Background
The Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) is an independent special health authority within the National Health Service. It supports effective patient care by delivering high quality services and management information across the NHS.
The Need
As a result of their annual review, a need was identified by a number
of staff members for a programme that would help them develop their assertiveness and self-confidence skills. Individual reasons for choosing this programme included the need to delegate tasks, improve negotiation and persuasive skills and learn how to say ‘no’ in an effective, acceptable manner to ensure that tasks are completed to a required standard on time.
The Solution
The Prescription Pricing Authority contacted Hemsley Fraser to design and develop a programme that would satisfy the individual requirements of each delegate. The programme included understanding different styles of behaviour, handling difficult situations, assertive and persuasive techniques and on-going assertiveness development. Each individual was then able to discuss with their line manager in their Personal Development Review how they were going to use the skills and knowledge from the programme.
The Result
"The programme helped me achieve the objectives set in my Personal Development Plan. Recently I selected a number of staff to form a Green Belt process improvement team. I found the skills I learnt on this programme particularly valuable in this task. The negotiation and persuasion skills helped me to communicate more positively to a large number of staff whose applications to be a part of the project team were unsuccessful. Not only did I feel more comfortable providing this information but the skills I learnt benefited the individuals concerned in terms of the quality of feedback I was able to provide. I have a better understanding of the reasons why people behave the way they do and am capable of modifying my own behaviour (when necessary) in order to achieve desired outcomes".