Support Programme for Foundation Trust Applications

Over the last four years, NHS Elect has worked with a number of sites from Integrated Business Plan (IBP)
application to become a Foundation Trust to assisting the newly fledged FT to success in the new NHS
business environment. We now have ten FTs in our network and have gained extensive experience in
supporting members through the FT application process.

Applying to be a Foundation Trust

NHS Elect will help members prepare their application for Foundation Trust status, by supporting the Trust
with the following:

• Membership Strategy

NHS Elect can support the Trust to develop and write the membership strategy and integrate
this into the IBP. NHS Elect will help in planning the recruitment of members and advise on
how to use members to inform future plans and how to communicate effectively with them

• Governance and HR

NHS Elect will give advice on governance processes for an FT and help draft your constitution
and advise on HR strategies

• Service Development Strategy

NHS Elect can help draft a local service development strategy and can advise on how to link
this to published and emerging national policy e.g. Darzi. Facilitated sessions to help finalise
your strategy across your Trust or local health community is available

• Market Assessment

NHS Elect can help draft the market assessment chapter of the IBP and undertake analysis
(using information from Dr Foster ‘Hospital Marketing Manager’, Experian’s Mosaic Database
or whichever other comparative market data provider your Trust has purchased) to provide
robust information to underpin your market assessment

• Risk Assessment

NHS Elect will help members to conduct a risk assessment for FT application using a
framework well regarded by Monitor

• Proof Reading

NHS Elect to provide proof-reading service, including ‘sense’ and consistency checking of drafts
of the IBP

•  Post IBP Support

NHS Elect will provide advice and assistance in preparing the board for Monitor’s Assessment,
The support outlined covers the majority of the FT process leading up to IBP & beyond, additional or
bespoke support is available at a reduced daily rate to members if required.

For further information or to discuss your requirements in more detail, please contact: Caroline Dove
Email: Caroline@ nhselect.org.uk or telephone: 07766 072353