10
may
0

Podcast – Tara Humphrey – Project Managing a Pandemic (Part 3)

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Tara Humphrey, our ‘almost’ resident Project Management expert supporting the development of Primary Care Networks and GP Federations, returns for a third episode in a series of podcasts covering the pandemic from a business and management perspective. This week Tara and Ben reflect on where they are up to in their own roles, within their own areas, with their focus shifting towards life after Covid and more traditional priorities – but with the added benefit and experience of the best practice that has taken place during recent times.

Introductions (0:14)

Drive through immunisations (1:14)

What has been happening in Tara’s world? (2:35)

Planning for life after Covid? (3:06)

Considering new priorities in a GP Federation schedule (4:06)

The Care Home challenge (4:56)

Modelling a new Care Home scheme (5:47)

Ben’s experiences of aligning care homes to practices and PCNs (6:46)

The network mindset (8:19)

Tara and Ben discuss the PCN DES more broadly (9:14)

Positive impacts as a result of the pandemic? (9:57)

Building on the positives; opportunities for further partnership working (11:01)

The theory of change and maintaining momentum (13:16)

Th effect of crisis working (14:43)

Learning lessons (15:27)

What’s next for Tara? (16:06)

…and for Ben? (16:58)

Find out more about Tara Humphrey:

3
may
0

Podcast – James Davies – The realities of remote working (and making a success of it)!

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During a time when many GP surgeries across the nation are managing near total transformation of their working practices, James Davies, a Practice Manager at Amicus Health, features on this week’s podcast to tell their story. From the highs to the not so highs, to the tech they’ve employed, the valuable lessons they have learned and the bits of their new processes they would like to retain for the future, this week’s podcast is a one stop shop for all things remote working during the era of Covid-19.

Introductions (0:26)

Amicus Health – the stats (0:41)

The ‘GP heavy’ model (0:58)

When did their transformation journey begin? (1:51)

How to embed a system of remote working and enabling staff to work from home (2:34)

Away From My Desk (4:00)

Access to full clinical software (4:44)

Explaining the ‘soft phones’ system (5:18)

What does a typical day look like in the new world? (6:11)

Staff reactions (7:59)

Striking the balance of staffing cover (9:01)

Which roles fit remote working best? (10:07)

Continuing effective staff management (11:00)

Is dedicated IT support required? (12:24)

What happens next? (13:08)

Opportunities for further transformation and planning for the future (14:47)

What will Amicus Health retain going forwards? (15:41)

Lessons learned (16:41)

Getting in touch (18:41)

James is contactable at: jamesw.davies@nhs.net

https://www.amicushealth.nhs.uk/

27
apr
0

Podcast – Why General Practice needs Social Prescribing Link Workers

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Is now the right time to making the most of the funded social prescribing link worker roles? Christiana Melam, Chief Executive at the National Association of Link Workers and Nicola Gitsham, Head of Social Prescribing at NHS England think so. Here, they talk to Ben about the history of the role, how practices and PCNs can maximise holistic patient care through the employment of the link workers and why they are a crucial element in managing the impact and the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.

Introductions (1:14)

The evolution of the link worker role (1:21)

What has been the impact of the pandemic on social prescribing link workers? (2:50)

How has the role changed in recent weeks? (7:56)

Why the link workers are the key to maintaining joined up patient care during the pandemic (9:16)

Recruitment of a social prescribing link worker (11:21)

Maximising the effectiveness of a social prescribing link worker in practice (12:53)

NHS England and NALW resources (14:42)

 

NHS England links, contacts and resources:

Guidance on the role social prescribing link workers in supporting the response to COVID 19

GP Preparedness Letter: 27 March and Covid/GP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updated 6 April set out the role of the SPLW in supporting the response to COVID19

“Social prescribing link workers form part of the multidisciplinary teams in primary care networks (PCNs) and are uniquely placed to work closely with GPs, local authorities, health and care professionals and voluntary sector partners to coordinate support for these people whilst they are self-isolating.”

Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) Specification 2020/21:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/network-contract-des-specification-pcn-requirements-entitlements-2020-21.pdf

Key sections for social prescribing link workers:

Learning and development (Annex B/B3.2)

Referrals to social prescribing link workers must be recorded using the SNOMED codes (Annex B/B3.6)

All the additional roles employed by a PCN or engaged via a sub-contract (including social prescribing link workers) must have access to other healthcare professionals, electronic ‘live’ and paper based record systems of the PCN’s Core Network Practices (section 6.4.1.)

Details on the NHSE delivery support offer

Social prescribing collaborative platform – with active discussion forum. To sign up to the collaborative platform, email england.socialprescribing@nhs.net

Weekly webinars for SP link workers specific to the  COVID-19 response. More information is on the collaborative platform.

Regional learning coordinators facilitate virtual peer support for link workers and providing additional support and information.  Contact details available from england.socialprescribing@nhs.net

Existing resources and support for social prescribing link workers (such as ) : https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/support-and-resources/

Regional facilitators and regional delivery teams available to support recruitment of link workers

Nicola has also included a blog she did for the National Academy of Social Prescribing: http://www.socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/time-to-come-together/

 

National Association of Link Workers resources and contacts:

Covid 19-Hub

Learning syllabus

Code of practice

Other resources

19
apr
0

Podcast – Alliance for Better Care – Covid from the top…the ABC of a Federation’s approach

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Ben is joined this week by Katherine Saunders, Chief Executive, and Pramit Patel, Medical Director, from Alliance for Better Care; a GP federation covering 49 practices, within 10 primary care networks, across East Surrey and West Sussex. Together, they explain how the federation is meeting the challenges presented by the Covid-19 crisis in their local area by setting up multi-disciplinary clinical decision units within the community, redesigning the home visiting process, identifying clear roles and responsibilities within their existing staffing models – and working to put general practice at the heart of their response.

Introductions (0:22)

The role of Alliance for Better Care (ABC) and the Covid-19 response (1:18)

The relationship with primary care (2:06)

Setting up a Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) within a community setting (2:45)

Managing patient exposure within the CDU (4:23)

Multi-disciplinary team working during a pandemic (5:18)

Integrating primary care into the wider system (6:29)

Sharing learning, materials and experiences (8:12)

How are local practices coping? (9:03)

Home Visiting (10:26)

Access to data and its importance (12:04)

How to manage demand and agree priorities with local partners (12:59)

Procurement of new systems and software (14:39)

The capacity to cope: roles, responsibilities and managing staffing levels (15:44)

Communication and engagement (17:45)

Getting in touch (19:02)

Katherine is contactable via email: katherine.saunders2@nhs.net

The Alliance for Better Care website

Garvani Ltd interview with ABC

16
apr
0

Podcast – Tara Humphrey – Project Managing a Pandemic (Part 2)

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Tara Humphrey, Project Management expert supporting the development of Primary Care Networks and GP Federations, returns for the second in a series of podcasts focused on practical demands and planning in primary care, during the pandemic. This week, Tara and Ben discuss the differences and challenges in the approaches from practices, networks and federations, getting the staffing balance right and maintaining business continuity and personal resilience within a crisis.

Introductions (0:12)

What’s happening in Tara’s world right now? (0:35)

Financial management and planning (01:23)

Redistribution of an underspend and the development fund (02:00)

Supporting vulnerable patients (03:07)

Introduction of new roles / recruitment options within a network (03:42)

A federation’s approach to incorporating new roles (05:15)

How does a practice buddy system work? (05:48)

Introducing and implementing new SOPs across networks and practices (06:39)

Joint working from a top down perspective… (808:49)

… versus expectation at practice level (09:53)

The pace of change and anticipating new demands (10:30)

How are practices coping overall? (11:44)

Putting emotional support in place for GPs (13:14)

The importance of practice managers and protecting the well-being of wider practice staff (14:00)

Working from home and sustainability (14:54)

What’s next for Tara? (15:17)

…and for Ben? (16:10)

Find out more about Tara Humphrey:

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