Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

Case Study
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
A Successful Implementation
Trust Overview
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust (CandI) is a
large, urban Mental Health Trust situated in North London.
The Trust, which is integrated with community services,
has over 50 sites including St Pancras Hospital, Highgate
and Queen Mary’s. The Trust also manages staff for the
Forensic Unit at HMP Pentonville. In 2008, CandI became
the first care Trust to achieve Foundation Trust status.
Temporary staffing comprises 70% Care Support Workers
(CSWs) and 30% Registered Nurses, with 70% as bank
workers and 30% Trust employed staff on additional hours.
“Paperless booking is much easier. It reduces my admin time,
prevents double bookings and keeps us safely within the
Working Time Directive. I recommend it!”
Lydia Abbey, Project Manager, Hamley Gardens Project
Throughout the implementation, total shift fill was maintained
at a safe 99%. Bank fill has now increased from 30% in
March 2011 to 75% in just two months with reassurance of
clinical governance for all bank workers registered to work in
the Trust. Wards now have the tools to ensure Working Time
Directive compliance for the health and wellbeing of Trust
staff, whilst ensuring continuity and quality of care.
The Challenge
CandI has been in a period of consultation for two years.
The initial motivation for approaching NHS Professionals
(NHSP) was cost reduction. The management of temporary
staffing had been very reactive, with limited formal
processes and controls. CandI does not pay overtime and
has a strict annual leave policy where staff must take 25
days off work per year before they are allowed to work any
bank shifts.
Successful Implementation
NHSP’s managed service was implemented at CandI
between March and September 2011 with approximately
700 bank workers transferred under TUPE. As part of
the managed service contract, NHSP provides Nurses,
Doctors, Care Support Workers and Admin & Clerical staff.
NHSP provided local training sessions for everyone
requesting and booking shifts through the bank. Managers
reported a reduction in administration since the introduction
of eTimesheets. These can be more easily verified and
approved and meet the Trust’s requirement to reduce
paper waste.
[email protected] | 0845 373 3409 | www.nhsp.co.uk
A Unique Situation
During the implementation, NHSP were able to accommodate
some specialist staff groups and pay structures that presented
unusual challenges. The Trust operates a number of Project
Houses to accommodate adults with enduring mental health
difficulties. Supervisory staff based in Project Houses are
rostered for special overnight ‘sleep-in’ sessions involving
a flat- rate payment. Though unfamiliar with the situation,
NHSP quickly made arrangements to ensure staff would be
paid without disruption.
“There were a few teething problems due to the nature of the
work we do in the Project Houses, but we were quickly able
to establish new assignment codes to cover the ‘sleep-in’
assignments.”
Lydia Abbey, Project Manager, Hamley Gardens Project
“The NHSP team were very professional throughout the
implementation. Everything that was promised during the
implementation was delivered within the agreed timeframe.
Ushma Patel, Head of Resourcing,
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
“Having clear structure and goals helped immensely
throughout the implementation stage. One particular
reassuring factor was the confidence in knowing that future
plans were in place to address temporary staffing needs.
The NHSP local team is a godsend.
Ushma Patel, Head of Resourcing,
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
Following the first quarterly review with NHSP, initial
results indicate that temporary staffing has been reduced
substantially, partly attributable to the introduction of
automated systems, improved processes and clear
Management Information. Monthly meetings between
NHSP and the senior user groups in the Trust have been
well received. Fill rates at CandI are excellent and the Trust
is no longer recruiting to the bank.
HMP Pentonville has high security clearance. With no
processes in place, staffing this area had to be addressed
quickly. NHSP worked with the Trust to arrange ‘close
observations’ training. In addition, staff are fully screened
to comply with security clearance procedures. Only one
agency has been selected by the Trust for the cascade for
unfilled shifts.
Ushma Patel, Head of Resourcing,
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
Staffing for the Forensics department at HMP “Pentonville
has always been a challenge, but the NHSP managed
service provides us with a platform for change.”
Benefits to the Trust
Ushma Patel, Head of Resourcing,
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
A Successful Transition
Prior to implementing NHSP’s managed service, there
was a lack of clear information about bank activity. Shift
status reports are now fully utilised and the Trust is able to
maintain a clear audit trail.
“It’s important having a team that is flexible to the Trust’s needs
rather than just the project alone. There were some initial
teething issues with the culture shift helped by careful handling
from NHS Professionals. They work hard to make it work.
Ushma Patel, Head of Resourcing,
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
“Shift authorisation is now much stricter and I can see
everything I need in the reports. It helps us improve the
quality of patient care.”
Matron, Acute Service
“There have been positive reports from service managers
who were overwhelmed by the speed and accuracy of the
reporting. As a result, this allowed a degree of accountability
for their areas.”
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Reliable, accurate and clear Management Information
Improved fill rates
Improved clinical governance compliance
Common system and processes across the Trust
Accountability for bookings
Reduced cost
Reduced paper waste
A single point of contact for bank support
“The local coordinator is brilliant.”
Matron, Acute Service
“NHSP’s managed service was easy to adopt, with their
processes and procedures in place, we have the visibility and
transparency we need. It’s been transformational.”
Ushma Patel, Head of Resourcing,
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
The NHS Professionals Promise
“We promise to deliver our services for best value compared with an in-house solution; we support our promise by
providing you with a free of charge Business Case and Benefits Realisation statement. In addition, you benefit from
NHS Professionals’ expertise in driving down the cost of flexible staffing by:
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Demand reduction through superior processes and controls
Agency staff reduction
Optimisation of pay rates
Guaranteed reduction in employer related on-costs
Stephen Dangerfield, Chief Executive Officer, NHS Professionals
[email protected] | 0845 373 3409 | www.nhsp.co.uk
CS/023/05/12
Also you can be confident our flexible staff are fit for your requirements as we take full responsibility for their
mandatory training, clinical governance management and assurance.”