1. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk AGENDA FOR CHANGE Andrew Haw ASSIST

2. North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Agenda Introduction and why we are here AFC: initial findings from survey ‘Successful’ Implementer of AfC :what they did: Simon Anderson, S Staffordshire HIS Job descriptions and person specifications for IM Staff, ICT support staff, other staff Questions Knowledge and Skills Framework, National Occupational Standards and Skills Framework for the Information Age : Pam Hughes Project Manager H&SC Information Centre Closing remarks and next steps Tea

3. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Introduction What was Agenda for Change for? What is happening? What does the workforce survey tell us?

4. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk What was AfC for? (the theory)

5. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Objectives To avoid further equal pay claims To simplify pay bargaining To employ best practice eg PDPs Fair career progression and incentives to progress To help modernisation and facilitate establishment of new roles

6. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk 2005 IM, IT Generic Profiles

7. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk What happened next? Poor explanation of AfC Some acceptance of profiles, some not Does size of organisation matter? Some mixed job descriptions Some informal ‘second attempts’ Use of www.informatics.nhs.uk to record experiences…………………www.informatics.nhs.uk

8. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk How representative is this January –March snapshot? 402 responses 36% of respondents not yet matched 7% not planning any action 55% are planning to appeal 8 out of every 9 with a result are planning to appeal

9. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk What might be some causal factors? Poorly written Job Descriptions Poorly written Person Specifications Process variation between organisations Top down process not bottom up Poor management support Target driven

10. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk More questions ! How do these results scale up? What is the cause: process or substance? Are poor outcomes reversible? How? Would National Recruitment & Retention Premia help? Need to gather evidence for R&R Premia: detailed workforce data needed both inside NHS and outside

11. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk What could be done to improve the outcomes? Collect data Run job description workshops to share best practice Collect evidence that model and / or process need improvement Explore national recruitment and retention premia, if data justifies this Establish inclusive Professional Development Board…….

12. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk WDC / WDDs NHS Employers Connecting For Health UKCHIP H&SC IC ASSIST & BCS HIF HI Professional Development Board Core stakeholders in the Professional Development Board; participants include the Education Sector, LSPs and all 4 home countries represented Skills Sector Council for Health

13. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk ASSIST Workforce Survey DRAFT Findings & Recommendations

14. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Methodology Support from CfH and IC Web-based questionnaire All CIOs, then Informatics Leads 3 weeks for completion 465 accounts set up 153 started questionnaire 84 usable responses

15. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Main Findings Total numbers of staff???? ICT staff 36% of informatics staff Considerable challenges for recruitment and retention Pay main factor for recruitment Morale main factor for retention

16. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Main Findings (skill shortages) Future skill shortages predicted in: –Project/Programme Management –Information Analysts –IT and System Trainers –Systems/Business Analysts

17. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Main Findings (Profession) Clear majority (79%) for establishing Profession Minority support (34%) for registration and regulation to be compulsory Better understanding of requirements needed

18. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Main Findings (AfC) AfC has had an adverse impact on informatics staff 650 appeals, 48% from ICT staff Opted out – 17% Matched – 63% Assimilated 41% All areas contentious but particularly Senior Managers, ICT staff and Information Management

19. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Main Findings (Morale) General perceptions: Under-valued Embattled Poorly understood Lack of control over own destiny Is this different from any other group?

20. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Recommendations (1) Develop comprehensive workforce planning to address: –Recruitment and retention challenges –Expected future staff shortages –Morale –Status –Adoption of consistent standards

21. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Recommendations (2) Encourage collaborative working between professional and statutory bodies Accelerate the establishment of the profession Promote and market the benefits to informatics staff and also to the NHS Maintain pressure on review and use of KSF and NOS in implementation of AfC

22. ASSIST North West Branch Agenda for Change update Chester May 2006 www.assist.org.uk Questions?