Ashdale Care Leadership Academy: Empowering Our Leaders for the Future
In July 2024, the Leadership Team at Ashdale Care partnered with Naoise Blake of Naoise Blake Training & Development to co-create a transformative, accredited leadership programme. This collaboration led to the launch of the Ashdale Care Leadership Academy, a prestigious development pathway designed to support and empower current and emerging leaders across our organisation.
Positive leadership plays a vital role in every management position at Ashdale, this applies to both our support departments and our homes. We know that strong, consistent leadership drives high-performing teams and positive outcomes for the young people we support. As Ashdale continues to grow and expand services across Ireland, investing in our leaders ensures they are equipped to guide their teams and shape a meaningful career with us.
Purpose and Vision
The Leadership Academy was designed to address identified development needs and strengthen leadership capability in alignment with Ashdale Care’s Vision and Strategy. The programme focused on:
- Transitioning from operational to strategic leadership
- Empowering and developing teams
- Delegating effectively
- Embedding organisational values in everyday practice
Programme Structure
Two tailored programmes were delivered on a one-day-per-month schedule:
- Sustainable Leadership for Heads of Departments, Regional Managers, and Home Managers
- Future Leaders for Deputy Managers and equivalent roles in support departments
Celebrating Success
From December 2024 to June 2025, three Sustainable Leadership cohorts completed the programme. Graduation events took place on May 28th & 29th and June 24th, where 33 leaders delivered ten-minute presentations on their leadership journeys. Awards were given for top academic performance and peer-nominated Learning Leaders of the Year. The quality of presentations was exceptional, showcasing vulnerability, honesty, and significant personal growth.
The Future Leaders programme ran from December 2024 to May 2025, concluding with a graduation event on May 30th. Twenty-three future leaders submitted written assignments, with awards presented for outstanding submissions and peer-nominated Learning Leaders of the Year.
Leadership in Action
The active involvement of the Leadership Team through attendance, feedback, and continuous support brought credibility and reinforced Ashdale’s commitment to professional development. Guest speakers, including Paul Flynn, Sammy Leslie, Heather Humphries, and Joanne Brennan shared inspiring insights on leadership and motivation from their respective fields: politics, the arts, sports, business, and luxury hospitality.
Key Learnings and Impact
Participants reported notable growth in:
- Strategic thinking
- Sustainable leadership practices
- Self-awareness and confidence
- Accountability and team development
- Effective delegation and feedback
- Managing challenging conversations
- Time management and prioritisation
Role-plays, group sessions, one-to-one coaching, and presentations were highlighted as particularly impactful with a strong sense of psychological safety within groups allowing for honest reflection and open learning.
From a facilitation perspective, Naoise Blake noted exceptionally high levels of engagement and commitment. Many Sustainable Leaders were new to leadership yet demonstrated a meaningful shift from individual contributors to organisational leadership. A notable insight was the critical partnership between Home Managers and Deputy Managers, which was consistently shown to be a key factor in the success of each home.
The Leadership Academy has sparked a movement among our current and future leaders, one that will continue to strengthen our culture and deepen our impact across Ashdale Care. The programme fostered a sense of ownership and unity within participants, helping them to embrace Ashdale Care’s values and culture alongside Cornell University CARE principles.
Participant Feedback
“I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be involved in this course. It has really amplified my confidence in my role and profession, and I’m excited to put my learning into practice.”
“I can’t express how much this training exceeded my expectations. It has already had a major impact on my practice and attitude to leadership. I will take so many lessons forward in my career.”
“I have gained so much self-confidence, something I did not have. I have grown as a professional, and it will benefit my personal life too.”
“Thanks for an interesting programme. It was well delivered and engaging. I also feel I’ve gotten to know colleagues better and can now lean on them and offer support going forward.”