Coaching qualifications tailored for the NHS

Coaching qualifications

Recognised, professional coaching qualifications for those working in the NHS

We are working in partnership with Management Futures, one of the first organisations to offer recognised professional coaching qualifications in the UK. The combined wealth of coaching experience and NHS expertise will provide a fantastic learning and professional development experience for those looking to train and work as a coach. The Management Futures team pioneered the development of coaching as a practical management and leadership tool. They have authored books including ‘Coaching Positively’ by Matt Driver and ‘NLP coaching’ by Phil Hayes.

Find out about our new dates for November 2025 or June 2026 start below.

Which ILM qualification is right for you?

Whichever route you take, you’ll learn the essential elements of a robust coaching model that we’ve developed over the past 20 years. You will also work with a highly-qualified team who have thousands of hours’ coaching experience between them and in a wide range of sectors. And you’ll have an internationally recognised certificate or diploma from ILM, the UK's top specialist in leadership and management qualifications.

18 hours of coaching with 2-3 clients
1 written unit
2 portfolio units
Evidence of CPD
Direct email support
Access to Learning Labs and Coaching Clinics

20 hours of coaching with 2-3 clients
1 written unit
2 portfolio units
Assessed recordings
6 hours CPD
Individual supervision
Access to Learning Labs and Qualification Cafes

60 hours of coaching with 6-9 clients
1 written unit
2 portfolio units
Assessed recordings
6 hours of CPD
12 hours of Group Supervision
Individual Supervision
Access to Learning Labs, Qualification Cafes and 4 Group Supervision sessions
EMCC Senior Practitioner level

Key information

If you are ready to apply: Simply choose the ILM qualification right for you and complete our online form.

Eligibility: You will need to have applied for and received approval of funding from your Trust / Hospital, with a Purchase Order in place before you apply. NHS Elect is hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (RYJ). You can find a PO template under the 'How to sign up' section below, and the costs within ‘Which ILM qualification is right for you’.

You'll also need to commit to all the in-person training dates for either of the following cohorts:

Tuesday 11th - Friday 14th November 2025 (deadline to apply: Tuesday 30th September 2025)
Tuesday 9th - Friday 12th June 2026 (deadline to apply: Thursday 30th April 2026)

Book your place

About the qualifications

The qualifications offer and encourage real breadth in learning, the application of skills and self-reflection. All involve completing a set number of hours of coaching practice, writing three assignments, and showing evidence of additional CPD in coaching.

Key benefits:

An advanced coaching skill set allied to in-depth professional knowledge and practice.
Learning from practical and assessed coaching sessions with feedback from an experienced coach supervisor.
Confidence and credibility in providing coaching.
An internationally recognised qualification from the UK's top specialist in leadership and management qualifications.
Access to insights, resources, live events and a friendly community.

What you can expect

During your journey to becoming a qualified coach via Management Futures’ ILM approved centre you will have access to:

An immersive and intensive four day coaching programme, providing a firm platform for your development as a coach.

Supervision and support from a named and experienced coach (Level 7).

Assessment and feedback on your coaching practice.

Qualification Cafes keeping you connected with fellow candidates (Level 7 only).

Interactive Learning Labs on coaching/leadership related topics.

Group Supervision (Level 7 Diploma only).

How we support you

A message from one of our coaches

Matt Driver explains more about the support you can expect to receive when you sign up for our coaching programme.

How to sign up

Key information

Please note you need to be available for, and attend, the whole of the in-person 4-day training with your chosen cohort. Additionally, you must have approval of funding from your trust or hospital, with an appropriate PO in place before you apply.

Important dates for November 2025 intake:

The in-person four day training will take place on Tuesday 11th - Friday 14th November 2025
Location: CitizenM Tower of London
Deadline to apply: Tuesday 30th September 2025

Important dates for June 2026 intake:

The in-person four day training will take place on Tuesday 9th - Friday 12th June 2026
Location: CitizenM Tower of London
Deadline to apply: Thursday 30th April 2026

PO template

NHS Elect is hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (RYJ). Under 'supplier' please make out a PO number to:

IMPERIAL COLLEGE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST (RYJ)
INCOME DEARTMENT
GROUND FLOOR EAST ACROW
LONDON,
W2 1NY

Download the PO request template

How to sign up
Please note you need to be available for, and attend, the whole of the in-person 4-day training with your chosen cohort. Additionally, you must have approval of funding from your trust or hospital, with an appropriate PO in place before you apply. NHS Elect has created a simple way for you to sign up to one of these qualifications with Management Futures. We would be delighted to welcome you on this journey towards becoming the best coach that you can be.

Simply complete our online form to secure your place >

About coaching at NHS Elect

NHS Elect has been coaching senior clinicians and leaders in the NHS since 2011. It is the only NHS organisation that provides coaching and coaching supervision, along with coach training, teaching and research.

The coaching faculty at NHS Elect hosts a Coaching Service Leaders Network for those organising and managing coaching services and has networks and formal links to a number of organisations including the Faculty of Medical Coaches and the Association for Coaching.

NHS Elect is pioneering research into the use of AI Coach technology and provides coaching supervision, training and CPD to a number of established networks and services in healthcare.

About the team

Lisa Godfrey

Lisa worked as a coach and mentor for several years before formally training as an executive coach via the ILM Level 7 Diploma in Executive Coaching and Mentoring in 2018. Lisa has a degree and post-graduate qualifications in sociology and has a particular interest in inclusion and diversity. As a Coaching Supervisor, Lisa recently completed the Professional Certificate in Supervision from Henley Business School. Lisa is a member of both the Association for Coaching and the Association of Coaching Supervisors.

Lisa has coached a broad range of senior clients from a diverse range of disciplines and backgrounds in the NHS. She has previously held a variety of executive director roles in acute Trusts and the charitable sector; including Director of Strategy and Service Transformation, and Campaign Director for Patient Experience. A nurse by background, Lisa has led several significant projects including service reconfigurations and major capital builds (as SRO).

Lisa has a coaching style which is action focused and draws on elements of positive psychology. Lisa works with great flexibility, compassion and empathy, adapting and challenging clients where required. Lisa will listen with deep intent and use a variety of coaching methods and supplementary resources to support coaching conversations as required. Lisa believes coaching can be fun and seeks to ensure it is a positive experience for clients. Her practice supports clients in tackling the challenges they encounter, supporting a problemsolving approach to achieve their full potential.

Matt Driver

Matt is one of the most experienced coaches and trainers at Management Futures. He has been part of the team for many years. He is their Head of Coach Skills Development and as part of that he is responsible for their prestigious coaching qualifications. Matt has put his own mark on them, insisting that they are not an end in themselves, and are a by-product of an optimal learning experience for all candidates.

Matt is a genuine all-rounder - he can coach and train with equal alacrity. All his work is underpinned by a rigorous intelligence, and a hunger for learning and research. Of all the team, Matt is the most likely to be undertaking a course of serious study at any given time! He has a deep expertise in Positive Psychology and is a published author on how the principles of Positive Psychology apply to coaching.

Matt is a talented linguist, and in a former life was a professional translator. This linguistic ability allows him to work and coach freely in French and Italian, and he has a working ability in several other languages too. This is part of the reason he is a genuine multiculturalist, happy to work with diverse nationalities and cultures. As a colleague and consultant Matt brings humour, humility and loyalty to everything he does. He also brings a shrewdness and sharpness of thought that can identify issues - and solutions - at speed and depth.

Further questions?

If you would like more information on the programme or the ILM qualifications, please email us with the heading ‘NHS Elect ILM Qualifications’.

Contact us

Terms and conditions

I agree to the following:

To be available for and to attend the whole of the scheduled in-person 4-day training with my chosen cohort.
If MF does not achieve the minimum candidate numbers for my Cohort, I will be offered a place on the next available NHS Elect Cohort or alternatively I can opt to join an Open Programme (subject to availability) to launch my qualification.
Where cancellation is made more than a month before the start of the qualification, I will be eligible for a refund of the monies paid. After this no refunds will be given although I can transfer my place to a colleague to join the same cohort before the F2F training takes place. Where postponement is proposed within a month of the start, I note a short notice deferment charge of £720 will be payable.
The data I have provided being shared with NHS Elect for invoicing purposes, ILM in connection with my registration and EMCC Global for potential accreditation (if applicable).
To join the Management Futures Mailing List to enable receipt of qualification information and updates.
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