Big system meets small system - a Wakefield workforce masterclass - Transformation Partners in Health and Care

Schellion Horn, Director of Operations and Transformation at Healthy London Partnership, reflects on the learning from the latest workforce masterclass on ‘big system meets small system’, looking into best practice around the implementation of Primary Care Networks.

“The momentum surrounding the improvement and development of the health and care workforce is going from strength to strength. The release of the NHS Long Term plan, followed by the recently published Interim Peoples Plan, as well as workforce being included as one of the key enablers for the London Vision plan (due for release later this year) has helped to create a platform on which to work together with our partners to navigate through these changes.

At Healthy London Partnership we like to promote the sharing of best practice. Following on from the success of the Manchester Devolution and the implications of Brexit on the health and care workforce masterclasses, we organised a third, focussed on health and social care workforce integration.

Key speakers on the day were Dr. Linda Harris (Chief Executive of Spectrum Health and SRO of the Wakefield Transformation Strategy) and Jeanette Cookson (Locality Manager for Skills for Care, and Programme Coordinator of the Wakefield Workforce Transformation).
Their presentations centred on the theme ‘big system meets small system’. They shared their journeys from being pioneers and vanguard sites as well as their experience of implementing primary care networks. They also discussed how they developed and strengthened relationships with key partners across health, social care and the third sector when developing a unified workforce vision for Wakefield.

There are of course a number differences between Wakefield and London; population size, demographic, workforce system and number of Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (one in Wakefield compared to five in London). Linda and Jeanette acknowledged these differences and focussed on the transferable lessons of workforce transformation and assets that could be built on in London.

It was really positive to see such a variety of London leaders from the health and social care area in attendance. It enabled rich discussions on the challenges of embedding a workforce that aligns to local needs as well as the opportunity for promoting and sharing best practice across different areas. There was a real desire to work closely in building a workforce that is fit for the future of London.

It’s important to remember that workforce is an enabler. There will of course be challenges in knitting all these systems together to form an integrated approach for London, but this is a great opportunity and a positive start to get us going in that direction.
The masterclass was an excellent reminder to us and our systems that we must work together going forward to transform our workforce.”

If you would like more information on these masterclasses or are interested in attending the next one, please contact – r.patria@nhs.net