27th April - 1st May & 5th May - 8th May 2015
The past two weeks have been very busy at the CCG! I have continued to finalise a number of Contracts for the Age-related Macular Degeneration service which a number of local providers in the area are contracted to deliver.
We are also in the final stages of negotiating the 2015/16 CQUINs (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) with a number of our main providers. I have really enjoyed getting involved in the negotiating side of CQUIN development, as it has enabled me to gain an understanding of how the Commissioner and Providers work together to implement innovative solutions that will encourage the delivery of high quality care throughout the system. Once the CQUINs have been agreed with each Provider, we can then monitor their achievements and evaluate the milestones reached through the submission of quarterly reports.
I am looking forward to my final few months at the CCG, by getting involved in a number of projects. I am particularly looking forward to getting involved with the Clinical Projects Team at the CCG, as they focus their attention on the redesign of Neurodevelopmental services in the Eastern Cheshire area.
I have now been at the CCG for over nine months and my time here has flown by! I am extremely grateful that I have had the opportunity to work within a number of different Teams at the CCG and challenge myself with a variety of different projects. The experience and knowledge gained has been invaluable and I am excited to see what my final few months at the CCG brings, before I return to University (of which I'm dreading!)
12 May 2015
23 April 2015
An exciting couple of weeks consisting of Meetings, Events and Workshops!
13th April - 17th April & 20th April - 24th April
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a variety of Meetings, Events and Workshops within all different areas of healthcare!
I’m currently enjoying working on a number of Contracts for a range of local healthcare Providers and we are well underway with getting them finished and signed. I attended a meeting on Tuesday to go through the Contract with a Provider, to discuss any concerns and amendments to be made. This was a particularly insightful meeting as I was able to understand the level of involvement between the Provider and Commissioner when negotiating Contract terms. I have enjoyed working with the Contracts Team whilst at the CCG as I am able to understand where the Quality Requirements which I've been working on sit within a Contract. It allows me to understand how everything is linked together by the Contract.
I was also lucky enough to attend a workshop to determine the gaps within the ADHD and Autism pathway within the Cheshire wide area. This was particularly interesting, having previously very little knowledge about Neurodevelopmental Disorders. I was sat with a great bunch of professionals who were able to tell me about the current pathways that are in place and the support provided to people living with ADHD/Autism. Although there are certain gaps which have been identified, we are now deciding how the services we provide can be improved. I am looking forward to seeing the progress of the work that will be undertaken as a result of the workshop!
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a variety of Meetings, Events and Workshops within all different areas of healthcare!
I’m currently enjoying working on a number of Contracts for a range of local healthcare Providers and we are well underway with getting them finished and signed. I attended a meeting on Tuesday to go through the Contract with a Provider, to discuss any concerns and amendments to be made. This was a particularly insightful meeting as I was able to understand the level of involvement between the Provider and Commissioner when negotiating Contract terms. I have enjoyed working with the Contracts Team whilst at the CCG as I am able to understand where the Quality Requirements which I've been working on sit within a Contract. It allows me to understand how everything is linked together by the Contract.
I was also lucky enough to attend a workshop to determine the gaps within the ADHD and Autism pathway within the Cheshire wide area. This was particularly interesting, having previously very little knowledge about Neurodevelopmental Disorders. I was sat with a great bunch of professionals who were able to tell me about the current pathways that are in place and the support provided to people living with ADHD/Autism. Although there are certain gaps which have been identified, we are now deciding how the services we provide can be improved. I am looking forward to seeing the progress of the work that will be undertaken as a result of the workshop!
10 April 2015
Working towards a Prince2 Accreditation!
6th April – 10th April 2015
After a relaxing Easter weekend, it was back to working on Contracts, Quality Schedules and coding invoices!
Aside from my daily tasks, whilst on Placement, I have been given the opportunity to gain a qualification in Prince2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) which is a professionally recognised Project Management methodology. I will complete online training seminars and revision sessions, before taking a final exam in the Summer, in order to gain a qualification in the Prince2 Foundation course! This week, I have started to work my way through the online training sessions and I am already beginning to see what a beneifcial methodology Prince2 is when delivering a project. Gaining a qualification in the Prince2 Foundation course will also be extremely beneficial when delivering projects as part of assignments when I return to University.
Prince2 is a specific process-driven Project Management methodology, which describes the seven processes, themes and principles of a project. It allows course members to understand the different elements of a project; the roles and responsibilities of the members involved and allows you to gain an understanding of the consistent approach used to successfully deliver a project.
After I have achieved the qualification in Prince2 Foundation, I can then continue with the course and undertake the training to gain a Prince2 Practitioner level of qualification, which is something I will definitely do after I have finished my Degree!
Gaining a Prince2 Foundation accrediation is an example of the great training opportunities that are available whilst working for the NHS. I have previously had the opportunity to complete training sessions and gain certificates in Healthcare Finance, all of which will be extremely useful in the next couple of years when applying for graduate positions!
After a relaxing Easter weekend, it was back to working on Contracts, Quality Schedules and coding invoices!
Aside from my daily tasks, whilst on Placement, I have been given the opportunity to gain a qualification in Prince2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) which is a professionally recognised Project Management methodology. I will complete online training seminars and revision sessions, before taking a final exam in the Summer, in order to gain a qualification in the Prince2 Foundation course! This week, I have started to work my way through the online training sessions and I am already beginning to see what a beneifcial methodology Prince2 is when delivering a project. Gaining a qualification in the Prince2 Foundation course will also be extremely beneficial when delivering projects as part of assignments when I return to University.
Prince2 is a specific process-driven Project Management methodology, which describes the seven processes, themes and principles of a project. It allows course members to understand the different elements of a project; the roles and responsibilities of the members involved and allows you to gain an understanding of the consistent approach used to successfully deliver a project.
After I have achieved the qualification in Prince2 Foundation, I can then continue with the course and undertake the training to gain a Prince2 Practitioner level of qualification, which is something I will definitely do after I have finished my Degree!
Gaining a Prince2 Foundation accrediation is an example of the great training opportunities that are available whilst working for the NHS. I have previously had the opportunity to complete training sessions and gain certificates in Healthcare Finance, all of which will be extremely useful in the next couple of years when applying for graduate positions!
1 April 2015
Snow White!
23rd March - 27th March & 30th March - 3rd April 2015
Over the past couple of weeks I have been learning about the Hospital monitoring dashboard which Quality Analysts here at Eastern Cheshire CCG have created called ‘Snow White’. ‘Snow White’ was initially created to monitor the local hospitals' performance over the winter period, with seven key functions – hence the name!
The dashboard is used and updated every day by colleagues at the CCG, local hospitals and the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). The dashboard requires a member of staff to maintain the data and ensure all the figures are updated to reflect the hospital’s performance. It incorporates past and present A&E attendances, as well as live ambulance data. Working with the Quality Analysts, I have had the opportunity to gain an understanding of how the dashboard works; where the data comes from and where it is then inputted and finalised for publication for colleagues at the local Hospitals to view. The dashboard has been a great innovation which gives us a clear idea of how the Hospital in Macclesfield is performing compared with other local hospitals, using an RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating.
In addition to learning about the dashboard, I have been continuing to develop Quality Schedules and CQUINs (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) for the local healthcare providers. I am also helping the Contracts Team with creating new contracts for 2015/16, therefore having the opportunity to produce the Quality Requirements and incentives allows me to gain more of an understanding about the structure of a standard NHS Contract.
Over the past couple of weeks I have been learning about the Hospital monitoring dashboard which Quality Analysts here at Eastern Cheshire CCG have created called ‘Snow White’. ‘Snow White’ was initially created to monitor the local hospitals' performance over the winter period, with seven key functions – hence the name!
The dashboard is used and updated every day by colleagues at the CCG, local hospitals and the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). The dashboard requires a member of staff to maintain the data and ensure all the figures are updated to reflect the hospital’s performance. It incorporates past and present A&E attendances, as well as live ambulance data. Working with the Quality Analysts, I have had the opportunity to gain an understanding of how the dashboard works; where the data comes from and where it is then inputted and finalised for publication for colleagues at the local Hospitals to view. The dashboard has been a great innovation which gives us a clear idea of how the Hospital in Macclesfield is performing compared with other local hospitals, using an RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating.
In addition to learning about the dashboard, I have been continuing to develop Quality Schedules and CQUINs (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) for the local healthcare providers. I am also helping the Contracts Team with creating new contracts for 2015/16, therefore having the opportunity to produce the Quality Requirements and incentives allows me to gain more of an understanding about the structure of a standard NHS Contract.
13 March 2015
MCA DoLS Event!
9th March – 13th March 2015
On Tuesday, I attended a great event which explained the MCA (Mental Capacity Act) DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) background and policy. The Mental Capacity Act came into play in 2005 and there was been a recent introduction of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which aims to protect vulnerable people's freedom. The event was held by our CCG, along with our neighbouring CCGs; South Cheshire and Vale Royal. There were several speakers who presented their views on MCA DoLS and how it affected different organisations. Speakers included; head of adult safeguarding from Southern Derbyshire, a barrister who provided the legal context of the policy, the MCA DoLS policy lead from the Department of Health and representatives from Cheshire police.
The MCA DoLS enable vulnerable people, who lack the capacity to make informed decisions to be protected of their liberty. If a person is identified as having a lack of capacity to make decisions, a DoLS application can be sort.
The event allowed me to gain more of an insight into the legal context of the policy and understand what affect it can have from a police perspective. Something which was apparent in all of the speakers’ presentations was their passion towards the policy and ensuring people’s freedom is protected in the correct manner. A number of the speakers made the valid point of ensuring that each MCA DoLS situation is different and must ensure that the person’s wellbeing and best interests are at the heart of everything. A decision made on behalf of a person who lacks capacity, must be done in that person's best interests.
The event was a great success!
On Tuesday, I attended a great event which explained the MCA (Mental Capacity Act) DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) background and policy. The Mental Capacity Act came into play in 2005 and there was been a recent introduction of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which aims to protect vulnerable people's freedom. The event was held by our CCG, along with our neighbouring CCGs; South Cheshire and Vale Royal. There were several speakers who presented their views on MCA DoLS and how it affected different organisations. Speakers included; head of adult safeguarding from Southern Derbyshire, a barrister who provided the legal context of the policy, the MCA DoLS policy lead from the Department of Health and representatives from Cheshire police.
The MCA DoLS enable vulnerable people, who lack the capacity to make informed decisions to be protected of their liberty. If a person is identified as having a lack of capacity to make decisions, a DoLS application can be sort.
The event allowed me to gain more of an insight into the legal context of the policy and understand what affect it can have from a police perspective. Something which was apparent in all of the speakers’ presentations was their passion towards the policy and ensuring people’s freedom is protected in the correct manner. A number of the speakers made the valid point of ensuring that each MCA DoLS situation is different and must ensure that the person’s wellbeing and best interests are at the heart of everything. A decision made on behalf of a person who lacks capacity, must be done in that person's best interests.
The event was a great success!
6 March 2015
Awaiting the Contract for 2015/16!
2nd March - 6th March 2015
We are currently playing the waiting game... along with other CCGs in England, we are awaiting the national guidance for the NHS Standard Contract which is published each year by NHS England. The NHS Standard Contract template allows the Contracts Team at the CCG to produce new contracts and create contract variations for the local healthcare providers. Each year the NHS Standard Contract varies; the structure and content may differ slightly, therefore we must follow the guidance and template available on a portal to produce the contracts for 2015/16. I will be helping the Contracts Team here at Eastern Cheshire CCG so hopefully the guidance and contracts portal will go live very soon!
The national guidance for CQUINs (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) has recently been published by NHS England, therefore a number of my tasks this week have involved developing the CQUIN goals for each provider, with particular focus on producing the rationale and the milestones for each goal. Each local provider has a different number of local CQUIN goals which they must achieve. At the CCG, the Quality Team is responsible for producing and implementing the local goals and meeting with the providers to ensure they are realistic and achievable. The process involves a lot of negotiation to ensure the provider is happy with the goal and the milestones they must achieve; working collaboratively with the providers makes sure that high quality care is delivered and patient safety is key.
The local healthcare providers must also achieve National CQUINs which are created by NHS England. The 2015/16 National CQUINs will focus on reducing the rate of AKI (Acute Kidney Injury) and early identification and treatment of SEPSIS within Hospitals. The 2015/16 National CQUINs for Mental Health providers include improving Dementia and Delirium care and also improving the physical health of patients with SMI (Severe Mental Illness).
We are currently playing the waiting game... along with other CCGs in England, we are awaiting the national guidance for the NHS Standard Contract which is published each year by NHS England. The NHS Standard Contract template allows the Contracts Team at the CCG to produce new contracts and create contract variations for the local healthcare providers. Each year the NHS Standard Contract varies; the structure and content may differ slightly, therefore we must follow the guidance and template available on a portal to produce the contracts for 2015/16. I will be helping the Contracts Team here at Eastern Cheshire CCG so hopefully the guidance and contracts portal will go live very soon!
The national guidance for CQUINs (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) has recently been published by NHS England, therefore a number of my tasks this week have involved developing the CQUIN goals for each provider, with particular focus on producing the rationale and the milestones for each goal. Each local provider has a different number of local CQUIN goals which they must achieve. At the CCG, the Quality Team is responsible for producing and implementing the local goals and meeting with the providers to ensure they are realistic and achievable. The process involves a lot of negotiation to ensure the provider is happy with the goal and the milestones they must achieve; working collaboratively with the providers makes sure that high quality care is delivered and patient safety is key.
The local healthcare providers must also achieve National CQUINs which are created by NHS England. The 2015/16 National CQUINs will focus on reducing the rate of AKI (Acute Kidney Injury) and early identification and treatment of SEPSIS within Hospitals. The 2015/16 National CQUINs for Mental Health providers include improving Dementia and Delirium care and also improving the physical health of patients with SMI (Severe Mental Illness).
26 February 2015
6 Months of full-time work!
16th February - 20th February 2015 & 23rd February - 27th February 2015
Week 24/25 marks six months of being on placement at the CCG! I can't believe how quickly the past few months have gone and how welcome every member of staff has made me feel! I have learnt an incredible amount about the NHS and the healthcare sector and I have gained a number of skills which will be extremely useful during the final year of my Degree. I am now looking forward to working towards the end of the financial year with the Finance and Contracts Team and the next 5/6 months of working before I return to student life!
Over the past two weeks, I have continued to work alongside the Finance Team; coding invoices, checking invoices against predicted data for payment and I have also been chasing invoices from local providers for the schemes which have been funded as part of the winter implementation plan.
I have also had the opportunity to gain more experience within HR (Human Resources). At the CCG, in the Business Team, we are looking to recruit a new Quality Improvement Manager who will be responsible for supporting the development of processes and structures that will improve quality of care and safeguard patients. Along with my manager, we have created a job description and person specification, ready for the vacancy to be advertised online. I have enjoyed being part of the recruitment process within the NHS and the skills I have developed will be extremely beneficial when studying Strategic Human Resource Management when I return to University in September.
On Thursday, I was given the responsibility of checking the NCA (Non-Contract Activity) invoices on our online system against the data from SUS (Secondary Uses Data) which is a healthcare database which allows staff to anaylse a range of data, run off reports and access predicted invoice amounts for certain healthcare treatments that are performed out of our area. I have gone through the process of coding invoices (which is a regular day-to-day task) to then comparing the amount from SUS against the actual amount shown on the invoice, a variance is then provided which can be queried with the provider if there is a significant difference. Once the NCA invoices have been checked against the predicted data, they are then sent to the appropriate member of the Finance Team for payment.
Week 24/25 marks six months of being on placement at the CCG! I can't believe how quickly the past few months have gone and how welcome every member of staff has made me feel! I have learnt an incredible amount about the NHS and the healthcare sector and I have gained a number of skills which will be extremely useful during the final year of my Degree. I am now looking forward to working towards the end of the financial year with the Finance and Contracts Team and the next 5/6 months of working before I return to student life!
Over the past two weeks, I have continued to work alongside the Finance Team; coding invoices, checking invoices against predicted data for payment and I have also been chasing invoices from local providers for the schemes which have been funded as part of the winter implementation plan.
I have also had the opportunity to gain more experience within HR (Human Resources). At the CCG, in the Business Team, we are looking to recruit a new Quality Improvement Manager who will be responsible for supporting the development of processes and structures that will improve quality of care and safeguard patients. Along with my manager, we have created a job description and person specification, ready for the vacancy to be advertised online. I have enjoyed being part of the recruitment process within the NHS and the skills I have developed will be extremely beneficial when studying Strategic Human Resource Management when I return to University in September.
On Thursday, I was given the responsibility of checking the NCA (Non-Contract Activity) invoices on our online system against the data from SUS (Secondary Uses Data) which is a healthcare database which allows staff to anaylse a range of data, run off reports and access predicted invoice amounts for certain healthcare treatments that are performed out of our area. I have gone through the process of coding invoices (which is a regular day-to-day task) to then comparing the amount from SUS against the actual amount shown on the invoice, a variance is then provided which can be queried with the provider if there is a significant difference. Once the NCA invoices have been checked against the predicted data, they are then sent to the appropriate member of the Finance Team for payment.
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