Clients: Barnsley Healthcare Federation & South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Date: August 2021 – July 2024
Challenges faced by the client:
Barnsley Healthcare Federation (BHF) & South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SWYPFT) were seeking to increase collaboration between Primary, Community and Mental Health services and to empower frontline staff to innovate and develop improved pathways. Both organisations saw improvements in these two areas as key to achieving the Barnsley Community Health and Care Alliance’s strategic objectives and improving outcomes for the Barnsley population. In June 2021, both BHF and SWYPFT boards approved the development of a legally binding Alliance Agreement with clear contractual obligations owed by both organisations.
Support offered:
Mutual Ventures led the establishment of an Implementation Programme. This was initially focused on the development of the Alliance Agreement, including the design and implementation of a shared governance structure, with delegated authority enabling increased collaboration. Mutual Ventures also designed and led an initial workshop where senior representatives from SWYPFT and BHF discussed the current context and progress to date, as well as revisiting the vision and principles.
Governance arrangements were developed, including the establishment of a strategic forum for the Alliance, the Alliance Committee, with approved and finalised Terms of Reference. The Alliance Committee’s purpose includes providing strategic direction to the Barnsley Provider Alliance, ensuring high quality patient care is delivered for in-scope community services, accountability for the Alliance Agreement, and ensuring that arrangements and practice are in line with the Partnership Principles.
Mutual Ventures then designed and led an ongoing series of workshops, where senior representatives from SWYPFT and BHF discussed the current context, progress to date and shared learning. Each workshop concluded with identification of short, mid and long-term aspirations for the Alliance, which were then established as formal programmes of work. We also led the development of annual Business Plans for the Alliance, presentations on the Alliance at national conferences, and ongoing engagement with wider stakeholders.
During the last year, Mutual Ventures led a programme of organisational development, which included dedicated 1:1 interviews with all key stakeholders. This programme was focused on reinforcing the Alliance Leadership Team, building a ‘one team’ ethos, and increasing focus on evidence based impact. Subsequently, we designed and facilitated bimonthly OD sessions, with deep dives into specific topics, including health inequalities.
Outcome achieved:
The Alliance Agreement was finalised, including approved procedures for variation, dispute resolution and management of conflicts of interests. Several successful workstreams have been established and subsequently transitioned to business as usual, with evidence of impact and improvement of health outcomes. There has also been a significant increase in understanding of cultures across the organisations and a successful and meaningful shift to a one team ethos.
What our clients say:
"MV provided outstanding leadership support for our Alliance. They worked effectively as an honest broker bringing all parties together on an equal playing field. They excelled in managing the governance and creating a robust approach managing and ensuring success in the projects we have chosen. It has been vital to have an independent expert who can present options without prejudice for the benefit of Barnsley. MV has the ability to rein in the cascade of ideas that stems from our passionate clinical teams into a distilled set of outcomes that we can all work towards."
James Barker, CEO, Barnsley Healthcare Federation
"Thank you for your wisdom, insight and expertise. The Alliance wouldn’t be what it is today without your support and we are very grateful."
Dawn Lawson, Executive Director of Strategy & Change, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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