Health care scandals highlighting failure within organisations continue to dominate the news, domestically and abroad. These failures include examples of poor care delivery, lack of openness, transparency, and candour, and lack of valuing staff, leading to significant retention issues. Ensuring the voices of patients and staff are heard is central to addressing some of these current challenges, including a commitment to truly value and retain our very important health care workforce, and achieving a just and fair learning culture for all is central to improving patient safety. This book takes the reader on a leadership journey in understanding effective leadership at all levels underpinned by organisational learning principles. It combines an exploration of theories relating to cultural change, with practical solutions gained from insights from a range of key thought leaders in how we can improve leadership and achieve a just and learning culture across health care. The book also provides practical examples and shares insights from key thought leaders in the industry.

Denise Chaffer, CBE is a dynamic professional Executive Clinical Nursing/ Maternity Patient Safety leader with over 15 years Executive Director Board level Experience, including providers, commissioning, two Acute Trusts a London Teaching hospital and recent National role for Patient Safety , published a range of learning resources for maternity, just and learning culture and Emergency care. Director lead for Early notification in maternity and CNST maternity incentive scheme. President of Royal College of Nursing (RCN) July 21 – Dec 22. Significant experience at working at international, national and regional level within acute and community settings, nursing, midwifery, education, governance, clinical risk and also on major change and reconfiguration initiatives. Holding a PhD, Master’s degree in Management and Social Care, BA degree, plus a Higher Education Teaching qualification. Published book 2016 ‘Effective Leadership – A Cure for the NHS? (CRC Press)’ Contributed chapter on Patient Safety for ‘Clinical Negligence 6th Edition’ published 2023 (Powers & Barton)