Lancashire's Leadership Journey

A BRAND NEW leadership development course for Black and Minority Ethnic members of staff is being rolled out across Lancashire Constabulary for 2010.

The flagship programme - 'The Leadership Journey', which is aimed at police staff and police officers in junior or middle management roles who wish to develop their leadership skills and their self confidence, has been piloted in Eastern division over the past six months and has proven to be a real success.

Run by Lancashire Constabulary in partnership with East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Blue Skies People Development, it is a six month programme using motivational leadership workshops, regular networking and mentoring, personal goal planning, coaching and psychometric testing. The programme seeks to develop learning capabilities, enhance personal performance and enable the Constabulary to grow a base of future senior leaders from BME backgrounds.

The course also provides participants the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications which can act as university credits to be put towards foundation degrees.

Victor Robinson, Head of Training for Lancashire Constabulary said; "This is an innovative development programme which will provide attendees with key leadership skills together an insight into developing their leadership potential"

Nagina Ali, who has participated in the pilot programme said, "The Leadership Journey course has proven to be very useful to me. I have learned a lot more about the constabulary and my current role and the contribution I make.

"I feel much more aware of myself and others and can recognise my strengths and have been able to begin to address my weaknesses. I have become more confident and beginning to see the leadership potential in me."

ACC Wendy Walker who holds the People portfolio for the Constabulary said, "Diversity is about recognising difference, understanding difference and treating everyone with dignity and respect.

"As a large public sector employer in Lancashire , the Constabulary is keen to ensure that its workforce is as diverse as its community base."