Our Digital Transformation team’s expertise in programme management significantly enhanced an integrated care system’s readiness for the 2023 integrated care board (ICB) transition, establishing a robust programme management office that ensured effective governance, process optimisation, and successful day-to-day project management.

Background

In 2021, to assist a digital team within an integrated care system to prepare for the 2023 ICB transition, NHS Midlands and Lancashire’s (NHS ML’s) Digital Transformation team utilised their expertise in projects, programmes, and portfolio management to establish a digital programme management office for an integrated care system (ICS). The goals were twofold: firstly, to provide a framework for effective assurance and governance of the ICS’s complex mix of digital programmes, projects, and routine activities; and secondly, to ensure the availability of necessary processes, tools, and competencies.

Action

Our Digital Transformation team offered a comprehensive programme management office service, which included a central point of coordination and oversight to match the project requirements through experienced resources. Our approach, grounded in best practice methodology, encompassed three key phases:

• Definition: we established clear goals and objectives, ensuring executive buy-in and facilitating robust communication.

• Design: our team created a tailored delivery service to meet the specific requirements of the project. This step included setting up and establishing the service, providing projects, programmes, and portfolio management and resource management tools.

• Delivery: we executed the projects, programmes, and portfolio management strategy, defining a governance structure (reports, procedures, processes, and tools), and provided the appropriate competence models and resources where required.

Impact

The successful implementation of our programme management office service led to an ongoing role in overseeing day-to-day delivery, reporting, and meeting coordination for the client. Our approach facilitated an efficient and timely management of the project, aligning with the client’s requirements and project complexity.

Feedback

“NHS ML have actively provided an outsourced programme management office service for the digital team helping us to keep a steady rhythm of quality reporting and meetings with a complex and demanding mix of stakeholders. Their ‘can-do’ approach and professionalism helps maintain smooth operation.”

Joe McGuigan | ICB Director of Digital Operations and Assurance | ICB Deputy SIRO & SCR Strategic Lead | NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board

For more information

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