Independent Impact and Evaluation Study for Nursing Home Leadership Initiative in Ireland

Leading Healthcare Providers (LHP) Skillnet is seeking a qualified research organisation to conduct an independent longitudinal evaluation of the Nursing Home Leadership Education and Development (NH-LEAD) Initiative, funded by the Department of Health. The initiative aims to strengthen leadership, governance and management capabilities across Ireland's nursing home sector through accredited postgraduate education. The successful tenderer will design and deliver a comprehensive mixed-methods evaluation incorporating quantitative and qualitative research (surveys, interviews, focus groups, stakeholder consultation, and documentary review). The evaluation must assess implementation, effectiveness and impact at learner, organisational and sectoral levels, examining whether the initiative strengthens leadership capability, improves governance, quality improvement, regulatory preparedness and organisational performance, and enhances workforce capability and resident outcomes. The project includes baseline data collection, ongoing evaluation, interim reporting and final impact assessment. The research organisation will also identify barriers and enablers to implementation and provide recommendations for future programme development. This work will generate robust evidence to inform future policy and investment in leadership education within Ireland's long-term residential care sector.