title: Surviving secondments.
abstract: In the current climate of organisational and financial change in the NHS, new job opportunities along traditional pathways for senior staff are becoming fewer. Increasing competition for posts requires that senior staff acquire new professional expertise, and one of the best ways of doing so is to undertake secondments. The two authors of this case study have both held senior substantive positions in nursing management and clinical leadership: Eiri Jones at the former Bio Morgannwg NHS Trust and Alison Kedward at the former Swansea NHS Trust. These trusts have now merged to form Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust. After completing a national executive development programme for aspiring nurse directors run by the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH), they both obtained secondments to interim nurse director posts. Ms Kedward was seconded to Pembrokeshire Local Health Board, a commissioning organisation, for nine months and Ms Jones was seconded to Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust, an integrated NHS service provider, for 14 months. This article provides a case study of the authors' experiences on secondment, and recommendations for nurse managers who are considering whether to undertake this form of career development.
authors.affiliation: Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kedward
authors.forename: Eiri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D002322:Career Mobility; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D006113:United Kingdom