Transforming NHS service delivery via regional collaboration and data sharing: The SWaG Collaborative Staff Bank
Dr Ahmed Shahrabani,
Co-Founder at Locum’s Nest
The Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire (SWaG) Collaborative Staff Bank, powered by Locum’s Nest workforce solutions and expertise, has made significant progress since its formation as a grassroots project in late 2022. From its initial start as a partnership between Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, it has grown to include 5 NHS Trusts across 3 ICSs! Together, they are working to cross-cover vacant shifts across the region.
As a result, SWaG Trusts have filled an additional 1,700 shifts through an open collaborative model involving multiple NHS Trusts joining forces to share resources and best practices. It’s built on the foundations of transparency, ensuring Trusts work together instead of competing with one another through enabling communal access to a larger pool of doctors to help tackle the building pressure on NHS healthcare professionals.
In this article, we share key ways that SWaG Collaborative Staff Bank is operating to benefit all Trusts and NHS staff groups involved. We dive into the gold-standard practices of enhanced visibility, data sharing and resource allocation, powered by cutting-edge workforce technology and collaborative work streams. This isn’t just about one NHS Trust - it’s about transforming service delivery across an entire region.
Here we break down the pivotal steps involved in getting the SWaG collaborative to where it is today and demonstrate its impact.
A grassroots project with tonnes of collaborative experience
A strong collaborative staff bank doesn’t happen overnight. It was about using previous collaborative experiences and success to create an impression in the region. By using our relationship with stakeholders at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we were able to discuss the idea. The trust was and continues to be a vital member of The Digital Collaborative Bank (DCB), which remains the biggest workforce coalition of NHS Trusts in the country! They bring 5+ years of invaluable experience and learnings to the table from The DCB, ready to enrich the collaborative efforts within SWaG.
But that’s not all. Current Director of People and Culture at Royal United Hospitals of Bath NHS Trust, Alfredo Thompson, previously worked at North Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust, also part of The DCB. This collective expertise has been instrumental in shaping the evolution of the SWaG collaborative staff bank. The exchange of positive experiences instilled optimism and confidence in the open collaborative model.
The importance of partnership and involvement
To foster a robust collaborative environment, we engaged stakeholders from the beginning, during the discovery phase. Working closely with Trust leads and drawing on the expertise of those with prior collaborative experience, the Locum’s Nest team gained a comprehensive understanding of the essential data elements crucial for establishing a foundation valued by all Trusts. Seeking buy-in from stakeholders ensured their consent to data sharing, fostering a spirit of partnership.
With a solid groundwork established, appropriate data sources were identified, including job listings, doctor data, payroll records, and financial information. Before forming the final dashboard, we crafted mock-ups and sought input from Trust leads. This co-designed design approach was a huge success, merging our product development team's technical expertise with user insights.
We continuously refined the dashboard through iterative meetings, gathering feedback and insights. Collaboration with Trust partners tailored the dashboard to their needs. We engaged stakeholders from SWaG-affiliated Trusts and held quarterly meetings to discuss. This collaborative effort resulted in a final intelligence dashboard that transformed data visibility and improved workforce management for all 5 Trusts.
Change Management expertise
Change management played a key role in conveying the benefits of the Locum’s Nest platform to the doctors within the SWaG collaborative. This directly influenced the staff's adoption of the technology, impacting the number of shifts filled and, consequently, patient quality and continuity of care.
As SWaG expanded with the inclusion of more Trusts, our ongoing meetings with payroll and finance stakeholders became essential. Regular discussions allowed us to adapt to the evolving needs of the collaborative, ensuring that our platform remains responsive and aligned with the goals of our diverse partner Trusts. But, effective change management should be an ongoing process for leaders, as every process change you make, however small, can have a ripple effect on organisations. We don’t implement and leave at Locum’s Nest! All 5 Trusts are backed by hands-on, all-action change management experts in the form of our Customer Success and Support team at Locum’s Nest, who are with our partner trust teams in every step of their collaborative journey.
The transformative collaboration journey hasn’t been perfect, there were challenges along the way. Trusts initially had concerns about experiencing a net loss of doctors if the movement between Trusts wasn’t perfectly balanced. Communication and education around the bigger picture played a pivotal role in shifting the perspective towards a broader view which took into mind the Trust's fill rate illustrating that collaborative shifts are indeed worked over and above their internal needs.
Other benefits were also spoken about, such as professional development opportunities, and gaining experience in different hospitals/departments. Not to mention the importance of flexible working; the nature of collaborative staff banks empowers healthcare professionals to take back control of their work-life balance.
Transformative results: before and after
Prior to Locum’s Nest’s collaborative partnership with SWaG affiliated trusts, workforce data was disintegrated, and analysing it was a time-consuming and painful task. But now, 5 Trusts have their hands on comprehensive data in a snap, making data-backed decisions consistently. That means quicker, more accurate reporting for internal purposes as well as external, such as NHS England.
A strong intelligence dashboard all in one place enables stronger monitoring and evaluation of key performance indicators with greater accuracy. It has enabled Trusts as part of the SWaG collaborative to identify areas for improvement and measure the impact of its people strategies. The availability of data has empowered them to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement across the region.
The intelligence dashboard, which has become an indispensable tool for partner trusts, provides numerous benefits from improved data visibility to enhanced workforce management. Here’s a look at key impact numbers:
6,800+ doctors are now part of the collaborative staff bank, 92% up since April 2023. This consistent growth trend demonstrates high engagement from medics with the Locum’s Nest app across 3 ICSs.
100,000+ shifts posted using the web app, meaning more shifts going out with increased admin efficiencies.
£300,000+ savings a year across Trusts, resulting from more collaborative shifts and lower agency spending.
In summary, while challenges existed, a shift in perspective and a commitment to shared goals have propelled the collaborative spirit forward, enabling trusts to harness the power of data and partnership for the greater good of the NHS. The real difference working collaboratively makes to NHS organisations is evident. The Locum’s Nest team is excited to continue working with members of SWaG and other collaborative banks. Here’s to the year ahead!
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We would love to hear your thoughts and questions on all things collaboration.
Are you interested in joining the SWaG collaborative bank and/or building a collaborative bank? Book a call with our team or email Ahmed@locumsnest.co.uk.
