NHS – The professionals’ dream career
New initiatives, restructures and improved standards are opening the door to new and exciting opportunities for IT, finance and commissioning professionals. And it’s no longer a pre-requisite to have NHS experience to work in the sector.
Latest technology and Europe’s largest IT project attracts IT specialists.
IT contracts in the NHS continue to be in abundance. This is largely linked to the National Programme for IT, thus demanding contractors with specialist skills. There is a competitive and consistent need for experienced information managers and analysts. Also, a push towards web-enabled systems for more efficient monitoring and patient care means there is a high demand for good .Net developers.
Restricted budgets for contract assignments are always something NHS managers have to face, meaning it can be hard when competing for talent against the private market. However the NHS’ drive to implement the latest technology and the opportunity of being involved in the largest IT project in Europe means the private sector simply can’t compete and hence attracts some of the best IT talent.
It’s good news for qualified accountants.
2008 for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) has been an exciting year, following reorganisations which brought stability to many teams after a turbulent two year period. The newly identified structures have shown an increasing need for mid to senior level qualified accountants.
Where there has been a lack of accountants available on a permanent basis with the relevant experience, many PCTs are looking for interim accountants to fill that gap and as a result are competing for the same talent. These clients are beginning to look at alternative ways of sourcing the people they need by looking for talent outside of the NHS.
“The impact of these [NHS initiatives] may require looking outside of the NHS to get the skills needed, for example within manufacturing where they have transferable costing skills.”
Likewise, where Hospital Trusts have introduced new initiatives such as Payment by Results, Service Line Reporting, and Patient Level Costing, and organisations which are applying for the Foundation Trust status, we are seeing a sustained level for qualified accountants. These and the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the changes this will bring to the accounting standards means that clients are now more than ever open to contractors without NHS experience.
Peter Dawson, Associate Director of Finance of Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust agrees: “Within the Acute Trusts at the moment there is a big push on service line reporting and patient level costing. The impact of these may require looking outside of the NHS to get the skills needed, for example within manufacturing where they have transferable costing skills.”
Many candidates tell us that they are surprised by the sheer size of the budgets they manage compared to the private sector. Figures for groundbreaking projects like new hospitals and clinics can reach into the hundreds of millions and the commercial processes can also dispel many negative pre-conceptions of public sector finance. We hear positive feedback from employees in the public sector, who notice how much faster financial results can be seen compared to the private sector.
Split commissioning departments create opportunities
As PCTs work more closely with local authorities to provide appropriate local public services, commissioning skills are increasingly in demand. This is one area where NHS experience is still key, particularly for senior level contractors.
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