​Tebogo Tladi and Latani Mapukata

The Gauteng Department of Health recently hosted a capacity building and induction pogramme for new hospital chief executive officers (CEOs). The group was made up of a variety of young and experienced managers.

The exercise aimed to professionalise the public service, strengthen leadership and governance in health facilities with an ultimate aim of improving patient experience.
During the workshop, the new managers were introduced to constitutional values, ethics and expected attitude.
According to the Department's Human Resources Development (HRD) directorate the programme wanted to bring together the CEOs into a forum of like-minded leaders to impart knowledge, experience and lessons from seasoned industry leaders.
The Department's Acting Head of Department, Dr Sibongile Zungu said: "Today's topics are uttermost importance as they are significantly aligned to the public service mandate, especially in the month of September, which is known as Public Service Month in the country."

"There is a direct correlation between good leadership and staff morale.  When leaders are competent, accountable and inclusive, and are genuinely engaged in the day-to-day functioning of the organization and their employees' lives, team members take notice and feel good to be part of the Department,'' she added.
On the day, the CEO's engaged in across-the-board topics that ranged from Gauteng Department of Health Strategic Plan, leadership competency framework, capacity building for service delivery, inclusive leadership, clinical governance, compliance with legislation to ensure valid administrative action. Retired hospital CEO also shared their experiences.
The CEO capacity building and induction programme, is an annual forum that advocates for comprehensive leadership in public health amongst newly-appointed, full time and acting, CEOs.