Independent Review of Planning

I recommend that the health board takes a collaborative approach to designing an effective planning system which is outlined in paragraph 104 and is informed by the commentary in Section 6, the learning from the other independent advisor reports, from the Special Measures process and from engagement with stakeholders. Developing the Betsi Way further – taking account of stakeholder views and best practice should result in a strong operating model for planning and implementation which has broad support. This process should lead into the development of standards about how plans are developed. This will build on the planning framework and will underscore the importance of resource planning.

I recommend that on a collective basis, the health board develops a route map for the next three years showing key organisational milestones, inputs and dependencies. It is likely to be a mix of strategic and tactical plans. The supporting narrative will focus on why each aspect is needed and will lead to a destination. Network diagrams suit this type of approach. This provides for strategic planners and leaders some of the landscape for the medium term. It will also provide the opportunity to consider the role and purpose of the Strategic Planning Team going forward.

I recommend that the health board takes steps to understand fully the current and future commitments across its entire change agenda and to work through the capacity needed to plan and implement it. This should be in the form of a baseline plan from which the Strategic Planning, Transformation and Commissiong teams can assess feasibility, risk and inter-dependencies. I set out the rationale in paragraphs 136-9.

In terms of capability-building I recommend that the health board considers the comments in the review on what planners want for the future and work through how these might be provided (paragraphs 61-62). The planning meetings which the health board is supporting might become valuable communities to generate feedback and co-design some early products.

On a broader scale, there is a collective need to improve capabilities around strategic planning and implementation. A proposition should be developed that secures collective agreement on the way forward for strategic planning and implementation in the future and specifically how capability will be developed. The health board is recommended to consider the research included in this review and the Organisational Health Model or similar.