Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore compassionate leadership with those involved in leading system-wide end-of-life care. Its purpose was to: define compassionate leadership in the context of palliative and end-of-life care; collect accounts of compassionate leadership activity from key stakeholders in end-of-life and palliative care; and identify examples of compassionate leadership in practice. Design/methodology/approach Four focus groups involving staff from a range of healthcare organisations including hospitals, hospices and community teams were conducted to access the accounts of staff leading palliative and end-of-life care. The data were analysed thematically. Findings The themes that emerged from the data included: the importance of leadership as role modelling and nurturing; how stories were used to explain approaches to leading end-of-life care; the nature of leadership as challenging existing practice; and a requirement for leaders to manage boundaries effectively. Rich and detailed examples of leadership in action were shared. Research limitations/implications The findings indicate that a relational approach to leadership was enacted in a range of palliative and end-of-life care settings. Practical implications Context-specific action learning may be a means of further developing compassionate leadership capability in palliative and end-of-life care and more widely in healthcare settings. Originality/value This paper presents data indicating how compassionate leadership, as a form of activity, is envisaged and enacted by staff in healthcare.
BrumYODO is a social movement which emerged over a belief and commitment to achieving better dying in Birmingham. We are a collective of undertakers, artists, craftivists, hospices, doctors, nurses and citizens of Birmingham. For Dying Matters Week we planned and delivered a huge range of activities to engage our community in conversation about death and dying- with the message that talking about it won’t make it happen (as Ellie our celebrant says. Just like eating lettuce won’t make you thinner).Our social media campaign, run with good will and energy, has generated passion, networks and the #BigConversation with a reach of thousands. Events included, five death cafes, a pop-up shop with multiple contributors, coffin design, storytelling, philosophy and a Death Disco. Images and creativity have threaded with practical sessions – engaging hearts and minds. We have filmed events to create a film to share in GP surgeries and primary care. We are true grassroots collaboration and the networks we have created will be sustained well into our future.
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