NHS Contracting...

1st December – 5th December 2014

This week, I started working with the Contracts team at the CCG and was given the responsibility of creating a new NHS contract for a local provider of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) treatment; along with the help from Karen (Who is sadly leaving the CCG!) we filled in the appropriate areas and information to produce the contract. Following on from this, we then held a meeting with the provider to talk them through the contract in more detail, discussing terms and conditions and to determine what information we needed in order for the contract to be issued and signed.

I have also been in the process of finalising the job description and person specification for the new student placement for 2015/16, who will fill my role when I leave in August. I will be responsible for the recruitment for this position and will be shortlisting suitable candidates, as well as holding interviews for the role within the New Year. I am particularly looking forward to being involved in this process as it will enable me to gain an insight into the recruitment process within the NHS and to also understand what type of attributes and traits recruiting managers look for. I am looking forward to being sat on the other side of the interview panel this time!

I have now been on placement for just over three months now (which has flown!) and a large proportion of my role over the past few weeks has been working with the finance team; particularly focusing on coding new invoices which are uploaded onto the online system each day and matching the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) invoices for payment. Due to the ageing population in Eastern Cheshire, there are a large number of residents living in Care Homes, who require complex care needs and treatment. It is essential to keep on top of these invoices and ensure that they are paid on time. In the New Year, I will be focusing on assisting the Contracts team with renewing and producing contracts for 2015/16 and will be reducing my time working with Finance. I have been surprised that I have enjoyed the finance work that I've been getting involved in, having previously not enjoyed studying finance units at University!

Bake Off Week 4... As mentioned in previous weeks, we are currently competing in our own charity Bake Off at the CCG! Over the past four weeks, we have been given a different baking task, which incorporates a specific theme, which at times has been stressful! This week, we had the challenge of baking bread; I produced granary rolls which were extremely boring compared with the other contestants’ breakfast buns and German sweet treats!
Next week is the final of the Great CCG Bake Off... where we will be producing sweet and savory Christmas-themed bakes for the staff briefing and we will also be exchanging our Secret Santa presents!