Article

OD Essentials

Applications for OD Essentials in February and April 2025 are now open.

19 November 2024

OD Essentials is a free, online course for NHS employees interested in finding out more about the role of OD in the NHS.

The OD Essentials programme is funded by NHS England as part of its commitment to support and develop the people profession as outlined in the future of NHS human resources and occupational development report.

Applications for OD Essentials cohorts in February and April 2025 are now open.

What the course covers

During the course you will learn about:

the origins of OD
essential elements of OD theory and research
definitions and applications of OD in practice
the role of OD in enhancing the effectiveness of systems and the ability to achieve shared goals
the importance of the self in OD practice
the impact of OD on the quality and safety of patient care.

Applications details
- OD Essentials is a five-week course with approximately six hours of learning per week.
- Study is completed in your own time - there are no specific times you need to be available.
- Previous attendees have commented that the time commitment means many fell behind with their learning. We ask that you only apply if you can dedicate appropriate time to complete the study.
- The course requires examples of how you can use the learning in your role, or examples of what you have already done. It is not suitable for people not currently working in OD.
- To support learners as much as possible, we hold two (optional) virtual meetings to help build relationships with others, ask questions or offer peer support.
- We run new cohorts of learners every two months.
Register to attend in February or April 2025
If you're unable to commit to the full five-week OD Essentials course, or don't currently work in the NHS, our Essential Elements course is also open for enrolments.
Application details
Essential Elements offers a brief introduction to OD, outlining OD models and strategies and helping you to develop OD skills which can boost organisational performance and improve culture.
The course lasts three weeks from the date you enroll and requires around two hours of study per week.
Register for Essential Elements.