Job responsibilities
Costing and Reporting
Responsible for the development of PLICs and SLR to ensure that they meet the multiple specifications required of it across the Trust and that the systems deliver best practice.
Perform advance data analysis with the ability to write, modify and run complex SQL queries on single or multiple tables/views from the same or linked servers. Additionally export and import data to SQL databases from various sources and formats and create/edit complex stored procedures using SQL.
Provide support to Clinical Divisions where service development opportunities have been identified to ensure they are supported by accurate fully costed activity assumptions and are in line with Trusts strategic objectives.
Lead on the production of the Trusts national cost collection in line with the costing manual for submission to the Department of Health inclusive of the education and training cost return, in accordance with NHSI timetables and guidance, including reconciliation to Final Accounts and submitted HES data.
Act as the lead point of contact for the clinical divisions for all cost issues and providing expert advice in advanced practical and theoretical costing.
Act as the technical lead for the Trust in all matters relating to costing.
Provide and apply expert knowledge in reporting applications/software at an advanced level, being able to update existing reports and developing new dashboards for the Trust ensuring functionality is centred on user preferences.
Apply knowledge off and keep updated on changes to PbR currencies and HRGs to ensure this is fully reflected in the patient level data and data requirements needed to maintain the patient level costing system.
Support the development and presentation of the Trusts costing reports year on year taking account of the wide range of issues including impact of clinical activity, national guidance and long-term trends.
Ensure all clinical and internal recharging activity is being recorded and collected routinely highlighting any significant deviations to the Head of Productivity & Efficiency and Associate Director of Finance.
Hold regular meetings with divisions to communicate the unit costs and their compilation to ensure that all apportionments are accurate.
Lead on and sign off updated apportionment methods to support further refinement and greater accuracy and transparency in line with best practice guidance.
Provide an analysis of revised costs to support the implementation of internal recharging system.
Liaise with the Department of Health to resolve any queries or concerns regarding new guidance or services.
Ensure costing timetable is consistent with the monthly / quarterly reporting timetable as required.
Be responsible for the development of an integrated Service level management tool linked to the production of national cost collection and patient level costing and ensure that a full audit trail is maintained between all systems.
Provide costing seminars to budget holders as part of an on-going programme within the trust with particular reference to patient level costing methodology.
Liaise with the Performance team and clinical divisions to maintain up-to-date records of all clinical activity required for HRG cost apportionment.
Be aware of changes in NHS Finance and the impact they might have on the service and ensure that clinical activity is in line with requirements of the costing guidance issued annually.
Understand cost drivers within the trust and their impact on performance and provide a unit costing service to those departments that require it.
Lead on the development and document processes to meet the changing requirements NHSI Mandated Costing standards.
Maintain close links with the Income and Contracts Team and lead on providing patient level costing information to advise and ensure local patient prices are competitive, realistic and in accordance with practice set out in NHS Executive guidance.
Provide an executive summary on the final national cost collection index and the impact this has on the trusts overall financial position referring to previous years and other trusts index scores.
Review your role periodically identifying training needs and ensuring that these are fulfilled either via mandatory CPD or PDR in consultation with the Head of Productivity & Efficiency.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as determined by the Head of Productivity & Efficiency.
Benchmarking
- Liaise with external agencies on the collation, submission and interpretation of the Trusts input into benchmarking projects.
- Provide expert advice on benchmark profitability and cost efficiency of services through market analysis or networks and develop ideas for improving or developing profitability.
- Engage with system-wide costing initiatives and represent the Trust at the APC Efficiency Working Group.
- Lead Trust participation in development of joint PLICs platform for acute providers in southeast London.
- Lead on interpreting and communicating the results of benchmarking exercises (e.g Model Hospital, FutureNHS Collaboration, etc) to appropriate staff groups within the organisation.
- Develop the understanding of costing and benchmarking exercises, including the provision of education and training to colleagues, within the Trust.
- Promote the benefits to Divisions of participating in costing and benchmarking exercises.
Audit and Data Quality
- Be responsible for ensuring that clear audit trails are maintained as per internal / external audit guidelines in relation to costing.
- Lead on behalf of the Finance Department the drive for improvements in data quality issues affecting costing data.
Attend local and regional meetings with NHSI and other external stakeholders including auditors from the National Costing Assurance Programme and system suppliers.
Policy Development
Lead on the provision of financial advice / evaluation of clinical service developments planned within the Trust.
Lead the development and maintenance of a range of policies and procedures associated with the Costing team.
Support the planning for and implementation of new strategies to respond to changes in the Trust financial regimes, thus ensuring maximum benefit is achieved by the Trust.
Professional Responsibilities
- To maintain the integrity of the Trusts financial systems, procedures and reports. This includes regularly designing and updating bespoke reports tailored to the requirement of individual divisional management teams.
- To implement audit recommendations and continually working on improving financial practices throughout the trust.
- To undertake Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in line with the relevant institute requirements.
Work force
- Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
- Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
- Ensure the team is compliant with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
- Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated, and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
- Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trusts recruitment policy and process.
- Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.
- Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
- Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.
- Deliver training both within the Finance Directorate and the wider Trust. This will include one to one training sessions as well as devising and running group training sessions for finance and non-finance staff.
- Deputise for the Head of Productivity & Efficiency as required.
Financial
Assist the Head of Productivity & Efficiency with the production of highly complex financial reports for Trust Board, Executive Management Team and sub committees of the Trust Board as required.
To lead the development and roll-out of the patient level costing dashboards across the Trust. Providing training and support for all senior managers (including finance) and clinicians throughout the Trust as required on all aspects of the National Cost Collection and Patient Level Costs.
Be responsible for all financial support and resources to assist the divisions in understanding cost behaviour.
Carry out any financial modelling necessary to inform the financial planning process within the trust.
Critically analyse unit costs to ensure that accurate apportionments are being used and offer recommendation to divisions on alternative measures.
Work in conjunction with the Divisional Delivery Directors and Executives leading on Trust wide themes to identify and deliver efficiency initiatives, ensuring initiatives are valid and measurable on their financial impact.
Support the development of business case for major projects and initiatives through the provision of costing information as required for inclusion within business cases and financial appraisals.
