Our support in developing the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS green plan resulted in a robust and deliverable plan that aligned with the ICS’s objectives, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and net-zero carbon emissions.

Background

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (S&S-o-T ICS) approached NHS Midlands and Lancashire (NHS ML) to develop their green plan, which aimed to create a comprehensive plan reflecting the ICS’s commitment to sustainability and net-zero carbon emissions. The goal was to ensure that the 9 areas of focus identified in the Greener NHS Programme were understood and aligned with the ICS’s objectives.

Action

To develop the S&S-o-T ICS green plan, NHS ML engaged with relevant colleagues across the system and identified relevant leads to ensure alignment and progress. The approach also involved identifying work already taking place but not aligned with sustainability/net-zero work and aligning it to the green plan. This approach aimed to prevent duplication of work and provide a straightforward way to report on progress taking place across the system. The ICS green plan included local authority requirements and progress, ensuring a true ICS-focused plan and set of priorities were agreed upon. 

Following approval of the green plan, the ICS requested NHS ML to work with them to produce a high-level action plan aligned with the priorities identified in the ICS green plan. This action plan aimed to provide a clear timeframe for delivery with clear milestones.

As the project progressed, the ICS also requested a wider governance piece to be included, based on learning from other areas, to identify the best way to use the capacity, skills, and knowledge within the system to deliver the plan. NHS ML aimed to provide a bespoke approach to the green plan, reflecting the ICS’s values, beliefs, and work programs.

By providing a bespoke approach to the green plan, NHS ML ensured that the plan was approved, adopted, and owned by colleagues, placing the system in the best possible position to effectively deliver the plan. This process ensured that a robust, clear, and deliverable plan was produced for the system to achieve its priorities.

Impact

NHS ML’s approach ensured that the green plan was aligned with the ICS’s objectives, had buy-in from relevant stakeholders, and was effectively delivered. This process helped to ensure a robust, clear, and deliverable plan was produced for the system to achieve its priorities, while also preventing duplication of work and enabling progress reporting across the system.

Through this work with the S&S-o-T ICS, NHS ML helped the ICS meet their deadline to produce the green plan and produced a clear and deliverable plan to achieve their priorities. The successful delivery of this work on time and on budget brought the commitments made by the ICS to life, supporting them to make a real difference to their patients and local communities.

Impact

We have enjoyed working with NHS ML as we have developed our approach to achieving net zero. The team engaged with us and listened to our requirements meaning the end result will be able to be taken forwards across the ICS. I would definitely recommend working with the team at NHS ML and hope to work with them again on similar projects.

Liz Mellor | Director of Strategy and Partnerships | North Staffs Combined Healthcare Trust