ShropCom and SaTH are exploring opportunities to become a Group These plans are currently in the early stages of development and we still need to go through an assurance process with NHS England before any final decisions are made.
Through this newsletter we will share interviews with colleagues exploring the opportunities that forming a Group may bring It will also help build an understanding of each organisation and the work that colleagues do - which is something you said you would like more of
An
interview with Claire Horsfield, Director of Operations and Chief AHP at ShropCom, and Ned Hobbs, Chief Operating Officer at SaTH
What will be benefits of a Group model be from an operational perspective?
Claire: The Group model will support us to deliver more care closer to home as d year plan Co-locating teams at neighbourhood level will enable stronger multi-d support the integrated neighbourhood teams and afford patients a wider variety of services closer to them. The Group model will provide us with a stronger, more united voice.
Ned: The combined clinical expertise of our teams has wonderful potential to improve care for patients and improve the professional fulfilment of colleagues There are great operational opportunities to make the best use of our combined estate too, to deliver thriving local community hospitals and make the most of all our combined facilities
How will it improve patient care and experience?
Claire: The Group model will support seamless pathways of care across the acute community interface, and with the right digital support reduce the number of times patients have to repeat their story, enabling a greater level of satisfaction as well as giving clinicians a wider view of the pathway.
Ned: By having community and acute clinicians working closely together, we can strengthen the provision of community-based care – supporting patients to have their needs met outside of hospital wherever possible For example, the opportunity to expand the delivery of consultant-led outpatient clinics in community hospitals to support thriving local services and care closer to home.
What could the benefits be for staff and ways of working?
“The Group model will enable rotational roles, joint roles and the ability to work along the full patient pathway.”
Claire: The Group model will enable rotational roles, joint roles and the ability to work along the full patient pathway – among many other opportunities We will see the creation of new roles to support care closer to home Together, we become a much more attractive place to work, improving recruitment and retention and keeping the best of the best Group will help us to create more pipelines into professions and through the banding structures, from student, support worker and apprentice roles through to a wider breadth of advanced practice roles
Ned: There will be more career opportunities for colleagues across both organisations in a number of roles to work or rotate through acute and community services – for example in frailty services, therapy services and imaging services
You have both met many colleagues at the Better Together engagement events What has been some of the most pertinent feedback from staff?
Claire: Over the last couple of months, I've really enjoyed spending time with teams at the engagement sessions I'd like to thank all that have given their time to input into these sessions My takeaway has been that the Group model itself is not the panacea for all pathways and all issues, and neither should it be, however it will enable some pathways to be smoother and more timely enabling a better quality of care to patients and experience for staff It's also important for us to recognise teams, services and areas where the Group model will not advantage directly in the first instance, and to ensure that those services continue to grow and flourish and our partnership working with other organisations remains strong
Ned: The Group model is an enabler; it won’t in itself deliver improvements, but it will make it easier for our teams to work together to deliver improvements
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jo Williams as our new Chief Executive in Common. Read more on our website.
Keep up to date - visit the Better Together page on the intranet
“Together, we become a much more attractive place to work, improving recruitment and retention and keeping the best of the best.”
What is a Group Model and what would it mean for us?
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