This paper explores why clinicians in an Emergency Department (ED) become leaders, their experiences of leadership and their future development needs. It focuses on emerging leaders, middle management, and senior management whilst addressing the knowledge gap in identifying the training needs of clinical leadership in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC). This study utilized both surveys (n=36) and semi-structured interviews (n=12). Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, whilst qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic approach, drawing on a conceptual framework based on the inter-related concepts of culture, professional identity and leadership development. This paper focuses on the third concept and offers insights into the journey and challenges faced in making the transition from clinician to leader. Its findings revealed that most clinical leaders received insufficient training to prepare them to be leaders in UEC. The paper proposes an original leadership development framework for UEC to support leaders who are often excellent clinicians, to be equally brilliant and appropriately empowered leaders.

Hein Scheffer completed his EdD from the University of Reading in 2022.  He holds a master’s degree in Personnel and Development from the University of Central Lancashire, an honors degree in Law from the United Kingdom Open University and a bachelor degree in human resources from the University of South Africa. He has been a practicing human resources practitioner since 1990 and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development since 2010. His career in the United Kingdom commenced in the National Health Services (NHS) during 2009, building on his nineteen years’ experience in the corporate and private sectors in South Africa.  Hein is currently working as Director of Strategy and Transformation at the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and is an honorary Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia.