Gaining Authorisation
Gaining an authorisation is a key focus for many boards working in health and social care is reaching some kind of authorisation such as CCG authorisation, NHS FT status, the higher CNST levels or CQC registration. Our team has a strong track record of successfully helping boards gain these authorisations and we have in-depth knowledge of the regulation world. We are always mindful, however, that the best organisations want to gain these authorisations for a purpose - as a means of doing more for patients and service users.
Our approach is to focus on the vision and strategy of the organisation, and in doing so work through the 'box-ticking' elements of authorisation almost as a bi-product. Successful organisations have strong boards who understand that compliance buys the freedom to innovate, take risks and create sustainable change. Our approach to working with boards on the path to authorisation is distinctive and based on the premise that authorisation is a means, and not an end.
With our partners Capsticks, we are approved suppliers for BGAF reviews and were selected by NHS London to support CCGs achieve authorisation.
Examples of our work supporting NHS FT authorisation include:
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust where we have reviewed the governance and the board, and provided board development support
- South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust where we are supporting their governance improvement programme, conducting a governance review, a 360 review of the board and a comprehensive stakeholder review
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust where we worked with board secretary to provide the board with a rapid review of their governance arrangements
- Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust where we provided a mock board-to-board as part of their preparation for meeting Monitor
- Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust where we reviewed their governance systems, supported their BGAF submission, provided a board challenge session, provided a stakeholder review and a board skills audit and 360 review
We have been supporting CCGs on their road to authorisation. We worked with the then Heart of Birmingham aspirant CCGs on a development programme to better understand the benefits of good governance and collective working. We have been working with a group of six aspiring CCGs in London on conflict of interest issues to ensure better commissioning, procurement and reputation protection. We have undertaken rapid reviews and challenge sessions for CCGs to test how prepared they are for authorisation and we are also helping various CCGs develop their governance structures and systems, policies and procedures and committee terms of reference. CCGs we have worked with include the CCGs at Bexley, Lewisham, Southwark, Bromley, Lambeth, Greenwich, Chiltern, Redditch and Bromsgrove, Wyre Forrest, Wandsworth and Great West (Hounslow).
As part of the Capsticks' Alliance we are intensively working with two London aspirant CCGs (Wandsworth and Great West) and our contribution includes delivering the board development programmes. We have been working with other pathfinders in different parts of the country as part of our research into CCG governance.
We have helped NHS boards reach CNST level three through ensuring better board grip around patient safety issues.
We are working with several commercial healthcare providers with their CQC registration.
We are providing support to various organisations (including one significant, national NHS organisation) improve their information governance and complete their IG Toolkit submissions.
