Dear Reader,
Welcome to the December edition of the West Midlands Branch Newsletter.
I was recently asked to think about what I would like the theme of my year as Chair of
the West Midlands Branch Committee to be; I chose “Competition to Collaboration”.
You might ask why? Well, at this time of year, its often the case that we reflect on the
past 12 months and also look ahead. As someone who is still relatively new to the NHS
(does two years count?), I remain somewhat surprised as to how the system we work
in, doesn’t always help in terms of promoting an approach that is centred on the
patients we serve. Instead, we get caught up in contractual disputes, and debates
about who pays, how much and so on.
The last 12 months have of course seen the development of local Sustainability and
Transformation Plans (STPs). Whilst there is no doubt the proposals contained within
them may well have far reaching consequences for services and patients,
fundamentally they are about the constituent parts of our health and care economies
working together to respond to the significant financial and clinical challenges facing
the NHS. My personal view is that is a far better way of working, and I would hope you
would all agree that as we head into 2017, we can all do our bit in promoting ways of
collaborating rather than competing for the benefit of local people……
Have a great Christmas and a happy New Year!
Paul Simpson
Director of Finance & Deputy AO
Cannock Chase/Stafford & Surrounds/ South East Staffordshire & Seisdon
Peninsula CCGs
Upcoming West Midlands Branch Events
Financial Governance: Getting it Right and Annual Reports
Date: Wednesday 1st March, 18.30 - 20.30
Venue: Grant Thornton, Birmingham
** Free for all HFMA members **
The financial governance section will cover observations about what works and does not work. The
annual report section will include top tips on producing the annual report.
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West Midlands 2017 Annual Conference ‘Competition to Collaboration’
Date: Thursday 22nd June 2017
Venue: Wolverhampton Racecourse
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The West Midlands Branch is also in the planning stages of an event with HPMA (Healthcare
People Management Association) The date of this event will be confirmed in the New Year.
To book onto either of these events please book online at: https://www.hfma.org.uk/ournetworks/branches/west-midlands/events or email [email protected] for more
details
Upcoming West Midlands FSD events
Places at these events are limited so please book your places early!
Event Details
Developing Talent:
Module 5 – Leading
Change through People
Wednesday 11th January
2017
Birmingham
CPD/Technical:
Finance Training at the
Forefront
Tuesday 7th February 2017
Birmingham
Developing Talent:
Module 6 – Strategic
Thinking
Wednesday 8th and Thursday
9th February 2017
Birmingham
Excel Course: Beyond the
Basics
Tuesday 21st February 2017
Birmingham
Excel: Above and Beyond
Thursday 23rd February 2017
Birmingham
Places Remaining
Credits Per Place
1 x delegate place = 5 credit
10 Places Remaining
To book online click here
1 x delegate place = 1 credits
50 Places Remaining
To book online click here
1 x delegate place = 5 credits
10 Places Remaining
To book online click here
6 Places Remaining
** Only one place
available per
1 delegate place = 3 credits
To book online click here
organisation**
6 Places Remaining
** Only one place
available per
organisation**
1 delegate place = 3 credits
To book online click here
Master Class:
Project Management
Tuesday 28th February
½ Day (PM)
Birmingham
16 Places Remaining
1 x delegate place = 3 credits
To book online click here
All West Midlands organisations that have paid the relevant FSD contributions are entitled to
a number of credits for places on WM FSD events, depending on the size of the
organisation. Further places over this allocation can be purchased at an additional charge.
Please contact your organisation’s FSD Lead for more information or
[email protected] or call 0117 9388 351. To book places, please book online via
http://fsd.hfma.org.uk/
West Midlands News
Congratulations to North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust for their welldeserved win of the 2016 Costing Award at the HFMA Annual Conference earlier this month.
The Trusts determination and focus on improving data quality, system quality and
engagement was recognised by the Costing Institute. Well done North Staffs!
The Branch would also like to pass on their congratulations to Claire Skidmore, CFO
at Wolverhampton CCG and Carl Usher, CFO at Midlands and Lancashire CSU for their
nominations for the Finance Director of the Year award. Both were worthy candidates!
FMTS News
We are currently recruiting for 3 new Graduates and 2 new apprentices to start our Financial
Management Graduate Training Scheme in September 2017. If you know of anyone who
may be interested in applying for the scheme or your organisation would be interested in
getting involved, please email [email protected] for more information.
HFMA appreciate the importance of developing a local pool of talent if we are going to be
successful in securing top finance professionals in the West Midlands for the future.
Trainees are a huge asset to any organisation and we are pleased to say that the three
graduates who started the FMTS scheme in September have all settled into their placements
very successfully and are enjoying their NHS experience. They are bringing a fresh
perspective, ambition and drive that benefits their whole departments!
Did you know….?
In September we launched our new pay monthly annual memberships – and it’s proving to
be extremely popular! You can fill in and return a form by clicking here.
The Healthcare Financial Management Association is the leading UK membership body for
the finance profession and finance staff in healthcare. We are here to support, represent and
provide high quality, independent and objective advice to our members and the wider
healthcare community. We aim to promote best practice and innovation in financial
management and leadership across the UK health economy through our local and national
networks.
Procurement Skills Development Network
We have been asked to set up the regional PSD Network building on the already well
established and highly regarded Finance Skills Development (FSD) Network in the West
Midlands. The Procurement Skills Development network will support staff across the region
through a robust programme of training and development. The aim will be to raise
commercial capability and acumen, but also promote and deliver the recommendations of
the Carter review.
The programme which will commence in April, will create opportunities to share good
practice in procurement across all NHS organisations in the West Midlands and develop
cross-organisational working. We also hope to develop opportunities for working with other
regions within the wider network.
More details of the PSD network will be sent out in the new year but for more information
before that point or for details on how to get involved, please contact Sophie Rowe, West
Midlands Skills Development Manager for further details, [email protected]
Publications from HFMA
Introductory Guide – NHS Finance (2016)
Now in its twelfth edition, HFMA’s bestselling guide provides a one stop source of guidance for
anyone with an interest in NHS Finance. It explains how funding flows to and around the NHS,
looking at how all the many different organisations that make up the NHS fit together, explaining
what they do, how they are governed and who they are accountable to.
Practical Guide – Preparing an NHS Body’s Annual Report and Accounts (2016)
This guide offers practical guidance on the overall process of preparing an NHS body’s annual
report and account. The publication highlights key issues and questions to consider throughout the
process to help ensure that they are prepared and finalised effectively, efficiently and within
timescales
Practical Guide – NHS Charitable Funds (2015) - £29.50
This guide is designed to provide support and guidance to staff responsible for the day-to-day
management and administration of NHS charitable funds. Governing body members, senior
finance staff and fund trustees will also find the guide of interest as it outlines the strategic and
legal context within which they fulfil their responsibilities in relation to charitable funds.
Practical Guide – NHS Audit Committee Handbook (2014) - £15
This guide has been designed to help NHS governing bodies and audit committees as they review
and continually re-assess their system of governance, risk management and control to ensure that
it remains effective and fit for purpose.
To order please visit www.hfma.org.uk/publications. Bulk discounts are also available however
most discounts cannot be applied online, for more information please email
[email protected] or call
0117 938 8340
Christmas Quiz!
1. What colour was Father Christmas’s suit until Coca Cola made it red and white?
2. What is the suspicion about Christmas pudding cracking when you take it out the tin?
3. The character Jack Skellington appears in which 1993 Tim Burton film?
4. Which country does St. Nicholas originally belong to?
5. How many ghosts are there in A Christmas Carol?
6. Approximately how many turkeys were purchased at Christmas 2013 in the UK; 1 million,
10 million, or 20 million?
7. How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Spanish?
8. Which country was the first to use the tradition of Christmas trees?
9. Which of Santa’s reindeer is named after another animal?
10. What was Scrooge’s first name?
11. To which city does New York cop John McClane travel to on Christmas Eve in "Die
Hard"?
12. Which character from the first Harry Potter novel said, 'One can never have enough
socks. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will
insist on giving me books.'?
13. Which country donates the Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square, London to Great Britain
every year?
14. What did my true send to me on the sixth day of Christmas?
15. In Victorian England what people were popularly called robins because of their red
uniforms?
16. If you were born on Christmas Day, what is your star sign?
17. What is the bestselling Christmas song of all time?
18. What were Frostys last words?
19. In Home Alone 2, what colour limo did Kevin rent?
West Midlands Branch Contacts
The Branch are always happy to hear from their members with any future suggestions for events,
speakers both locally and nationally or general feedback. Please contact a member of the Branch as
detailed below:
Chair
Paul Simpson
Director of Finance
Cannock Chase/ Stafford & Surrounds/ South East Staffordshire & Seisdon Peninsula CCG’s
Email: [email protected]
Vice Chair
Russell Caldicott
Director of Finance & Performance
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Email: [email protected]
Treasurer
Kevin Stringer
Chief Financial Officer
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Email: [email protected]
Research & Development Committee Chair and Committee member
David Melbourne
Chief Finance Officer
Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Email: [email protected]
Branch Administrator
Clare MacLeod
West Midlands Events Co-ordinator, HFMA
Email: [email protected]
Finance Skills Development Manager
Sophie Rowe
West Midlands Branch Manager, HFMA
Email: [email protected]
Head of Skills Development
James Blackwell
Head of Skills Development, HFMA
Email: [email protected]