NHS England has published a leadership competency framework for board members, setting out the need to “recognise and champion” developments in data, digital and technology in order to support long-term transformation.
The framework centres around six leadership competency domains, including driving high-quality and sustainable outcomes; setting strategy and delivering long-term transformation; promoting equality and inclusion; providing robust governance and assurance; creating a compassionate culture; and building trusted relationships with partners and communities.
Digital is noted to have particular importance for the second of these domains, with the framework stating that ‘good’ looks like board members setting strategies for long-term transformation that “benefits the whole system and reflects best practice, including maximising the opportunities offered by digital technology.” Additionally, when developing strategies boards should utilise relevant data including workforce intelligence, quality, performance finance, and take into account “proven innovation and improvement processes”.
As a leader, board members should work to ensure that strategies are informed by outside environments including technological. NHSE adds that they should recognise and champion the importance of long-term transformation that takes into account digital, data and other tech-related developments.
The framework also highlights the role of data in providing robust governance and assurance, emphasising the need to draw data from a variety of sources to assure performance, frameworks and operational delivery. As part of this, NHSE notes that board members should assess and understand the use of intelligence and data to recognise early warning signals and risks.
Regarding the creation of a compassionate, positive culture, NHSE states that data should be used at board level to monitor the impact of flexible working on staff wellbeing and retention.
The framework can be found in full here.
In other news from NHSE, yesterday HTN covered the 2024/25 GP contract, which places focus on the role of data from digital telephony systems.
Last week we reported on NHSE’s recently-published guidance on network segmentation for cyber security.
On 16 April, we are hosting a virtual panel discussion with health tech professionals on the topic of engaging your board and workforce with digital buy-in; click here to register for your free ticket.
