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workforce programme management

Requirement Acuity has provided long term consultancy support to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) supporting a range of major national initiatives through the provision of programme and project management (PPM), together with PMO support functions. Having originally been tasked with providing PPM support to ensure the delivery of the NHS Pensions Scheme’s new 2008 Section, the scope of Acuity’s role has developed significantly over the years with our support spanning a number of complex initiatives.

Delivery We have led PPM activities for a number of high profile work areas including:

  • The reform and ongoing development of the NHS Pension Scheme on multiple occasions.

  • The reprocurement/insourcing of NHS Pension Scheme’s administration.

  • The introduction of a COVID Life Assurance Scheme (CLAS).

  • The rectification of the McCloud age discrimination ruling affecting all public service pension schemes.

  • The NHS-wide implementation of the Boorman Report recommendations through the DHSC Health and Wellbeing Programme.

  • Alignment of DHSC policy, process and supporting legislation to the Equalities Act, through the Equality and Diversity Programme.

  • Application of PPM practices to the delivery of the NHS Pay Framework.

 Within these assignments we have delivered a range of support including:

  • Definition and implementation of programme and project governance structures.

  • Definition and introduction of a minimum product set of PMO processes designed to balance the rigour of the MSP / PRINCE2 methodologies with a level of pragmatism that aims to see such processes support rather than drive the delivery process.

  • Creation of programme and project-level plans to be communicated to those stakeholders affected.

  • Identification of risks and issues and maintenance of risk and issues logs.

  • Stakeholder engagement and communications.

  • Benefits and performance management.

  • Resource profiling.

  • Ownership and production of business rules documents defining policy requirements and translating legal rules.

  • Programme/project assurance spanning business cases, procurement, operational readiness, digital and IT infrastructure work streams.

  • Policy development.

  • Strategic alignment to interdependent programmes and initiatives.

Result Acuity’s services have been retained since our initial assignment in 2007, with our support successfully spanning multiple work areas. We have built up a strong working relationship with both the DHSC and the NHS BSA which has prompted them to reuse our services on an ongoing basis.