22nd December 2024
The NHS Transformation Unit (TU) supported Bolton NHS Foundation Trust (BFT) and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) to comprehensively review their people services functions. This led to the production of a Project Initiation Document (PID) for the two Trusts to help them on their journey towards implementing a collaborative approach to delivering People Services.
The Challenge
Increasingly, organisations are looking to improve the performance, quality and efficiency of corporate services through collaboration. NHS England’s Scaling People Services programme is encouraging NHS organisations to deliver People Services at scale. BFT and WWL wanted to understand the feasibility and potential benefits of increased collaboration between the Trusts’ People Services teams. The TU worked with BFT and WWL to develop a case for change and a proposed approach to the delivery of a collaborative model. We developed a timeline for implementation and authored a comprehensive PID.
Our Approach
The work comprised three elements:
- Engaging with senior stakeholders at both Trusts through semi-structured interviews and a workshop.
- Collecting and reviewing a range of baseline information relating to technology, activity, performance, financial, and workforce data.
- Performing wider desktop research and initiating conversations with others doing similar work in other parts of the country.
We used this information to develop a comprehensive PID. This was shaped by senior stakeholders and draws upon current best practice and national guidance, including the NHSE Scaling People Services guidance.
The PID includes a detailed case for change, comparison of services and detailed options for a collaborative service model, along with potential benefits including savings.
NHS England’s Guide to Scaling People Services identifies 16 areas within People Services and highlights the eight areas with the most opportunity as shown below. From these services, BFT and WWL identified the functions in scope for consideration.
The PID also includes a detailed delivery approach with timeframes and resource requirements.
The Outcome
We used our knowledge and expertise to deliver a high quality, comprehensive document which both Trusts approved through their executive teams. The document outlines a clear roadmap for delivering a collaborative service. The process also fostered strong relationships among the teams involved, laying a solid foundation for the continued advancement of this initiative.
The Trusts have set up a collaborative group to plan and deliver the changes required. We are currently working with this group to support the detailed design and implementation of these changes.