Improving capacity in the community through a workforce managed service
Working in partnership with Acacium Group in a system-wide approach, the Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust has proactively strengthened its winter resilience response using an end-to-end managed service to optimise patient flow and secure better patient outcomes.
Key statistics
- 1,650 hours of care delivered per week
- 30 Healthcare Assistants deployed within six days of service launch
- 85 patients discharged from the pathway
- 98% shift fill success rate
The challenge
Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust (NCHCT) provide community-based NHS health and care via more than 70 different service locations across Norfolk, serving a population of nearly 900,000 people.
Following the appointment of a new Chief Executive in 2022, Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust (NCHCT) recognised the need to act on historic bed-blocking issues in their acute sites ahead of the winter months. They sought to increase the capacity for care in the community to safely accelerate patient discharge and alleviate pressures on essential services by improving patient flow long-term.
Why Acacium Group?
A leading staffing provider to the NHS for more than 35 years, the scope and scale of Acacium Group’s specialist workforce services allowed the Trust to overcome recruitment challenges exacerbated by the rural nature of the communities they served.
Having successfully engaged these services in the past, NCHCT leadership turned to Acacium Group, assured they’d be able to meet demand at short notice to effectively alleviate pressure from acute services.
The solution
It was agreed Acacium Group would provide 336 hours of care each week over an initial 6 month period across the Trust’s Western hub. Within six days, a team of experienced care assistants was mobilised to deliver high-quality care in the community, supporting patients back to health in the comfort of their own homes.
Impressed with the level of care provided, the Trust extended the contract for a further 6 months to cover the winter period, trebling the workforce to serve all four regional hubs. These care teams were responsible for ensuring patients were safely supported following discharge from hospital, protecting patient wellbeing and reducing readmission rates and improving patient flow.
With around 60 care assistants deployed each day, NCHCT required additional resources to manage their growing workforce. With proven workforce management expertise, Acacium Group were able to provide the Trust with a fully managed service across the Trust’s four hubs, within just 14 days of the request.
An experienced account manager was appointed to oversee the partnership’s continued success, acting as the main point of contact for key stakeholders across the Trust. Focusing on implementing the most effective and sustainable model, an end-to-end managed solution was designed to deliver the greatest value and impact to the Trust and the people it serves.
Stephen Collman, Chief Executive Officer, NCHCT
“We worked closley with Acacium Group to build a new model for our locality teams. They were able to mobilise quickly, with a high volume of staff and in a collaborative and positive way”.
Impact
Adopting a system-wide approach, Acacium Group engaged with executives across NCHCT, its acute sites, leaders at the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System (ICS) and the corresponding Integrated Care Board (ICB). This collaboration enabled a joined-up approach, sharing best practice across the entire patient pathway.
Improved patient flow through workforce supplied at scale
Acacium Group supplied a versatile workforce of healthcare assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, service delivery planners, and clinical managers. These teams provided world-class standards of care throughout the entire patient pathway, from discharge, assessments and reablement.
Delivering more than 1650 hours of care each week, healthcare professionals were supported by best-in-class technologies for a fully optimised end-to-end solution, nurturing highly effective working relationships with existing locality teams. This resulted in over 85 patients being discharge from the pathway into the appropriate setting for them.
Overcoming geographical challenges and staff shortages
30 experienced healthcare assistants were sourced within six days of the initial request to support patients across Norfolk’s most rural communities. This rapid mobilisation enabled NCHCT to meet immediate winter demand and continue the provision of critical services by fulfilling their immediate short-term staffing requirements.
Reliable and flexible workforce partner
NCHCT were provided with a guaranteed workforce from Acacium Group businesses, delivering a 98% shift success rate of 16 staff per day, 7 days a week. Supported by a diverse range of services, the Trust were able to be responsive, scaling the workforce to meet demand as and when required.
Reduce waiting lists. Alleviate pressure. Improve patient outcomes.
Delivering measurable impact for more than 35 years, our fully managed end-to-end approach facilitates the safe and timely discharge of patients from initial assessment through to reablement.
To find out how we can support you, please contact:
