Services we offer to Mental Health Trusts
Foundation Trust assistance | Service redesign | Service improvement | Lean transformation
Foundation Trust status offers providers a new way of thinking and working in a quasi commercial environment. We have tailored our services to meet this new agenda.
Specific projects include:
• Market attractiveness appraisials
• Customer care training and implementation
• Capacity modelling
• Training in marketing mental health services
• Market assessments
• Scrutiny and appraisal of strategies and annual plans
• Developing efficient and effective services (both 'lean' redesign and Service Line Reporting)
Mental health services have been undertaking a process of major change over many years driven both by policy imperatives and increasing commissioner expectations. Our team of mental health-specific clinical, managerial and financial experts have worked alongside our clients helping them reshape services.
We have undertaken both individual reviews in the locality and whole care pathway-scale projects of how services need to change to maximise efficiency and effectiveness. We have also led the complex area of whole systems stakeholder engagement within major consultation exercises.
With the increasing tight financial settlements due to the NHS in the coming years, our value for money and outcome-focused service redesign methodologies will be invaluable.
Service improvement and organisational strategy
This is where we can all draw together all of our areas of expertise, and work with organisations to help decide how services can improve, and how their management should be taken forward.
This involves us in work such as:
• Detailed benchmarking of financial and performance data
• Consultation and research with local service users
• Consultation with staff of providers and partner agencies
• Reviews and interpretation of national policy and guidance
• Formal literature reviews of evidence around treatments and service models
• Epidemiological and demographic analysis
We work in a consultative way, alongside all relevant local stakeholders, and prepare strategies which are grounded in evidence and experience, practical, and action-focused.
Lean transformation in mental health care
The impending down turn in NHS funding poses questions for provider organisations & commissioners alike. How will it be possible to square the need for major clinical & structural change, to deliver the consequences of reduced funding ,with the requirement to maintain & improve quality? Lean techniques have been successfully used in the private sector to deliver such transformation.
We have developed an approach helping you deliver operational excellence and quality care within an increasingly constrained budget. It is about helping you embed change processes and leaving you with a structure to continue to improve. Clinical ownership is key and our expertise and credibility will ensure this is delivered.
To assist us in delivering this we have teamed up with The Manufacturing Institute (TMI).
This partnership combines our clinical, financial, operational and strategic expertise with the experience of TMI, one of the leading providers of Lean Transformation development both in health care, and a range of other industries.
TMI delivers practical support and training in operational excellence, using disciplines such as Lean to help organisations achieve sustainable performance improvement. Partners include such recognised names as Airbus, BNFL, Jaguar and Kellogg’s. TMI also has many NHS clients working with them.
We are aware many people are still uncertain of the benefits which Lean, and other similar techniques, can bring to mental health services. Initially we were too. However, having evaluated what TMI can offer, and having assessed areas of mental health care where this could help, we are clear that it has value. You may wish to test out ideas with us & this can be done in two ways:
• A rapid diagnostic review of a particular area or service that you feel could benefit from such an assessment e.g. a community service, an inpatient area or a functional team perhaps. We could jointly agree this area with you. The diagnostic would give you a structural understanding of:
- Where and how change could improve the service
- Efficiency and quality
- A pathway to implementing the changes
- The benefits and how to achieve them
• Board Presentation. As an alternative and/or a supplement to the diagnostic we could present our ideas to your board. This could be based on experience elsewhere or following initial conversations with you into particular areas of interest. The board presentation would be free of any charge.
If you would like further information please contact Tom McCarthy, Managing Director on 0161 785 1001 or email tom.mccarthy@mentalhealthstrategies.co.uk
