Correspondence

Foundation trust bulletin: October 2014

Published 1 December 2014

Applies to England

1. For action

1.1 ‘NHS 5 Year Forward View’: what does it mean for patients?

The 5 Year Forward View is the shared view of the leadership of the NHS about the direction of travel for the period of the next parliament from 2015 to 2020. It reflects an emerging consensus among patient groups, clinicians, local communities and NHS leaders about why the NHS needs to change, what actions can help provide transformed care for patients, and how the sector can help to make this possible.

The document was produced jointly by NHS England, Monitor, Public Heath England, the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Health Education England. It offers not only a challenge to the next government, but also an unprecedented opportunity for us to improve services for patients and sustain a comprehensive, tax-funded NHS that is truly fit for the 21st Century.

At its launch David Bennett, Chief Executive of Monitor, set out how in return for delivering a significantly more productive NHS, the service needs greater investment both in funding the changes required and to continue providing quality services to an ageing and growing population.

In last month’s FT Bulletin, we mentioned that a forthcoming series of regional events, hosted jointly by NHS England, Monitor and NHS TDA, provide an important opportunity for you to engage with us on how we can all put this vision into practice. These events are on the following dates:

• London: 9.00am to 12.00pm, 28 October
• South: 1.30pm to 4.30pm, 28 October
• Midlands & East: 10.00am to 1.00pm, 31 October
• North: 1.30pm to 4.30pm, 4 November

NHS England’s website includes more information about these events.

1.2 Foundation trust medical and nursing directors: tell us how you are implementing the ‘responsible consultant/clinician’ and ‘named nurse’ recommendation of the Francis Report

The Department of Health has asked Monitor to provide an update on the implementation of this recommendation by foundation trusts. You can find out more information in this letter.

Please complete this online form by 5pm on Friday, 31 October 2014

1.3 Finance directors: submit your financial information by Friday 21 November

We wrote to finance directors about the requirement to provide financial information each month to Monitor and the Department of Health. Please upload your next report to your Monitor portal outbox by 5pm, Friday 21 November.

1.4 Board secretaries: please ask your governors to complete our survey by Friday 31 October

Foundation trust governors have just a few days left to complete our online survey about their experiences and how well equipped they feel to carry out their role. We sent the survey to foundation trust chairs and board secretaries.

The deadline for completion is 5pm Friday 31 October 2014.

1.5 Respond to the NAO’s consultation on the new Code of Audit Practice by Friday 31 October

The National Audit Office (NAO) will take on setting the Code of Audit Practice from 2015/16. The new Code will apply to much of the public sector, including NHS foundation trusts.

The NAO has developed a draft Code of Audit Practice and has issued it for consultation.

The deadline for responses is Friday 31 October 2014.

1.6 2015/16 National Tariff Payment System: consultation update

Following extensive engagement with the sector through our tariff engagement documents, we have received many helpful comments and inputs. We are taking the time to look very carefully at this feedback, so our proposals can reflect as well as possible what we have heard from the sector. Therefore, we currently propose to publish the consultation in about 3 weeks. Our aim remains to complete the consultation before the end of December.

2. For information

2.1 Developing your foundation trust’s strategy – new guides available

Overview

We’ve published a new short guide for board members on strategy development. It describes what to look for when assuring the quality of your strategy, and points out common pitfalls to avoid through the process.

In depth

We’ve also published a detailed toolkit to support strategy development. It contains: guidance on each stage of developing a strategy; illustrations of possible analyses; and case studies of strategic changes that some NHS providers have already implemented.

Strategy development and significant transactions event

Monitor, the Foundation Trust Network (FTN) and the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) held a development event for chairs and chief executives of NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts on 16 October. Attendees heard about the learning and good practice emerging from 2 year and 5 year plans submitted in 2014/15, as well as from NHS trusts and foundation trusts who have experience of mergers and significant transactions.

You can download the slides from the day and watch our video below in which we asked for feedback from 5 trusts who have tested out the toolkit.

Strategy development: a toolkit for NHS providers

For more information about the support we can offer in this area, please email strategydevelopment@monitor.gov.uk

2.2 What do you know about the national tariff?

We have launched a new blog which helps to explain the NHS payment system. The first post, ‘Pricing Healthcare’, introduces the national tariff, its aims and Monitor’s role in setting it.

2.3 Transactions guidance – find out about the support Monitor can offer

Earlier this year we published this guidance to help NHS providers navigate through transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. All NHS providers considering a merger should contact us early in the planning stages to ensure proposals work well for patients.

You can listen to our podcast ‘Supporting NHS providers considering transactions and mergers’ to hear more about the guidance.

2.4 Monitor and the NHS TDA: updated partnership agreement

This agreement sets out the working arrangements between Monitor and the NHS TDA.

Read the updated partnership agreement here.

3. Events

3.1 Webinar: urgent and emergency care: new discharge pathways, 5 November 2014, online

For: Clinicians, operational directors\managers within acute, primary care, and community health providers and commissioners of NHS health services within CCGs, CSUs, NHS England and local authorities.

Why join? To discuss redesigned discharge pathways and the potential benefits to patients, providers and commissioners.

The third webinar in our ‘urgent and emergency care series’ will look at how the Warwickshire health and social care system has redesigned discharge pathways to ensure that no decisions about ongoing care needs for patients are taken in an acute hospital setting.

You will have the opportunity to submit questions and comments during the webinar and we will put these to the speakers at the end of the session.

Sign up here

You can also watch the first 2 webinars in the series, ‘Urgent and emergency care resilience and capacity planning’ and ‘Urgent and emergency care resilience and the effective use of data’.

3.2 FTN Annual Conference and Exhibition, 18 to 19 November 2014, Liverpool

For: Board members and senior managers and clinicians at NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts.

Why attend? To talk to Monitor staff throughout the conference and exhibition on Stand 15.

Please come and talk to us about our new strategy development toolkit. A number of our staff will be speaking in panels and breakout sessions throughout the event. David Bennett, Chief Executive, Monitor, will also be at the conference taking questions directly from providers.

The full programme details are available here.

3.3 NHS strategic financial leadership programme, 10 to 14 November 2014, London

For: Finance directors and deputy finance directors across the NHS

Why attend? To learn about effective financial leadership and develop the skills you need to perform your role to an optimum level.

This event is being run by Cass Business School; the days will cover:

• corporate governance and business risk management
• modern treasury management and capital budgeting
• strategy
• change management
• business intelligence for business development
• negotiation skills
• the economics of health and demand management
• service line management
• business development processes

Find out more and sign up.

3.4 Strategic development briefing events, 28 January 2015 (London) and 4 February 2015 (Leeds)

For: Directors in nursing, medical, finance, strategy, operational and HR roles at foundation trusts.

Why attend? For an opportunity to improve your organisation’s capability in strategy development through informative presentations and practical sessions.

You will discuss the role of the whole executive team in influencing, shaping and delivering a clinically led strategy and will hear about good practice on both strategic and operational components including:

• workforce planning
• improving demand forecasting and patient level costing
• deciding on your trust’s commercial and strategic options
• disseminating your strategy and engaging staff in its delivery

Your peers will also share how they have addressed strategy development within their local health economies.

Book your place.

For further information please contact Helen Crumley, helen.crumley@monitor.gov.uk

3.5 Monitor and FTN joint induction programme for new non-executive directors, 19 to 20 February 2015, London

For: New NHS foundation trust non-executive directors and NHS trust non-executive directors nearing completion of the foundation trust application process.

Why attend? To get an overview of the NHS, foundation trust governance and more.

The programme includes:

• an overview of the NHS and the role of foundation trusts
• foundation trust governance, risk and assurance
• Monitor’s regulatory regime and how we work with the CQC
• foundation trusts, governance and the law
• governors, stakeholders and the public
• patients, quality and safety
• finance

Find out more and sign up

3.6 CEO and chair induction day – 19 March 2015, London

For: Newly appointed chairs and chief executives of NHS foundation trusts without previous experience of our foundation trust authorisation process.

Why attend? To learn about:

• Monitor’s role (including an overview of pricing and competition)
• the NHS foundation trust legal framework
• the regulatory regime, including how we assess risk and our enforcement processes
• current issues in the NHS
• quality and quality governance
• foundation trust governance, including working effectively with governors

If you’d like to attend this event or be kept informed of future dates, please contact mel.baldwin@monitor.gov.uk. Places are limited.

4. External updates

4.1 Secretary of State update: ‘Sign up to Safety’ campaign

The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, talks about how improving the safety and quality of care can reduce costs in the NHS.

4.2 Department of Health: Data protection

There have been a number of MP constituent cases recently where local NHS organisations including foundation trusts, NHS trusts and CCGs have insisted that they need written consent from the constituent before they can respond to concerns raised by the MP.

This document outlines the rules around constituency cases and the Data Protection Act. Although this is dated 2006, it is still the current position and illustrates that if an MP raises concerns on behalf of a constituent the relevant public body should assume that the constituent has given consent.

4.3 Off payroll employment arrangements

In 2012, HM Treasury led a review into off-payroll arrangements within the public sector. The review was aimed at ensuring that all public sector employees pay the appropriate amount of income tax and National Insurance contributions.

The review’s key recommendations were:

• the most senior staff should be on the payroll, unless there are exceptional temporary circumstances
• employers should ensure that they have the right to seek assurance about the tax arrangements of long-term specialist contractors

Foundation trusts must be aware of the review’s findings, and the applicable payroll tax guidance issued by HMRC when engaging staff, particularly those in senior positions.

Reporting requirements for off-payroll arrangements within foundation trusts’ annual reports can be found in the Foundation Trust Annual Reporting Manual. Monitor is currently consulting on the latest updates to the manual.

4.4 European Economic Area (EEA) Incentives

Earlier this year, the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, announced a new financial incentive to encourage and support NHS foundation trusts and trusts to identify patients visiting from other European Economic Area (EEA) member states, and record their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) information.

The official launch of the EHIC incentive scheme for NHS providers came into effect on 1 October 2014. From this date, providers will receive an extra 25% in addition to the payments received from commissioners when treating an ‘insured’ EEA patient, when EHIC details are reported to the Department of Work and Pensions’ Overseas Healthcare Team. Payments will be made on a quarterly basis, with the first being at the end of December 2014.

A guide to the EHIC incentive scheme, including a series of frequently asked questions, is available here.

For more information, contact the Visitor and Migrant NHS Cost Recovery Programme team at NHSCostRecovery@dh.gsi.gov.uk

5. Get in touch

5.1 Our latest job opportunities

For more information or to apply, please visit our recruitment website joinmonitor.com.

5.2 Queries or feedback

If you have any queries about the information in this bulletin, please contact your relationship manager at Monitor.

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5.4 Publications

All of our publications are available to download from our publications section.