquarters in West Port, Edinburgh. Flexible working can be arranged as part of the placement agreement on-site. Access to hot desks is provided across sites. Year 1 day-to-day management and support is provided by a former management trainee, who is now in a senior manager role within our corporate services. They will guide the trainee through induction programme, which includes corporate induction and mandatory e-learning, and supervise the first 9-month placement.   

Regular one-to-one update meetings will be held with the Placement Coordinator at a rate that suits both. New and current management trainees will have the opportunity to network regularly for peer support and shared learning. 

A local induction plan will be in place for subsequent placements with support to ensure a smooth transition. 

Management Trainee posts  

Opportunities on offer are likely to be project management support and assistant manager roles, normally at Agenda for Change Band 6. These provide a good opportunity for trainees to evidence their ability to match the six leadership capabilities.   

Year 1 

Project and Performance Assistant Business Manager in NHS Lothian Deputy Chief Executive Office at West Port Edinburgh.

Responsibilities will impact on all NHS Lothian services, including all adult acute hospital sites, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities services, Primary Care and Community services and the three pan Lothian directorates: Women’s and Children’s; Diagnostics/Anaesthetics/Theatres/Critical Care; and Out-patients/Associated Services.  

We believe that working together across all areas of the health service is the best way to provide care for patients. We seek to be innovative and thoughtful in our programmes of work, focusing on delivering a more streamlined, patient-centred structure, which both staff and patients will benefit from.  

Development Opportunities during the placement: 

  • Strong leadership and change management skills; 

  • Drive and determination; 

  • Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, agreement or co-operation required;  

  • Development of effective working relationships across organisational and directorate boundaries; 

  • Effective and autonomous workload management; 

  • Ability to analyse health and care data for longer periods of time; 

  • Timely and informed decision-making skills.  

Year 2 

Elective 12-week placement, selected by trainee based on areas of interest at the time;  

A 9-month placement at National Services Scotland: 

NSS is a National Health Board that provides advice and support to the health service in Scotland.  There are several Directorates in NSS, therefore a placement will be determined based on the skills and requirements of the trainee.  NSS is a diverse organisation that can offer many opportunities for a placement. 

As NSS is a National Board and has a digital hybrid first approach, a trainee could be based anywhere in Scotland. However given the nature of a placement, some travel may be required.  

Trainee support  

NHS Lothian will provide an Executive-level Sponsor, Placement Coordinator and year one Placement Mentor. We will plan and support the transitions between the placements to ensure a smooth and positive trainee journey.  

NSS will assign a buddy and a mentor who will provide support and guidance during the placement, as well as a number of other development opportunities, depending on the requirements of the Directorate and the trainee.  NSS have developed management and leadership programmes that the trainee would also be able to access. Full induction and orientation will be provided. 

Other learning / training opportunities include but are not limited to: 

  • People management 

  • Essential HR policies and procedures 

  • ‘Courage to manage’ conversations  

  • Appraisal conversation / Placement Development Planning and Review 

  • Leading and managing change 

  • Quality management 

Year 3  

A substantive 12-month post in the NHS Lothian Health Board.

After the Scheme 

NHS Lothian sees the Management Training Scheme as a great opportunity to support talent management and have a good track record in recruiting and attracting former trainees into substantive roles.  

Workforce planning statistics predict that several Agenda for Change Band 6 Administration and Management staff will retire, with some of these being in an Assistant Service Management role. 

In their final year, the trainee would be supported to start planning / seeking employment opportunities jointly by their placement supervisor and Placement Coordinator. This would include how to access vacancies, Job Train support, interview preparation, and skills.