SoR Leadership Mentoring Scheme
Increasing leadership skills across the UK
Increasing leadership skills across the UK
The Leadership Mentoring Scheme is designed to support members who wish to move into senior leadership roles. The scheme will facilitate a cohort of mentees who will receive one to one mentoring from senior leaders within our profession.
The scheme aims to equip mentees with leadership and management skills, increased personal and professional confidence and professional networking.
In addition to attending pre-launch training and the launch event, both of which are mandatory (see key dates below), successful candidates will be expected to join the training and networking events throughout the course of the scheme.
Before applying, candidates should ensure that they are available to attend the following mandatory events.
| Session | Date/Duration | Location |
Networking and training | Wednesday 15 January 2025 Mentors: 10:00 – 12:30 Mentees: 14:00 - 16:30 | Virtual |
Networking Event at UKIO (hybrid) | Tuesday 3rd June 2025 *Attendance dependent on funding | Virtual |
| Celebratory Closing Event SoR HQ | Thursday 18th September 2025 | Virtual |
More dates to come! Additional information will be released in due course. | ||
Celebrating the end of the second iteration of the Leadership Mentoring Scheme, mentors and mentees gathered at the SoR | CoR HQ on September 18, 2024, for a day of inspiring presentations by mentees and a mentor Q&A session.
Below, you can watch recordings of interviews conducted by Steering Group member Alison Hewitt, where participants share their experiences in the Leadership Mentoring Scheme (LMS).
LMS2 Celebratory Event |
Louise Taylor interview with Alison Hewitt
Within this video, Alison speaks to Louise Taylor who is a Treatment Lead at the Stoke on Trent Hospital and shares how she became a radiographer and how LMS has benefited her career journey and current role.
LMS2 Celebratory Event |
Jamie Beck interview with Alison Hewitt
Alison speaks to Jamie Becker who is an Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Bradford. Jamie explains how he got involved with the Leadership Mentoring Scheme. He also shares how LMS helped him improve his weaknesses and become aware of key areas he needed to focus on.
LMS2 Celebratory Event |
Jill McKenna interview with Alison Hewitt
Within this video, Alison speaks to Louise Taylor who is a Treatment Lead at the Stoke on Trent Hospital and shares how she became a radiographer and how FoRRM has benefited her.
Title, first name and surname: Dr Claire Mercer
Geographic region: Lancashire / Greater Manchester
Name of workplace: University of Salford
Position: Head of Radiography
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study: PhD, MSc, PGCAP, BSc(hons) Diagnostic Radiography, SFHEA
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management:
As Head of Radiography at the University of Salford, with an additional 15 years of NHS management experience, I am dedicated to supporting radiographers transitioning into leadership roles. I am deeply passionate about workforce development, focusing on enhancing skills and education within the radiography field. My commitment extends to fostering a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and excellence.
Mentoring experience: My role involves personal tutoring and PhD supervision, ensuring emerging leaders receive the guidance they need. I support teams informally and formally, internally and externally to the University. I currently have an online community to support mentees of trainee mammographers.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme? I am enthusiastic about using my experiences to support radiographers who are interested in or currently in leadership roles. I believe leadership is a skill that can be naturally developed, and I would welcome the opportunity to mentor future leaders, sharing my journey (the good, the bad and the ugly!) and insights to empower them and help them become the person they strive to be. There is nothing better for me than seeing someone develop and excel in their career, I find it truly rewarding.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
I want mentees to be ready to engage and challenge themselves, to be proactive and open and honest about what they want and not be afraid to go for it! Enthusiasm and open communication I see are essential for both mentee and mentor and I would like them to have the ability to reflect and identify areas where I can best support them.
Title, first name and surname: Mr James Triscott
Geographic region: Wales
Name of workplace: NHS Wales Executive
Position: Programme Manager, National Imaging Programme
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study:
MSc Radiography / PgD Image Interpretation - University of Hertfordshire
BSc Diagnostic Radiography – University of Wales College of Medicine
NVQ Level 5 Management
NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management:
Change Management
Motivation
Coaching
Listening
Planning/Strategy/Service Improvement
Operational Management
Quality and Governance
Mentoring experience: I have had mentoring in both formal and informal settings – as part of management courses and qualifications, and also having sought advice from a previous Chief Executive I ended up with regular informal mentorship from him for 6 months.
I have mentored many of staff and colleagues over periods of time, all informal.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme?
Keeping involved with services.
Share experiences.
Giving back to the imaging community – caring about the next generations success.
Learning new skills and information from the mentee.
Creating positive relationships that can be utilised over the coming years.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
Positive working relationship.
Identifies goals and gaps.
Open to advice – but willing to rebuff if disagree with what discussed.
Good communicator.
Trust.
Willing to ask questions.
Title, first name and surname: Kim Hutchings
Geographic region: London/South East
Name of workplace: Various including: NHS Providers / independent leadership consultant and mentor
/Lymington New Forest Hospital (Southern Health NHS FT) / and as an independent forensic
radiographer
Position: Various including: Development & Governance Advisor /Radiographer/ Leadership mentor
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study:
- Diploma Of the College of Radiographers DCR(R)
- Higher Diploma of the College of Radiographers (HDCR)
- MSc Health Services Management
- Postgraduate Diploma, Diploma and Certificates in Health Services Management
- City & Guilds Further & Adult Education Teaching certificate
- College of Radiographers Clinical Tutor’s Certificate
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management:
Various including as:
- Head of Development and Engagement, NHS Providers (the membership and leadership
organisation for NHS provider trust boards of directors)
- Head of Imaging Services /senior clinical lead (NHS trust)
- NHS General Management positions in Clinical Support Services and Medical Specialities
- Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications, NHS trust/foundation trust
- Examination review group member for the International Qualifying Scheme for company
secretaries and governance professionals, Corporate Governance Institute (formerly
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators)
Mentoring experience: A leadership and management career spanning over 30 years with experience of mentoring colleagues from junior clinical and managerial level through to senior hospital board directors and an active professional interest in educational and professional development with experience
of mentoring students at undergraduate and Masters level as:
- Head of Development and Engagement, NHS Providers
- Mentor for postgraduate health services management students
Professional Mentoring Scheme, City University of London
- CV reviewer/advisor, Young Women’s Trust
- Visiting lecturer, City University Diagnostic Imaging Masters Programme
- Visiting associate, Cranfield University Forensic Institute
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme?
A two-way professional learning relationship and to give radiographers confidence to reach
their leadership potential within the radiographic profession and to realise the breadth of
career opportunities open to them beyond radiographic management.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
Active participation in the scheme with open and honest two-way communication.
Title, first name and surname: Mrs Kirsty Wood
Geographic region: Midlands
Name of workplace: Leeds Trinity University
Position: Associate Professor- Lead for Allied Health Professions
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study:
Qualifications: BSc (hons) Diagnostic Radiographer
PG Cert Medical Image Reporting
PG Cert Teaching in Higher Education (FHEA)
MSc Health and Social Care
Professional Doctorate in Health and Social care- currently undergoing
Area of research: relationship between radiologists and reporting radiographers in image reporting teams.
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management:
Module and programme leader at the University of Derby. 2 years as Assistant Head of Discipline (Diagnostic Radiography, Operating Department Practice and Osteopathy), plus 6 months as interim Head of Discipline.
During this time I was also the chair of the College Awarding gap Group, which made changes at an institutional level.
During my time as a leader, I managed several academics at various stages of their academic career. I supported and co-led our team through the impact of COVID.
In my current role I have recently been leading the Nursing Practice team, due to a vacancy. I am currently the lead for Allied Health professions, and my role is to develop an AHP portfolio of programmes, research and knowledge exchange at Leeds Trinity University.
Mentoring experience.
I have had several mentoring roles. In an academic capacity I have been a personal tutor, and a supervisor for undergraduate dissertations. I have been a supervisor for several Masters level dissertations, including in the areas of public health and health and social care, as well as radiography.
I have mentored new staff members into new higher education roles. Some experienced academics and some new to academia.
I my previous clinical role, I was the lead for students and was also an individual and group clinical supervisor within the trust.
I have also had the good fortune to have been supported by excellent mentors throughout my journey, which has enabled me to reflect on what I can offer as a mentor.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme and what are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
Title, first name and surname: Mrs Lisa Serevena
Geographic region: National (based in the East Midlands)
Name of workplace: Nuffield Health
Position: Quality Lead- Diagnostic Radiography
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study:
BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
BA (Hons) Leadership and Management
Ongoing PG Cert MSC Healthcare Leadership
Edward Jenner Leadership Programme
QSIR Fundamentals & Practitioner course.
Chartered Manager MCMI
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management:
Accomplished chartered manager and leader, with over 20 years of experience in driving clinical quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance in dynamic healthcare environments.
Experience of:
- Leading clinical teams and services (including services outside of Radiology)
- Quality Improvement and Project Management
- Service redesign and change leadership.
- Performance development and workforce planning.
- Conflict management & investigations.
- Ambassador
- Opportunity identification and creation.
- Policy development.
- Crisis management
- Voluntary Leadership (STEM Ambassador)
- Operational Leadership
Mentoring experience:
Clinical supervisor, mentor (formal & informal), clinical supervision, peer support and creating opportunities to share and connect. Ingenuity mentor for projects.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme?
As a mentor, my goal in participating in this mentoring scheme is to share my knowledge and experiences to help guide and support the growth of my mentee(s). I aim to foster a collaborative environment where I can provide valuable insights, offer guidance on overcoming challenges, and help the mentee develop key skills for their personal and professional success.
Additionally, I wish to continue to learn from the fresh perspectives my mentee(s) bring, enabling me to refine my own leadership and coaching abilities. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to their journey while also enriching my own through this mutually beneficial experience.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
I expect my mentee to approach this mentoring scheme with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. I value proactive communication, where the mentee takes initiative in setting goals, seeking feedback, and engaging in meaningful discussions. I also expect them to be committed to their personal and professional development, demonstrating accountability by following through on action plans and reflecting on progress. Mutual respect, honesty, and a collaborative attitude are essential to creating a productive mentoring relationship, where we can both grow and achieve the goals we set together.
Title, first name and surname: Mr Adam Turner
Geographic region: South West
Name of workplace: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Position: Head of Imaging
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study: BSc (Hons) Radiography, Currently completing MSc Healthcare Leadership
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management: As the professional lead radiographer across Somerset, I’ve experience in strategic leadership and the management of governance processes, including risk management and PSIRF investigations. I have experience in establishing and managing NHS/independent sector partnerships and played a key role in setting up one of the first community diagnostic centres in the country. I have led on procurement projects and have experience in the installation and commissioning of both new and replacement equipment, including department re-design to improve patient experience. My passion is the development of patient-centred Radiology services and embracing novel ways of working that reduce delays to patient pathways, including the introduction of AI.
Mentoring experience: As a service lead my mentoring experience is informal and arises from identifying and nurturing talent within our team.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme? As a first time leadership mentor on this scheme, I want to develop coaching skills and explore what value I can add to a mentee’s leadership journey.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme? My hope is that my mentee and I can approach this process in an affiliative manner; it’s not just a one way street. I hope to learn just as much from a mentee, as they might gain from me.
Title, first name and surname: Peter Sharpe
Geographic region: South West
Name of workplace: TIC Health
Position: Diagnostics Solutions Director
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study: BSc DCR DMS FCR FBIR
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management: I have worked at senior management and at board level, for international healthcare providers, the NHS and not for profit organisations. For the last 14 years I was Chief Executive of Cobalt Health, a medical charity providing diagnostic imaging to supporting the NHS across the UK. During my career, I have gained a range of experience in leadership and management, including finance, business development, people management and governance, from managing the UK division of a large USA healthcare provider to running a small imaging charity. My professional interest has been education and research, I was President of the British Institute of Radiology and chaired the board who organised UKRC. I have learnt a lot in my career, I have not also got everything right by any means, but I believe everyday is a school day, and have enjoyed the various challenges.
Mentoring experience:
Formally, I had mentor training when working as a senior manager within the NHS.
Informally, I have enjoyed supporting a range of colleagues undertaking post graduate
studies and general personal development.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme?
I have been fortunate in my career to be supported by so many inspirational leaders, who
have given their time to help me develop my career. I want to give something back and
continue to support the profession with the experience have developed.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
I want to be able to help the mentee grow professionally by sharing my experience and
knowledge.
Title, first name and surname: Mrs Sam Bennett
Geographic region: South East (Oxford)
Name of workplace: GenesisCare Oxford
Position: Clinical Services Lead, Radiotherapy
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study:
BSc(Hons) Radiotherapy and Oncology, University of Hertfordshire, 2010-2013
PGCert Radiotherapy and Oncology, Merit, Sheffield Hallam University
September 2017-2018
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management:
Extensive expertise in clinical leadership and management within both clinical and nonclinical settings, particularly in radiotherapy and oncology services. With over seven years of leadership experience, including a recent role as Clinical Service Lead at GenesisCare, leading the radiotherapy services, including MR Linac, Conventional Linac, and stereotactic radiosurgery. My leadership acumen encompasses operational excellence, compliance, governance, audit and service development, with a focus on integrated staffing and team engagement. I have consistently driven improvements in cultural and job satisfaction among teams while successfully launching new clinical services and meeting business objectives.
Mentoring experience:
Mentoring has been delivered in both formal and informal capacities throughout my career.
As Lead Therapy Radiographer and Clinical Service Manager, they have played a pivotal role
in the development, behavioural management, and mentorship of radiographers and other
clinical staff. I am a dedicated Mentor to our GenesisCare radiographer leadership team and
have developed an “in house” leadership programme. My approach to mentoring includes
training team members to ensure high levels of competence and compassion, significantly
contributing to the success of the services.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme?
Through participation in this mentoring scheme, I aim to leverage my extensive experience
in radiotherapy and oncology leadership to support the professional development of
emerging radiographers and healthcare leaders. I seek to contribute to the growth and
enhancement of clinical services by sharing best practices in operational excellence, clinical
governance, and team management. Additionally, I aspire to further refine my own
leadership skills, stay abreast of emerging trends in the field, and foster a collaborative
network of professionals dedicated to improving patient care and service delivery within
radiotherapy and oncology.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
I expect my mentee to demonstrate a strong commitment to their professional development
and a proactive approach to learning. I value mentees who are open to feedback, eager to
engage in meaningful discussions, and willing to apply shared insights to their own practice.
Furthermore, I expect mentees to set clear goals, actively participate in the mentoring
process, and exhibit dedication to enhancing their leadership and clinical competencies. I
also appreciate mentees who bring fresh perspectives and are motivated to contribute
positively to their teams and the broader healthcare environment.
Title, first name and surname: Ms Sam Newton
Geographic region: East Anglia
Name of workplace: Queen Elizabeth Hospital ,Kings Lynn
Position: Radiology Services Manager
Qualifications (professional and/or academic) and field of study:
● Bsc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
● Certificate of competence in Mammography
● PGCert Ultrasound in focused scope of ultrasound ( breast)
● ILM leadership and Management
Area(s) of expertise in leadership/management:
I have experience of being a regional lead , as a professional clinical advisor in mammography for the QA reference centre.
I have 11 years of experience in leadership and management . Of these the majority were spent as the lead in a breast unit , but in recent times I have experience in divisional management , within a clinical support services operational role, prior to returning back to being a Radiology Services Manager.
Mentoring experience:
Whilst within the remit of the breast unit role, I coached/mentored advanced practice students to support them whilst undertaking their qualifications. My remit has always been one of informal but structured support. In my divisional operational role I oversaw many different clinical disciplines , but offered all my reports informal coaching/mentoring to help them deal with sometimes routine, sometimes difficult situations and scenarios . This in turn used my experience to support and develop those individuals.
What do you wish to achieve through your participation in this mentoring scheme?
I feel it is an absolute privilege to be part of this scheme. I am an experienced leader with much to offer and support others. For myself, I would like to feel that others can use my experience to help them to develop , so in turn I can feel like I’ve given something back to my profession.
What are your expectations from your mentee in this scheme?
I would expect my mentee to have regular time with me , so we can build rapport and work together on their goals and aspirations. I would expect them to come to me within an environment of open and honest discussions. I would expect them to listen, but not necessarily agree with me : sometimes discussion and different viewpoints can be just as beneficial , if not more beneficial than someone who agrees with everything you say or do . I would expect the mentee to see me as someone who they can turn to for support and want to use my experience to grow themselves.
Self-Assessment
A useful exercise for mentees would be to assess their leadership skills before and after the pilot; one such assessment tool is provided by the NHS Leadership Academy Healthcare leadership model self-assessment tool.
NHS Leadership Development Programmes
If you would like to learn more about leadership, there are a number of resources at the NHS Leadership Academy. The following leadership programmes are available:
Setting direction in a mentoring relationship
In this blog post, Coach Mentoring Ltd, outline why setting direction is critical to an effective mentoring relationship.
We have a range of photos captured at the LMS celebration day that took place at the SoR | CoR HQ in September 2024 to commemorate the end of cohort 4.
We also have headshot of mentors and mentees that was taken on the day. If you had a headshot taken and would like to receive it, please send a request email to the Digital team with 'LMS Headshot' as the bio.
