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The School for Change Agents

Develop the skills to make a difference & create change in your organisation. Free* course targeted at health & care staff.

10,551 enrolled on this course

Group of people at work standing/ sitting together

The School for Change Agents

10,551 enrolled on this course

  • 5 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

The CPD Certification Service: This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Welcome to the School For Change Agents!

Free access to course content for everyone and free upgrade for NHS & affiliated staff.

Check eligibility for a free upgrade here.

Apply for free upgrade here.

The School is free for everyone to participate.

If you are not eligible for an upgrade but want to take part free of charge, when registering for the course ensure you select the limited access option. This will give you 5 weeks to complete the course from the time you registered.

Do you want to make a difference in your organisation?

On this course, you will build the skills, confidence, and supportive community needed to create change in an evolving environment.

You will learn how to become a change agent by generating new ideas, pushing the boundaries, and leading others to do the same in your organisation. You will understand what drives you to create change, how to take action, and how to improve your approaches based on feedback.

By completing this course, you will discover your potential to make a difference with a community of like-minded individuals.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Introduction to the School for Change Agents 2024/25

    • Module one - Introduction to the School for Change Agents. Waving hand icon

      Welcome

      Find out more about the School, introduce yourself and meet the School for Change Agent Community who will be on the journey with you.

    • Change starts with me

      To make meaningful change we must first look at ourselves because change starts with me!

    • Diverse business people doing an activity together involving building different towers out of card

      Building power

      Identifying two different types of power is a good start for thinking about creating change.

    • Woman standing on a balcony outside looking afar

      A change mindset

      Explore ways to think differently and develop a change mindset.

    • A young girl and healthcare worker doing a high five

      Stories can change the world

      Why stories are a powerful force for change.

    • Hands holding a yellow post it with keep going! hand written on it

      Resistance to change

      Resistance to change is inevitable.

    • Several people standing in a circle with their hands out, palms facing up next to each other formed into a circle

      NHS change makers

      As change agents, how can the changes we make impact the greater good in a positive way?

    • Close up of a woman's two hands each holding a sparkler close together in the evening darkness

      Reflection time

      A reminder of what we have learned in week 1 of the School for Change Agents.

  • Week 2

    Energy for Change

    • Text that reads module 2 energy for change

      Introduction

      Introducing Energy for Change.

    • Five people standing together in an office

      Creating Energy for Change

      Learn more about the Energy for Change model, how to diagnose your energies and how to create your energy for change.

    • People sitting together clapping in unison

      Spiritual Energy

      What we mean by shared purpose and why it is important in bringing about effective change.

    • Two hands reaching out to each other. One hand holding a piece of black paper in the shape of a heart

      Psychological Energy

      Explore psychological energy, its deep connections to psychological safety, and the importance of addressing moral injury during change.

    • A group of co - workers smiling

      Social Energy

      Learn more about social energy and how belonging is vital for creating and sustaining meaningful change.

    • Woman sitting at a desk looking at her laptop and holding a light bulb in one handholding string of lights in her hands

      Reflection time

      A reminder of what we have learned in week 2 of the School for Change Agents and next steps.

  • Week 3

    Finding your own power for change

    • Text that reads module 3 Finding your own power for change with image of a megaphone

      Introducing power for change

      This week we'll explore how to tap into different sources of power to bring about transformative change.

    • Colleagues sat in a circle. A man standing to speak to the group.

      Understanding power

      Why power is such an important concept to understand if you want to create meaningful change.

    • Man dressed for work in a white shirt and trousers standing with his arms folded smiling.

      How to find your own power

      Discover ways to develop your own power and build your change agency.

    • Two colleagues sat down working together

      Using your agency effectively

      Once you have discovered the power that you have, how do you create agency to use it well? Here are some approaches you can take.

    • People standing around in an office communal area talking

      Power of Networks

      Networks is a change agent's super power! Here we take time to understand their importance, how they can be used as a mechanism for change and share some examples.

    • Light bulbs hanging down

      Reflection time

      A reminder of what we have learned in week 3 of the School for Change Agents and next steps.

  • Week 4

    Building collective leadership for change

    • Several arms reaching up and hands touching one another

      Introduction

      An introduction to building collective leadership for change

    • Group of people sitting and looking up in unison

      Learning from social movements

      What can social movements tell us about creating change?

    • Four people seated in a circle intently listening to one another

      Creating your public narrative

      How we can use stories to create change.

    • Woman speaking to delegates of a conference at a stand

      Getting your message out

      Get some ideas around how to use social media and other tools to build your network and involve more people.

    • Close up of woman's hands at a table with laptop, note book, pens, phone and glasses

      Reflection time

      A reminder of what we have learned in week 4 of the School for Change Agents and next steps.

  • Week 5

    Change agent of the future

    • Week 5 - Graphic -  Change Agent for the Future

      Introduction

      It's the final week of School for Change Agents and time to turn our attention to the future.

    • Crowds of people walking on a busy street

      Spread and scale

      How you can move from being a programme manager to a system convenor. Spread and scale ideas and galvanise the crowd.

    • Woman standing at her desk

      Skills for change agents of the future

      The skills we need to be a change agent, simple rules for creating the change for tomorrow today, and why we need to lead through influence.

    • A light up sign on a window sill that reads 'turn ideas into reality.'

      Creating a better future

      We hear from change makers in the NHS.

    • Woman casually dressed smiling

      Looking after yourself

      As part of your role as a change agent you need to consider how to support others. But you also need to look after yourself.

    • A desk with a note pad, pencil, coffee and scrabble tiles spelling 'To do.' on and a cup of tea

      Wrapping up...

      A reminder of what we have learned in week 5 of the School for Change Agents and wrap up.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate relevant skills to lead and create change among peers
  • Evaluate approaches to create change and improve on them based on analysis from peers
  • Develop an understanding of change methodology
  • Develop knowledge of accessing communities and resources related to creating change in their locality

Who is the course for?

This course has been created by NHS Horizons, part of the English National Health Service. It is relevant for everyone who works in the public or voluntary sector globally. Although the content is focused on the needs of health and care staff, it will suit change agents from other industries including housing, education, the police service, and government and community activists.

Who will you learn with?

Helen Bevan

Helen is Chief Transformation Officer at NHS Horizons. She is a thought leader who supports and helps energise thousands of change activists to build skills, confidence and power to make a difference.

Zoe Lord

Zoe is Deputy Director at NHS Horizons. She is a change agent and passionate about making a positive difference in the world we live in.

Who developed the course?

NHS Horizons logo

NHS Horizons

NHS Horizons supports activists and leaders of change to think differently about large-scale change, improve collaboration, and get better outcomes.

Ways to learn

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 20 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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