Clients: Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Your Healthcare Community Interest Company, South West London
Date: June 2020 – June 2021
Challenges faced by the client:
Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Your Healthcare Community Interest Company were briefed by the South West London Commissioners to agree on a single community service offer across the local system. The partner organisations worked in a collaborative manner through a Joint Programme Board, established in March 2020, whilst responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this Joint Programme, the partner organisations defined Joint Strategic Priorities, a Joint Base Line and developed an appraisal of potential integrated delivery models.
Support offered:
Mutual Ventures and Bevan Brittan were commissioned in June 2020 to independently assess the current position and the delivery models under consideration. Check and Challenge work undertaken by the Joint Programme Board, ensuring that the preferred option met the Commissioner’s brief. As part of the Check and Challenge process, Mutual Ventures and Bevan Brittan ensured that all integrated delivery model options had been appropriately assessed and appraised and that the recommended option was the most desirable and viable for the partner organisations and the Commissioner. This included a review of the Joint Strategic Priorities and Base Line and a high-level assessment of the risks and benefits of the preferred option.
Mutual Ventures and Bevan Brittan concluded that the Lead Provider Model was the best option for a single interface with the Commissioner, given the two organisations’ strategic priorities and the required timeline for implementation. In addition, in order to establish a partnership of equals, a ‘Partnership Agreement’ document outlining the way the two parties engage with one another and with other stakeholders was been developed. This Partnership Agreement interfaced with and wrapped around, the Lead Provider arrangement. In addition, a Committee-in-Common was formed with Executive and Non-Executive Director representation from both organisations. This forum makes decisions on behalf of both parties and mitigates the risk of an emerging hierarchy.
Mutual Ventures led the establishment and coordination of an Implementation Programme, including eight formal workstreams, facilitation of all weekly meetings and key support for the Joint Programme Board.
Outcome achieved:
Mutual Ventures, acting as an ‘honest broker', was an integral part of the establishment of a sustainable partnership, thereby ensuring the organisations meet Commissioner requirements. The resulting model not only maintains the organisations’ foothold in the sector but also provides opportunities for improving patient outcomes and experience.
The Partnership Agreement was signed in December 2020, followed rapidly by the implementation of the Committee-in-Common. Mutual Ventures then coordinated the establishment of the Joint Operational Group, responsible for delivery of in-scope services, and the Joint Quality Governance Committee, with both reporting directly to the Committee-in-Common.
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