In becoming truly digital organisations, trust leaders must take key steps to build and empower digital teams, according to a new guide published by NHS Providers.
As the NHS continues to push forward with its digital agenda, it will require trusts and organisations to adopt effective teams. In the eyes of NHS Providers, successful digital teams can be largely defined by three main characteristics:
- User-centred design
- Agile ways of working
- A knowledge of how to build and operate modern technologies
Setting out practical steps for how boards at these organisations can create teams which are effective, open and responsive – all key to delivering transformational services – NHS Providers encourages trusts to engage closely with the materials produced.
The guide – Building and engaging digital teams – is the second in a series being ran by NHS Providers as part of their Digital Boards programme and was supported by Health Education England (HEE) and NHSX.
Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said: “Trusts are looking to build on the progress made during Covid-19. The need to deliver digital developments during the pandemic gave trust boards a clarity of purpose and focused minds.”
“To embed these positive cultural shifts, trust boards need to build and empower digital teams within their organisations, to deliver the next phase of digital transformation. Our guide provides practical next steps in terms of recruitment, governance and digital leadership.
“This resource is being published as part of our Digital Boards programme, supported by HEE and NHSX. We continue to host a number of virtual events with trust leaders and conduct development sessions with individual boards.”
James Freed, HEE's Chief Information Officer, added: “Building and appropriately supporting your digital team is one of the most important things board-level leaders need to know how to do in this rapidly changing world. It is an area that presents huge challenges and opportunities and we are tremendously pleased to see the publication of this guide for health leaders to help them.”
