Line management are at the coal face in managing powerful employee groups and negotiating organisational change (which can involve introducing new technologies, new work practices and making the service more responsive to the needs of users).

NCI's Diploma in First Line Management equips managers with the skills required to implement and manage such change.

The course introduces health professionals to the skills necessary for a junior to middle level managerial role, including Employee relations; Employee law; Presentation skills;

Budgetary and financial skills; Quality and customer service; Health and safety; Interpersonal communication; and Business planning.

According to Dr TJ McCabe, a lecturer in human resources management and research methods at NCI, the course is popular with health sector managers who may have an established background as a clinician, health practitioner or nurse, but who may need to acquire the necessary supervisory and business management skills.

"Health sector staff appointed to first line management supervisory roles generally feel that they are on a big learning curve, " he said. "While they are proficient in their area of technical expertise, the role they have undertaken is very different from what they have done previously. Management is a fragmented role with a variety of different demands and responsibilities, which, for many newly appointed managers, means acquiring and developing a new set of skills and competencies."