About the LP PCT Provider Services Development Programme
Our programme is designed to support PCTs as they separate and develop their provider functions and services. The PCTs who have joined the programme share a common view that the success of the Government’s drive to re-shape and improve community health services, depends on PCTs themselves taking well-managed and structured programmes of support forward.
The programme provides the framework for PCT provider arms to:
- Assess and configure their core service portfolio and develop an overall strategy for their provider business
- Develop the governance structures and mechanisms required for separation from their host PCT
- Explore future organisational options and enterprise forms for their provider arm Identify the capability and capacity gaps that might otherwise prevent them having a sustainable and successful autonomous future
- Develop and implement their start-up plans as an external and autonomous community health services provider
Shared Learning
When PCTs join the programme, they agree to share learning with each other. This ‘learning set’ approach provides access to shared experience and know-how and has a direct impact on improving the decisions they are making about the futures of their provider arms.
We established this as the underlying principle of the programme, recognising that provider arms were facing many similar issues and that the ability to develop common approaches to common problems, would enable them to share and economise on the costs of developing solutions.
This means that PCTs in the programme have access to road-tested programme tools and resources, materials generated by others in the programme and access to benchmarking data, analysis and market intelligence reports.
We also hold knowledge-sharing seminars for PCTs on a range of topics which encourage knowledge sharing, such as our Peer Review Workshops on the major clinical services or our Corporate Governance seminars.
Our Programme
The Public Services team blends sound health sector knowledge with programme management and commercial expertise. We use this combination of expertise to bring challenge, as a ‘critical friend’, to accepted practice at service and Board level.
Our input ranges across a wide variety of tasks. We introduce programme management support through with our Project Directors who work with the PCT Programme staff to structure the programme, implement it and contribute to decision-making processes. The programme also requires significant input from senior service staff from within the PCTs. In addition, PCTs have access to the programme’s third-party clinical planning and legal advisers.
Our approach aims to introduce transparent and effective decision-making processes, ensuring that the responsibility for decision-making remains with the PCT, provider arm and the PCT programme staff.
We have used a development partnership approach, taking on genuine development risks, through our significant investment in programme tools, processes and know-how that we share with the PCTs in the programme. Our investment and reputation are therefore dependent on working with our PCT clients for successful programme outcomes.
Joining our programme
PUK has in place a number of Framework Agreements with Government Departments, including the Department of Health, under which Local Partnerships is able to operate. These are arrangements that enable Departments, or related public sector agencies and bodies such as PCTs, to commission work from LP (through PUK) without being required to carry out further procurement and competition processes. Because of its unique status and public mission LP does not generally compete for work with private sector organisations.
If you would like to discuss the programme, please contact Elaine France at elaine.france@localpartnerships.org.uk or telephone 020 7296 6687.