To build skills that address collaborative working and complexity, NHS Health Scotland and other partners are supporting leadership development of the public services workforce.

System wide leadership for inequalities

Addressing the causes of health inequalities is a complex challenge and requires leadership across public services. A key aspiration for public health reform is that organisations can work effectively together to improve the public’s health and reduce health inequalities.

This needs a collaborative and system wide approach to leadership, supporting everybody to work together more effectively.

The leadership skills required for a whole system approach to addressing health inequalities include

• understanding the system landscape and political awareness
• building relationships and meaningful collaboration
• seeking different perspectives
• influencing change
• understanding change
• leading change
• transformation innovation.