New streamlined service for the recruitment of clinical and healthcare staff

The new Clinical and Healthcare Staffing framework from NHS Workforce Alliance offers trusts support in the recruitment of temporary clinical and healthcare staffing services through a single framework.

Designed to limit confusion in the market and create a streamlined process, it is an expansion of the Collaborative Procurement Partnership (CPP) National Clinical Staffing and Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Multidisciplinary Temporary Healthcare Personnel frameworks. Both these frameworks are due to expire in February 2021.

Andrew Mumby, Workforce Director for NHS London Procurement Partnership, which led on the framework launch on behalf of the NHS Workforce Alliance, said:

This is a succinct framework offering which is endorsed by NHS England and NHS Improvement. All medical and healthcare services are in one place, meaning we can offer one set of rate cards and terms and conditions – and also ensure that workers are provided to trusts having completed all the appropriate checks.

Categories available through the framework include emergency services, social healthcare and community, medical and dental, allied health professions and health science workers.

If your trust is currently using the CPP or CCS framework, you can ask to move to the new framework by completing an access agreement. A series of webinars for trusts and suppliers will also be announced before the end of 2020.

Full framework information, including lot details and awarded suppliers, is available on the NHS Workforce Alliance website.

Contact CCS or your relevant regional procurement hub for more information:

Support with COVID-19 post event assurance planning

What are post event assurance plans?

To support the public sector the Government has published COVID-19 post event assurance guidance that sets out the principles for effective fraud and error control, along with recovery of any irregular payments. The guidance suggests that public bodies can reduce the threat of widespread fraud by integrating low-friction controls into payments where possible, and carrying out post event assurance work.

Fraud and error can be identified by using analytics to compare consumer details with data assets provided by credit reference agencies and other data providers. This process involves the analysis and enrichment of financial, residency, contact and socio-demographic data. It can be used to highlight where there are indicators of fraud or error based on the criteria set by the grant administering body. These, and similar data sources can also be used to maximise recoveries by segmenting customers with debts and offering bespoke contact strategies to maximise returns. As part of the segmentation process collectability, affordability and vulnerability is assessed before placing the portfolio with debt collection agencies (DCAs).

How can we help you?

We have a number of agreements that can assist you with your PEA planning, including Debt Management Services (RM6208) and Spend Analysis and Recovery Services 2 (RM3820). These agreements are available to be awarded directly, at pace, whilst ensuring a high quality solution for departments, such as:

  • fraud and error solutions
  • data and analytics solutions
  • audit and recovery of departmental spend
  • debt recovery, including standard debt collection, litigation and enforcement solutions

For more information on how these solutions could support you, please contact  info@crowncommercial.gov.uk, or call 0345 410 2222.

Supporting the NHS COVID-19 response with temporary accommodation and other travel services

Crown Commercial Service travel agreements are available to support the NHS response to COVID-19 for NHS staff, key workers and other impacted communities to access secure accommodation at hotels and other accommodation venues, together with any additional travel service.

Agreements available: 

RM6016 – Public Sector Travel and Venues Solutions: lot 4 and lot 5, more information available in this link. 

RM6164 – Public Sector Global Travel and Venue Solutions: lot B, more information available in this link.

If previously you have used the process delivered by NHS England, NHS Improvement and Crown commercial Service, supported by Calder Conferences and Corporate Travel Management Limited (CTM), and would like to retain continuity of the services provided by these suppliers. Please contact the suppliers directly to enable your own contract and ensure service provision during any COVID-19 response requirement. 

We inform you that the process previously provided, available in this link, will remain in place for urgent requests and its recommended to the NHS Trust to enable your own contact with a supplier so that the service can be customised to your needs.

CCS NHS Office Solutions becomes the first Tower to be awarded a 4th year-long extension by NHS Supply chain

In October 2017, Crown Commercial Service was awarded the contract to manage Tower 9 as part of the Department of Health Procurement Transformation Programme. 

The original contract was for 3 years with the option to apply for a first extension period of 12 months.

Following a recent extension application, Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) confirmed that Crown Commercial Service has been awarded a 4th year-long extension, running until October 2021. 

We are delighted to be given the opportunity to realise the benefits of the work that has been undertaken during the last 3 years, while striving to achieve more in the future.

The five areas within the category will remain as:

  • Office Supplies
  • Office Furniture
  • Batteries and Torches
  • Patient ID wristbands
  • NHS Printed Stationery 

There are currently over 13,000 products available within the category, which are under constant review. 

CCS is happy to continue to support NHS Supply Chain to deliver solutions and savings to the NHS for another year.  We aim to provide further choice, sustainable and value for money options within the Office Solutions category.

Richard Denney – Corporate Pillar Director, Crown Commercial Service

While remaining focused on delivery, during the coming year the Tower 9 team will turn their attention towards planning and innovating 2 key areas that are due for renewal – Office Supplies and Office Furniture.  

Both of these areas have been impacted by coronavirus and will evolve accordingly.  Analysis is underway to determine if this impact will be long-term, but antimicrobial furniture and screens are currently trending, along with technology products to support those staff continuing to work at home and are therefore consuming less traditional stationery products. 

The intent for the new product areas is to increase choice and value while remaining compliant and sustainable. 

Shape the future

Now is a critical time for customers to engage with the category’s market analysis to influence and co-design each scope to drive growth and savings opportunities while ensuring customer requirements are met.  Sustainable options will be prioritised in all of the product areas.

Additional new areas of innovation under consideration to enhance the category offering include:

  • Managed Print Services
  • Hybrid Mail
  • Document Storage
  • Children’s/outdoor furniture

The new Batteries and Torches framework is also due to go live in April 2021.  This framework has recently expanded to include associated facilities management consumables, such as light bulbs, tools and additional medical batteries.

Please contact us if you would be willing to contribute to the above procurement strategies or require any further information.

Competitive, compliant, simple – what to expect from Print Marketplace

Designed for, and in consultation with, the public sector, Print Marketplace will provide a competitive, compliant and simple way to purchase print. We understand that across the public sector, print is something which is purchased by a variety of professions, each with differing requirements, knowledge and expertise.

For this reason, Print Marketplace has been designed with simplicity at its heart, meaning you can: 

  • quickly and easily define your requirements
  • compare prices
  • select a supplier
  • arrange secure delivery

With just a few clicks of a button, you can purchase professional printing for the best possible price. 

Whether you’re a school business manager who wants to use a local SME, a university marketing manager who wants the flexibility of designing collateral safe in the knowledge the due diligence has been taken care of, or a local authority procurement manager who needs 3 quotes before you can contract, Print Marketplace is for you.

What you can expect

With nothing to install and no license needed, it’s easy to get started.

User-friendly and intuitive, buyers are guided, step-by-step, through the print-buying journey. If you need support at any point, our experts are available to provide sector-specific advice via a live chat.

In a few simple steps, you can define your requirements and decide which design option is best for you:

  • choose from a range of preloaded templates and easily upload your artwork
  • customise your design using the free and simple to use online design tool 
  • utilise our team of designers – whether you need new concepts or tweaks to existing artwork

Once you’ve selected the right route for you, our instant pricing platform then provides quotes from a wide range of pre-approved suppliers while providing the functionality to retain preferred local suppliers.

You can then compare quotes and use the filters to find the best solution for your needs – whether that’s the lowest price, the most local supplier, or the quote with the lowest associated CO2 emissions.

Once you’re ready to arrange delivery, we make it easy to meet your social value obligations. Our carbon impact calculator recognises the environmental impact of each job and provides the option to offset the carbon product CO2E cost.

What’s next?

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for a video, featuring the first glimpse of Print Marketplace, in the coming weeks. 

We’re planning webinars and system demos to guide you through the system and the benefits it offers. To secure your place, simply email us with the subject line ‘Print Marketplace’.

Penetration testing: protect your organisation against cyber attacks

Our Cyber Security Services 3 Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) was created in partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to provide you with a route to market for essential cyber security services. These are particularly important in the current environment, with many of us working more remotely.

The DPS, which has 117 suppliers (and counting), enables you to filter by your needs and opt for either an NCSC-assured supplier or a supplier with qualifications that are not NCSC-assured, which opens up the supplier pool to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) which hold alternative cyber security credentials. One of the services, among the many available, is penetration testing. 

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing enables you to conduct an authorised test of either your computer networks or systems, with the intention of highlighting any security weaknesses these networks or systems may have. 

It is conducted by authorised testing partners that use the same tools and techniques a potential attacker would use. These testers identify publicly known vulnerabilities and configuration faults that could leave your organisation vulnerable to a cyber attack or breach. They find any vulnerabilities and make recommendations for suitable remediation.

Why is it important?

Chris Ensor, Deputy Director for Cyber Skills and Growth at NCSC, commented on the importance of the service: 

“Penetration testing is a great way of finding vulnerabilities in your system before an attacker causes you harm. It’s a bit like going to the doctor’s for a health check to see if you have things like high or low blood pressure or cholesterol, so they can be treated before these things cause you harm. For those familiar with Cyber Essentials, the Plus level of certification is effectively a tightly scoped penetration test to ensure you have implemented the 5 controls correctly and consistently. Being forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.”

Finding suitable suppliers

Penetration services are available through the DPS from 117 service partners, 48 of which are CHECK-certified by the NCSC. If a provider is CHECK-certified, this guarantees their testing methods are approved by the NCSC, the individuals conducting the penetration testing have NCSC-approved qualifications, suitable experience at conducting the tests and have been security cleared. 

Opportunities for SMEs are also bolstered – 75% of the 117 suppliers on the DPS are classified as SMEs. This means access to cyber security services that are not only vetted to the highest standards, but that also align with the government’s SME agenda and social value, improving innovation and competition in this market. 

Solutions to keep your organisation running safely

To find out more about Cyber Security Services 3 and penetration testing, you can read our brochure, visit the framework web page or complete our enquiry form and our team of experts will be in touch to help you.

The role of a CCS Strategic Business Manager

The role of a Strategic Business Manager (SBM) at CCS is primarily about relationship management. It’s my job to work with customers to help ensure there is a proactive approach to their procurement needs.

If I can help CCS better understand a customer’s perspective and work with my customers to save their organisation time and identify efficiencies, UK citizens benefit from improved experiences, service innovations and public spending reductions.

In my view, the 3 most important aspects of my role are that I add value, I am a free resource and I’m driven to help support the best outcome for the customer.

Experience

I have 13 years’ experience of working with the public sector in HR and recruitment roles – 8 years of this managing my previous employers’ NHS business.

I have learned procurement can and should be a key driver of organisations’ business transformation, though those involved in procurement can often be undervalued and restricted by the conflicting pressures of different parts of an organisation.

Issues that often create procurement challenges include stakeholder non-compliance to public contract regulations, time constraints which affect the ability to plan, limited resources for contract management and lack of market engagement – again often due to time constraints.

Added value

This is why SBMs like me can really add value to a procurement. We are a free resource who can provide the time to add value to procurement teams through supporting training and accessing knowledge about markets that an organisation values. We genuinely offer a fresh perspective which will subsequently make contract management easier.

Recently I’ve found myself bringing a focus to issues such as social value, contract management, collaboration and evaluation of the best routes to market.

NHS collaboration

CCS has a strong history of working with the NHS. The value of this can be seen most recently through our membership of the NHS Workforce Alliance, through which CCS and NHS Procurement in Partnership are working together to deliver health workforce services.

This collaboration ensures our customers have easy and quick access to a sustainable workforce, and it’s part of a long-term plan to deliver a whole portfolio of health workforce services to the NHS. The strength of this collaboration will be a huge asset to the NHS workforce and associated procurement.

We continually listen to our NHS customers and develop our frameworks in tune with the requests and advice we receive from them. But the only way we can get this insight is through listening and learning.

Part of my role is to build networks across the health sector and find out from customers what their challenges have been. We operate on a regional level so we understand not only how customers operate in their part of the UK, but also how they network and collaborate with each other. This helps me and my colleagues understand where CCS can add value.

Learning and development

Recently we worked with the regional Heads of Procurement Group in the North East and Cumbria and identified an opportunity to support in upskilling their workforce.

So we partnered with the NHS Skills Development Network and have embarked on a programme to add value, develop efficiencies and support technical skills development and better use of frameworks.

By working closely across the regions and supporting procurement journeys we effectively can become part of the extended team for procurement departments. The result is providing the region with access to a powerful network opportunity, more time to collaborate regionally on larger projects, such as linen and laundry, as well as aggregation opportunities for items such as laptops.

Such work has shown us that customers want procurement processes to be simpler: they want easy routes to market, with clear guidance, available support and minimal intervention from their own procurement teams. We’ve been listening and in response have tried to adopt more effective procurement measures such as simplified contracts and more Digital Purchasing Systems (DPSs).

Overcoming challenges

The coronavirus pandemic has seen the advisory part of my role enhanced. Colleagues and I have supported local networking among procurement teams across the regions, and we have also developed ways of supporting each other with the new challenges we have faced.

For example, we’ve adjusted our training offer and have taken it entirely online – ensuring we have continued to deliver what our customers require.

We have held 5 virtual events throughout May, June and July – each with delegate registrations of over 170.

I believe the demands of the last few months have strengthened our customer relationships, and I hope we’ve pleasantly surprised them with the speed and efficiency with which CCS has met their needs.

But it’s been a balancing act for us, we’ve tried to remain vigilant to the pressures our NHS customers have faced over the last few months and have tried hard to respect those, only offering practical input when appropriate.

Find out more

NHS customers wanting to take advantage of the kind of support we can offer through our national network of SBMs are encouraged to visit our dedicated web page.

This blog was originally published in the latest issue of Health Business magazine.

NHSX pick Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff framework to help them find a digital recruitment partner

NHSX is a newly formed department established to lead digital transformation and IT policy across the NHS. They are working closely with the Government Digital Service, bringing together teams from the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement into a central unit. 

Attracting talented contractors

NHSX needed to recruit experienced contractors so they could create digital delivery teams at pace. They had never hired any contractors before, so turned to the Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff framework to help them find a recruitment partner.

They wanted to work with an agency with a large network of digital professionals to ensure they could attract talented contractors. Through the framework they appointed Investigo.

Lauren Pocknell, Senior Consultant at Investigo managed the recruitment process for NHSX. This ranged from helping them with budgets and explaining how the recruitment of contractors works to sharing in-depth knowledge on everything from salaries and market intelligence, to IR35 legislation and ensuring the HMRC Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) process was followed.

This support has helped NHSX achieve their goals quicker than anticipated, whilst ultimately saving them both money and time. 

Rapid response during COVID-19

Many NHSX permanent staff have been seconded into other areas during COVID-19. This has meant deadlines and budgets have become even tighter, however, as Lauren explained:

They have still been able to keep all their plates spinning thanks to the ease of getting contractors in so quickly via the framework. We’ve managed to turn things around in a matter of days, which has been very effective during this time when additional support is needed.

Leanne Summer, Digital Ecosystem Lead at NHSX added: 

Everything from initial contact through the whole tendering and on boarding was seamless and hassle free. Aftercare has been spot on. 

Empowering your to make better recruitment decisions

We can help you with all your temporary recruitment needs. Find out more:

NHS customers can access non clinical temporary recruitment solutions through the NHS Workforce Alliance portfolio, which includes the Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff framework.

Unique cleanroom laundry solutions for the health sector

A cleanroom is a controlled environment in which pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes and aerosol particles are filtered out, providing air that is as sterile as possible. Cleanrooms are typically used for manufacturing products in the pharmaceutical and medical industry, and are also used in hospital surgical areas to prevent the risk of contamination and to protect vulnerable immunocompromised patients, as well as in hospital pharmacies. Our Linen and Laundry framework provides access to cleanroom laundry solutions, including the processing (wash and finish) and transportation (collection and return) of cleanroom garments at the ISO classification specified by you. Customers can also purchase reusable coveralls, boots, goggles and mops.

Offering national coverage across multiple sites, the framework provides a compliant and streamlined route to market. Our pre-agreed simplified terms have been established in line with commercial best practice, giving you legal protection throughout the length of your contract.Customers are provided with a dedicated category manager and commercial lead who are available for advice and guidance throughout the process. We are also on hand to assist with supplier management, conducting regular review meetings and monthly KPI monitoring. 

This year, we worked with Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust and the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to develop a cleanroom specification tailored to their needs. Claire Macdougal, Buyer, at Wirral University Teaching Hospitals said:

The Trust’s objective was to procure a total rental service which would satisfy the requirements for best quality, best price and best service. We chose to use this framework as it provided both Trusts with a compliant route to market, which has not previously been available for laundered aseptic garments. The framework has provided both Trusts with a contract which meets our requirements at an affordable and fixed price

As the biggest public procurement organisation in the UK, we use our commercial expertise and national buying power to enhance your procurement, helping our customers across the healthcare sector make smarter buying decisions. 

To find out how you can benefit from this new offering fill in our online form.

Building for the future: 5 good reasons why we should be thinking “modular first”

Modular buildings have evolved significantly in the last few decades. Today’s clean, linear buildings offer bespoke solutions, minimum material wastage and lower energy bills. 

Gone are the days of draughty and cold school ‘mobiles’. Modern modular buildings are well insulated, and are designed and built using cutting edge materials and technology. 

Their improved quality and precise manufacturing techniques – together with their eco-credentials – mean they are an attractive option for buyers in the public sector. They offer permanent, high quality solutions for a variety of applications, particularly in education, health and housing. 

Public sector buyers may wish to consider the government’s construction policy, which encourages a presumption in favour of the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), which include modular and off-site construction and digital working. It has been assessed that the government and wider public sector alone spend £750 million per year on modular buildings. Growth has been driven by the intrinsic benefits of modular and the fact it is being embraced by public sector priority programmes in the schools, hospitals and housing sectors. 

“In 2019, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee warned the Government that an over-reliance on traditional building methods will see the UK fall far short of its target to build 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s.”

Source: www.parliament.uk

5 good reasons: why we should be thinking “modular first”

  1. Health and Safety – compared to the inherent dangers of a traditional building site, a manufacturing base setting allows for greater control and command of processes. Nearly half (49%) of the fatalities that occurred in the construction industry in 2019, were due to falls from a height on-site. MMC processes allow complex assembly to be carried out at ground level off-site.
  2. Sustainability – They are more energy-efficient for the end-user, create less waste in terms of materials and often feature sustainable materials. As modular buildings are constructed off-site there is the added benefit of a reduction in the carbon footprint of the build, with fewer deliveries travelling to and from the build site.
  3. Problem Solving – Modular can fit the bill in many circumstances. For example, if there’s a need for speed, modular buildings are an ideal solution. Their construction is much speedier than traditional builds – on average, 50% faster.
  4. Efficiency – Traditional construction can suffer from delays due to weather, hold ups in the materials supply chain and inevitably a snag list that must be tackled on-site, which could delay occupancy. With a modular building option, construction can already be underway off-site while the foundations are being laid.
  5. Optimized Site Management – Modular building offers a streamlined mode of operation. It cuts down disruption within the footprint of the construction site itself, as well as within the site or neighbourhood in which it will exist. 

Next steps

To find out more about these advantages for both purchaser and end user, and the benefits of Modern Methods of Construction, download our free whitepaper: Modular Buildings & Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Why the public sector should be thinking ‘modular first’ today.

To find out more about our Modular Buildings Solutions agreement visit us here or contact us to discuss your requirements.