A project to give Walsall Healthcare clinicians and managers access to around the clock data to better shape services and improve patients’ experience has been shortlisted for a national award. 

 

The Workforce Intelligence Team, based at Walsall Manor Hospital, has been shortlisted for the Workforce Analytics Award within the HPMA (Healthcare People Management Association) Excellence in People Awards 2022.  

The HPMA awards recognise and reward outstanding work in Healthcare, Human Resources, Organisational Development and Workforce Management. 

 

Sebastian Smith-Cox, Workforce Intelligence, Planning & Analytics Lead, said: “We are so proud to have been shortlisted for the work we’ve done on this project, particularly as it has been evolving in the middle of a pandemic!” 

 

Robyn Gardner, Workforce Intelligence Analyst, explained that the team traditionally generated a weekly managers’ report email, as an excel document, that showed a range of data including sickness, training and COVID-19 Risk Assessments. 

 

“This provided information at a point in time but often left colleagues with more questions than answers,” she said.  

 

“The last thing we wanted to do was burden decision-makers with an out-dated service delivery model. Our ethos is “first-class intelligence to support first-class decision-making so we set out to develop, refine, and revolutionise the way the service works.   

 

“Our colleagues told us a lack of self-service and real time intelligence were the biggest frustrations and barriers to improvements. As one clinician put it: “A 9-5 analytics service can’t support a 24/7 Trust, if the intelligence provided is only available 9-5”.  

 

“We now have a self-service workforce reporting platform and have trained colleagues to use it, switching off any email distributed, operational reports which didn’t add value.” 

 

Sebastian said the project had also raised awareness across the organisation about the importance of, and the power of, data. 

 

“We’ve helped colleagues to feel empowered and confident about accessing their data and have tailored dashboards to their specific needs. Data has a significant impact on our future planning and helps us shape our services better for the communities we serve.” 

 

The team will continue to work with key staff to review and refine the new approach. 

 

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on 8 September.