Getting to know… the Programme Management Office

Have you ever wondered what the Programme Management Office (PMO) does? Or how we use data about our population to improve healthcare services?

We caught up with Charlotte Mullins, Strategic Programme Manager, who tells us more about the work of her team…

Tell us about the team and what you do here at the CCG?

The Long Term Plan’s ambition is for local NHS organisations to focus on population health. Over time moving to Integrated Care systems everywhere. James Roach, ICP Programme Director, is leading the transition to Integrated Care supported by our team.

In support of this, we are the PMO and Population Health Management (PHM) team. In line with the principles of PHM (more on that later!) the PMO oversees and tracks delivery of plans, ensuring that the services are improved.
The PMO doesn’t take control over the projects from the programme lead. It doesn’t deliver the projects itself.
On Monday 18 February, June Okochi joins West Essex CCG as the Head of PMO. She brings with her a wealth of experience from the East London Sustainability Transformation Partnership (STP). As Head of PMO June will provide the ‘glue’ within the CCG. The PMO oversees and monitors the implementation of approved programmes and projects within the CCG. They also provide regular reports on their status and identifies whether they will meet timescales and outcomes. If not – why?
We plan to hold further staff briefings to explain the role of the PMO.
The PHM approach improves population health by data driven planning and the delivery of care to achieve the greatest impact.
Why is this different? In the past, healthcare planning has focused on analysing patterns, costs and outcomes for large patient populations. It doesn’t identify who or which population groups drive usage.
The PHM approach starts from the perspective of understanding people, their lives and the impact of the disease process on them (rather than treating episodes of illness). and then designing and delivering pathways that support them.

What are your contact details?

Charlotte Mullins, Strategic Programme Manager (x1481)
Delyth Ford, Population Health Management (x1481)
June Okochi – Head of PMO (from Monday 18 February) (x1493)
Natasha Sharda-Kalia – PMO Analyst (x1493)
Paul Stephenson – PMO Support Officer (x1491)

What is your team most passionate about?

We are passionate about delivering improved outcomes and value for our population.

What other departments do you work with and what are you working on right now?

The team works with all departments, such as the:

Neighbourhoods team within Primary Care
Transformation team for improved pathways
Finance team for system sustainability
Quality team.

The team is currently supporting the wider teams to deliver robust QIPP plans. They are also working with GP practices to enable them to access secure data through the use of Mede Analytics. NHS England has also developed a self-assessment tool called the Population Health Maturity Index. The west Essex system has come together as one and self-assessed as having basic maturity around the intelligence function.

Working with the Hertfordshire and West Essex (HWE) Sustainability Transformation Partnership (STP) we have submitted a bid to NHS England to improve Population Health Management. The CCG is also writing a bid to access funds from the Health Foundation.

What’s the most helpful way for you to get feedback?

Please come and speak to me in Building 1 or email charlotte.mullins@nhs.net.

Name one thing your team hope to achieve over the next six months?

The team will lead the creation of the Joint Business Unit made up of analysts from across our partners. They will support the delivery of PHM and data driven planning, to enable improved system wide outcomes and value.

Picture (from L-R): Paul Stephenson, Natasha Sharda-Khali, Charlotte Mullins, June Okochi and Delyth Ford