Correspondence

Foundation trust bulletin: January 2015

Published 31 January 2015

Applies to England

1. For action

1.1 Monitor statement on the 2015/16 National Tariff

We have published a statement updating you on our proposals for the 2015/16 National Tariff.

Commissioners and providers will be expected to continue planning for 2015/16 on the basis of the timetable and guidance that has already been issued.

1.2 Integrated care licence condition: tell us your views on our draft guidance by 13 February 2015

We have published this draft guidance for licensed providers of NHS-funded services, and NHS trusts. It is designed to help you understand more about the integrated care licence condition including:

• how to minimise the risk of breaching the condition
• when we may take action under the condition
• how we will enforce the condition

We would like to hear from service users and patients, providers, commissioners and any other interested parties on this draft version of the guidance. Your responses will be used to inform our final guidance document.

Please email or write to us by 5pm on 13 February 2015.

1.3 Updates to Monitor’s Risk Assessment Framework: tell us your views by 18 February 2015

Last month we updated you on our proposed changes to the Risk Assessment Framework, including using the new mental health access targets as triggers for governance concerns.

You can either respond to our proposals online or by emailing us at [email protected]. Please respond by 5pm on 18 February 2015.

1.4 Weekly contract tracker requirements begin 29 January – template now available

As set out in our planning guidance, from 29 January we will be asking foundation trusts to complete a weekly contract tracker. Please complete as much of the template as possible.

The contract tracker template was uploaded to the MARS portals on 20 January. Guidance on how to complete it is contained within the template itself on the relevant ‘guidance’ worksheet.

The completed tracker must be uploaded to the MARS portal every Thursday by midday.

1.5 The Forward View into action - register your interest in joining the New Models of Care Programme by 9 February 2015

Alongside our national partners we have announced a programme looking at new models of care in the NHS. The focus of this initiative is on the ways to promote health and wellbeing, and provide care that can then be replicated more easily in other parts of the system.

Individual organisations and partnerships, including those within the voluntary sector, are invited to apply to be pilot sites. These organisations will have the opportunity to work with national partners to co-design and establish new care models, tackling national challenges in the process.

Read here for more information on how to register your interest in taking part.

If you have any further queries please email [email protected].

The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is Monday, 9 February 2015.

1.6 Sign up to Safety update: have you joined?

72 foundation trusts have joined the Sign up to Safety campaign, have you?

Organisations from across the NHS have committed to developing safety improvement plans and the leadership of foundation trusts is crucial to strengthening patient safety. You can be part of the campaign and sign up now.

Find out more about the campaign and its mission.

1.7 Future Focused Finance – final request for pilot volunteers

In December’s FT Bulletin we told you about the Future-Focused Finance (FFF) initiative which we are supporting alongside NHS finance national bodies. We would like to recruit organisations or health economies to pilot a decision-making framework. The aim is to provide a case study-based resource that the healthcare sector can draw from in making better value-based decisions across a range of contexts. See here for more information.

If you would like to be involved either by sharing the learning from a successful/significant decision, or potentially accessing professional support with a forthcoming decision, please contact Mark Redhead [email protected] by 4 February 2015 for details.

2. For information

2.1 Quality reports: choosing your local indicator

We will shortly be publishing guidance for foundation trusts on obtaining external assurance on elements of your 2014/15 quality reports.

This includes assurance over quality indicators specified by Monitor, and assurance over a ‘local’ indicator. The local indicator is chosen by your foundation trust’s council of governors, is presented in the quality report and will be subject to local assurance.

The accounting firm does not provide an assurance opinion on the local indicator, but will report privately to your foundation trust and Monitor on its findings in testing the data to support the indicator. This is an important mechanism through which your foundation trust can obtain independent assurance.

Please make your managers and governors aware of the governors’ responsibility to select this local indicator and to communicate it to your auditor in good time to allow the planning, assurance work and reporting to be completed by 29 May 2015.

2.2 Improving community services report

We have published a new report on improving community services. It is mainly for commissioners and looks at what clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are doing in relation to community services as the contracts first entered into as a result of Transforming Community Services expire.

See our infographic for a clear breakdown of the report’s findings.

2.3 Monitor is recruiting clinicians

We are currently looking for 4 part-time associate medical directors, on either a fixed term or secondment basis. Clinical engagement is crucial to Monitor and our role in making the health sector work better for patients.

Post-holders will play a central role in bringing more clinical expertise into Monitor, supporting clinical engagement activity and helping shape relationships with clinicians and other key partners across the healthcare sector. The successful candidates will require deep subject matter expertise and excellent credentials in their field.

To find out more and apply for these posts, please follow these links:

• Associate Medical Director (Medicine)
• Associate Medical Director (Mental Health)
• Associate Medical Director (Surgery)
• Associate Medical Director (Urgent and Emergency Care)

2.4 Video for patients on complaining about NHS healthcare services

We have published a short video for patients and their carers on how to complain about an NHS healthcare service.

Monitor does not have a role in resolving complaints, so our Enquiries and Complaints Manager Tom Grimes runs through which organisation may be best placed to deal with a complaint, and what we will do to help complaints reach the right place.

He also explains how Monitor uses information we receive from patients to understand what it might tell us about how a foundation trust is being run by its board of directors.

Short video for patients and their carers on complaining about NHS healthcare services

3. Events

3.1 Keep up to date with all of our events and webinars.

3.2 Local price determination workshops for innovative payment approaches; various locations, 25 February 2015 – 21 May 2015

For: the following roles within foundation trusts, NHS trusts and independent providers:

• heads of contracts, income and costing
• contracting, income and costing accountants
• clinicians and nurses involved in setting payment approaches
• others involved in local price determination and contracting with CCGs

Why attend? To shape and form a payment system that works for patients by providing input into the local price determination rules and principles.

The interactive workshops will help explain:

• what the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (the 2012 Act) says about local price determination and what the statutory responsibilities are
• the consequences of non-compliance with the National Tariff or the 2012 Act for the sector as a whole
• how to comply with all the rules and principles around local price determination
• why we collect local price information and how it affects price determination in the Tariff

Read more and registerhere.

3.3 Webinar: Enabling integrated care, 10 February 2015, online

Directed at: Staff from NHS foundations trusts, NHS trusts and other licensed providers of NHS services.

Why join? To learn more about the integrated care licence condition.

It will specifically focus on the proposed principles for providers to deliver care in an integrated way and the proposed behaviours or actions that might go against the interests of patients and service users.

You will have the opportunity to submit questions and comments during the webinar.

Sign up here

3.4 Monitor and NHS Providers: 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.

3.5 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 [email protected]. Places are limited.

4. External updates

4.1 New duties under the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill

This letter was circulated via NHS Gateway on 9 December and highlights the new duty certain bodies have in regard to preventing people from being drawn into terrorism; this is being referred to as the ‘Prevent duty’.

The Prevent programme will be put on a statutory footing in the new Counter Terrorism and Security Bill and both NHS England and DH have provided input to this draft guidance; NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts are listed as specified authorities that the duty will apply to.

If you would like to discuss the guidance or issues raised by the Prevent duty please contact Tony Welch ([email protected], 020 7210 5199).

4.2 Care Act public information campaign: free resources available

The Department of Health and Public Health England have developed Care and Support & You, a campaign to raise awareness of the care and support reforms being introduced from April 2015 and into 2016.

The aim, supported by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Local Government Association (LGA), is to ensure that those who are affected by the reforms are aware of the changes, and are encouraged to seek further information.

The partner resources toolkit is now available to support organisations like yours in communicating the reforms simply and effectively to your networks. The toolkit contains research, key messages, web copy, adaptable poster and leaflet templates, staff briefing and creative branding guidelines and imagery.

If you have any questions about the campaign or you would like to receive regular updates about it, please email [email protected].

4.3 Updates on the NHS procurement and efficiency programme

The latest updates for NHS procurement staff were added to the Centre for Procurement Efficiency portal on 8 January 2015.

4.4 Sustainable Development Strategy

The Sustainable Development Strategy for the Health, Public Health and Social Care System 2014-2020 describes the vision for a sustainable health and care system by reducing carbon emissions, protecting natural resources, preparing communities for extreme weather events and promoting healthy lifestyles and environments.

The strategy sets out how the health and social care system, including providers, can support this initiative. Over the summer, a consultation was held on 3 detailed supporting modules of the strategy, covering metrics for measuring sustainable development, innovation and social value. Following this consultation these new supporting modules will be launched on 29 January 2015 at an event in Leeds and further information about the new modules can be found here.

4.5 Putting theory into practice: how to empower patients through high-quality health information and support

The Patient Information Forum is running an event on Wednesday 1 July 2015 on practical ways to help patients feel informed and engaged in their healthcare. You can find out more and sign up here.

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.

5.3 News alerts

You can subscribe to Monitor’s news update service and receive relevant information direct to your inbox.

5.4 Publications

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