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Achieving Provider Services Fitness for Purpose
Client: Coventry Teaching Primary Care NHS Trust
Project Overview
The introduction of world class commissioning has led the PCT to divide its activities into Commissioning and Provider Services both still operating as Directorates within the PCT. This division has imposed a different dynamic and perspective to the role of Provider Services which now has to function almost as an organisation in its own right.
CPC’s Role
CPC and our partner OutcomesUK were commissioned by the PCT and the Managing Director of Provider Services to evaluate the Fitness for Purpose of key support functions within the organisation. We did this by devising an Assessment Framework in order to determine their current fitness for purpose and prepare for a future options development and appraisal process in 2008/9. The assessment framework was tailored for each function but provided a complete overview of the capacity and capability of the functions reviewed. When subject to a holistic review it was possible to build up a picture of organisational abilities and capacity to improve and expand. This was particularly relevant as Provider Services was entering new markets, engaging with new partners and having to manage itself whilst still largely dependent upon the PCT for some important back office services.
We also provided an analysis of future organisational operating models if the PCT and Provider Services decided to separate in accordance with the Commissioner v Provider market predictions.
Client Benefits
The benefits for the newly appointed Managing Director were:
- An objective view of her support and administrative functions
- Relating capacity and abilities to the demanding tasks that lay ahead of Provider Services
- The provision of a process and measurement method that could be re-used by internal resources
- The provision of a detailed improvement plan setting out the actions necessary to bring the organisation up to expectations.
- Persuading the PCT board that they needed to give Provider Services more of their own resources and responsibility.
- Confidence and certainty that the consultancy team were relevantly experienced and delivered results and advice that was helpful to all her team.
