NHS ICB and a HSE restructuring

[TheGander]

Anyone else working for either of these? Are you getting the feeling the government is going to row back on redundancies as the realisation of the true cost dawns on them? I’d like to be made redundant but I have been told I’m in the “ transfer to other provider” category, whatever that means.

I work for an ICB and we are currently being asked for expressions of interest in voluntary redundancy. So far there is no national scheme and ICBs are being told to fund out of current running costs ( no government money) so that won’t be easy. We have been told no-one will be slotted in - we will have to apply for any posts which appear on the new structure so scrub up your CV and think of any skills and experience you can show case etc. Morale is on the floor and we are being asked to design and start projects without knowing what the team will look like in 5 months time. Very likely to lose many very experienced and dedicated staff.
Transfer back to provider probably means that your role links to a function that will no longer sit in the model ICB/ NHSE but will sit in one of the provider trusts or neighbourhoods. Tricky times

Bookmarking for interest.

Thanks @Greetingscard it sounds like your ICB is further on in the process than mine, interesting to hear your experience. Also interesting that the ICB is being asked to find redundancies, I suspect those with most experience/ reckonable years will be retained as too expensive to make redundant ( that would include me). Our ICB has just come up with a proposed new structure to meet the demanded savings. Quite a few posts missing but mine is in there and I’m assuming transfer to provider is going t o take years so I’m carrying on as normal for now. I find if I spend too much time thinking of possible outcomes it’s a waste of energy.

I work for an ICB, my main responsibility is a stay as an ICB function, the team I work with are mainly transfer out to a provider. No-one knows what’s going on, we have regular “updates” to tell us that things aren’t finalised.
We’ve had an expression of interest for redundancy which apparently has had a huge response although I’d think the majority of ICB staff come into the too expensive for redundancy bracket.
I agree morale is low and it feels hard to commit to projects when we don’t know who might be working in a few months.

I work for a Mental Health Trust and we've just been through a corporate review with posts being removed. I'm 6 weeks short of 18 years NHS service and applied for voluntary redundancy, it was accepted and I'm just waiting for paperwork and to find out leaving date.

Personally I can see more and more parts of the NHS being contracted out to private services.

Good news about the redundancy payment @Dizzy82 . I am concerned about healthcare being contracted out to private services. I have no doubt whatsoever that if Reform ever get in Farage will be selling off the NHS to American private providers.

Too true about the weekly “ updates” that tell you absolutely nothing of substance. I’ve started skipping them or hanging up half way through.

Joining!

Weekly updates don’t really offer anything of any substance. Although it’s much, much more open than the last restructure where updates were almost useless

We don’t have a proposed structure yet, although my team is under selectively adapt and retain

I put in my expression of interest for VR a few months back, now we've been told no redundancy until clarity on where the money to pay for it is coming from, and being offered MARS instead. I'm tempted to take it, just to have a fresh start (although not sure what that is after so many years in the NHS!). Any of your ICBs further along?

Hi All, ICB worker here. We have been told so far that no VR scheme is in place, no MARS will be offered as payments are normally lower. No idea where the money for redundancy payments will come from. I'm hoping that the government back down on it to be honest.
The proposed structure has been developed but not shared so no idea how many roles will be available.

Looking for jobs as I have a daughter about to start uni, a son in his last year of school and am a single parent. Stressful times.

Nothing in my ICB so far, our chief exec has said she doesn’t think the re structure will happen for another year ( not sure how she’s worked that out). Several key staff are choosing to leave. Did anyone read the “ Ask questions of Wes Streeting” chat? He was rather evasive on ICBs. He said something like “ we’ll be getting back to you ( ie ICB staff) in the coming weeks “. When pressed on this he said “ the coming weeks, yeah”. Not very illuminating.

Our ICB has stepped back significantly, and many staff are now just getting on with BAU

Although some key staff have already left/have been seconded into other roles across the ICS

I guess that the good news is that we’re not shying away from big pieces of work atm

As I understand there is no longer a government pot of money for redundancy and each organisation has to fund this themselves, the majority of organisations can't fund this and so they are unable to complete a restructure. I'm finishing in 60 days as our organisation (NHS Trust) has been able to do VR.

Well done @Dizzy82 enjoy whatever you will be doing next!

There's an article in the guardian about funding issues

Lots of chatter about this on nhs staff Reddit

Thanks for sharing the Guardian article, I work for NHSE, it's going slowly and shambolic there too. About 15 very senior posts have been appointed too but not much info on organisational structure or funding for redundancies.

Our ICB chief executive has just scheduled a meeting tomorrow am to discuss voluntary redundancies. Anyone else?

We have a MARS scheme launched and national VR scheme also now agreed for ICBs to consider according to HSJ. Will be launched here next week. All these months of waiting then it’s all happening in a rush.

We had an all staff call at NHSE today where funding for redundancies was confirmed. Staff have until 14th Dec to express their interest and if approved will be made redundant mid Mar 26.

Are you ICB or NHSE @Greetingscard ?

I see upthread you are ICB!

We had a staff message saying we’ll tell you more when we know more. All in the HSJ about funding for VR so not sure why they know what the ICB doesn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

We’ve been briefed re voluntary redundancy now. Our ICB is looking to reduce head count by 40%. Looks like sadly my job is safe as it is in the proposed new structure . I really was hoping for voluntary redundancy.

It’s believed there is a “ mole” in NHSE that has been feeding info to the HSJ.