As the newly appointed Service Director of the Finance, Procurement & Performance Directorate at NHS Grampian, the Directorate faced the challenge of integrating 3 distinct teams into a cohesive unit. Our iMatter survey results showed promise, with a 90% response rate and an overall experience score of 8.1 out of 10. However, the services recognised areas for improvement, particularly in training, information sharing, and our working environment.

 

To address these challenges, we implemented several strategies. The Director of Finance began spending time in different office locations, shadowing colleagues to understand their roles better. We held an away day focused on team integration and our service vision. To improve training, we are exploring additional support for trainees, considering apprenticeship opportunities, and reviving our CPD programme.

Communication has been key. We issue regular updates via our team's channels, keeping staff informed about Board discussions. We've held all-staff meetings to discuss important issues like our office move and hybrid working arrangements.

Despite our progress, challenges remain. The condition of our office accommodation could be improved, but we have embraced hybrid working.  We're also working to break down silos between finance, procurement, and performance teams to maximise the benefits of our new structure.

Looking ahead, we're developing a training needs assessment and strategy for the entire directorate. We are also planning to increase the frequency of team briefs and explore ways to further improve our approach to diversity and inclusion.

Our journey is ongoing, but we are confident that with continued focus on staff governance, we will build a stronger, more integrated team ready to support NHS Grampian's future plans.