Report: Facilitating Change in Health and Social Care (NHS Focus)

This report delves into the dynamics of change within the health and social care sector, with a particular focus on the National Health Service (NHS). It begins by identifying key factors that necessitate change, such as political influences, technological advancements, demographic shifts, and evolving legal frameworks. The report then explores the challenges associated with implementing these changes, including resource constraints and the need to maintain service quality. Strategies for measuring the impact of changes are discussed, along with criteria for evaluation and proposals for appropriate service responses. Furthermore, the report outlines the principles of change management, explains the planning process for health and social care adjustments, and assesses methods for monitoring these changes. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of change management in healthcare, offering valuable insights into the complexities of adapting to new environments and meeting the evolving needs of patients.

Facilitating Change in
Health and Social Care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Key factors that drive change in health and social care services..........................................1
1.2 Challenges arise due to key factors of change in health and social care services.................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Strategy and criteria for measuring recent changes in NHS.................................................3
2.2 Measure the impact of recent changes on health and social care services against set criteria
.....................................................................................................................................................4
2.3 Evaluate the overall impact of recent changes in health and social care..............................4
2.4 Propose appropriate service responses to recent changes in health and social care services5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Key principles of change management.................................................................................6
3.2 Explain how changes in health and social care are planned.................................................7
3.3 Assess how to monitor recent changes in health and social care services............................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Change refers to the alteration in existing services currently offered. With implementing
change, current opportunities gets improved and get better outcome as future return. There is
requirement of change in current market because of difference in demand of consumers. In
health and social care organisation. There is requirement of change because there are different
issues due to which people consider to avail services from hospitals. Change is important
because of some external environment factors (Antheunis, Tates and Nieboer, 2013 ). With
passage of time, patient want up to the mark services through which they get improvement in
their health. This report is based on NHS which is fifth largest health and social organisation
providing services in England, Scotland, Wales. This organisation was established in 1948 by
Aneurin Bevan. In this report, there is discussion about factors which arise situation of
implementing change, strategies through which change can be implemented properly and at last
principles of change management.
TASK 1
1.1 Key factors that drive change in health and social care services
Change in organisation is occurred because of some reason such as external or internal
sources which is important and crucial for existing in current market. There are many health and
care organisations, so to achieve competitive advantage organisation have to accept changes.
Apart from this there are some other factors as well due to which change is important such as
technological changes, difference in political policies, alteration in legal factor, economic factor,
etc. Some factors are discussed as under in detail-
Political factors- For health and social care organisation, political parties plays crucial
role because they are the parties who take care of working style of workers. Apart from this they
take cares of working style of NHS that they are working in authentic style or not. For instance,
there is change in political party due to which their working style also gets changed. This is the
mandatory reason due to which managers of NHS have to change their services.
Technological changes- Second reason of change in technological changes (Best and et.
al., 2012). In current market, there are many technological changes such as use of digital
techniques, new machines for CT Scan, Sugar and blood testing, etc. So in this case working
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style also gets changed. Due to these changes managers of NHS have to accept these changes
and implement new techniques at work place to provide satisfactory services to patients.
Demographical and cultural difference- NHS is counted in large health care
organisations, so there are many patients arrive from different background and geographical
region. It is important to understand preferences of consumers and then provide them best
services. Due to difference among patients on the basis of demographical basis, there is
difference in living standards, age group, etc. So their demand for health and social care
organisation also differs. This is the major reason of change in health and social care
organisations.
Change in legal norms- There are different laws and regulations related to health
organisations for patients, workers and management of NHS. Such as remuneration act,
compensation act, safety and security act, etc. With the help of it, there is authenticate working
of organisation. But if there is change in these legal aspects, then managers of NHS have to
change their operational policies as per new norms. This assist in performing action in better and
effective manner. These are the important factors which have to be followed for smooth running
of organisation and maintaining proper brand image among consumers (Brett and et. al., 2014).
1.2 Challenges arise due to key factors of change in health and social care services
Above discussed factors are the reason due to which health and care organization have to
change their working style as per current external market. But it is not easy to implement these
changes because there are different challenges which affects it. There are many stakeholders
which are associated with NHS such as patients, doctors, interns, legal practitioners, etc. so they
also must be ready to understand reason of changes and its impact. Some challenges faced by
NHS in implementing changes are as under-
Lack of human and financial resources- For implementing changes at NHS such as
technological changes, then there is requirement of training to workers through which they are
able to implement changes properly. If change ins caused due to alteration in political party or
legal norms, then there is requirement of legal advisor which is cost consuming approach. Hence
if there is lack of human and financial resources, then managers of NHS face issue in
implementing changes.
Maintaining quality of services- Quality of services is the main suspect which patient
wants in health and social care organization. With implementing technological changes, there are
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possibilities that workers are not able to work with full efficiency. This affects satisfaction
among consumers and sometimes individual is not ready to compromise with quality. For
instance with implementing new political policies, there are possibilities working of individuals
gets hampered and this impacts whole association.
Matching efficiency and economy- Sometimes, if change is not implemented properly
then efficiency of overall organization gets affected. There is setting of some specific budget for
implementing changes, so in this case there are possibilities of getting affected in terms of their
quality and some times resources gets misused. When cost and budget gets affected because of
change in working style, then there is mis- balance in economy and organizational efficiency
(Coleman and et. al., 2012).
TASK 2
2.1 Strategy and criteria for measuring recent changes in NHS
Implementing changes are not easy because there is requirement of complete information
through which alteration is done in better manner. With implementing changes, it can be
measured when there is positive outcome from it as client satisfaction, maintaining proper brand
image. There is some structured format through which changes are planned are performed for
conducting operations in better and effective. While making strategies it is important that
managers has to make stakeholders clear about different factors. Strategy for measuring recent
change in health and social care through statistical data and knowing change in revenue.
Qualitative and quantitative techniques are used to understand outcome through it. Some
strategies for measuring changes are as under-
 Inspection is done by quality management team regarding quality of services which are
important for satisfaction of client. With inspection, it is clear that difference between
history is better or present results are better. Feedbacks are taken from patients regarding
quality of services.
 After implementing changes, reasons of change are compared with outcome that whether
after apply change that gap is balanced or not. With positive result changes are good but
in case of negative outcome corrective actions has to be taken. If change is occurred
because of consumer complaint, then evaluation is done that whether consumers are able
to get satisfactory services or not (Curtis and Burns, 2015).
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 Self evaluation can be done by management of NHS to know what has to be done to
achieve targets. This evaluation is easy approach to measure changes and provide best
services to consumers. Change must be done which benefits patient as well as growth and
development of NHS.
Criteria can be set for implementing changes in better and effective manner is audit done
by authentic party i.e. CQC (Care Quality Commission). Apart from this some benchmarks are
set while implementing changes in organisation, so mangers of NHS must evaluated actual
results with benchmarks. This is the best way to get better outcome from it. Mindset and
feedback from employees has to be taken through which they can get knowledge about what
goes well and not through it.
2.2 Measure the impact of recent changes on health and social care services against set criteria
In current market, there are many changes which are taking place such as technological
with use of new and latest tools and techniques, modern machines, etc. There is positive impact
of implementing changes in current market because of many organisation in this industry. With
understanding external environment, managers of NHS though of implementing technological
changes so with the help of this changes, employees are satisfied and they are ready to give their
best. In order to access positive changes on business operations, there is requirement of audit,
through which it is easy to understand what can be done through which NHS will work in
authentic manner (De Jongh and et. al., 2012).
Some benchmarks are set by government which has to be fulfilled by managers of NHS
such as performing actions as per laws and regulations. Changes are done by proper planning or
under authentic party orders, so this will give positive impact only. When changes are done as
per government norms, then this is beneficial for society and stakeholders. When there is change
in working style of NHS due to understanding cultural and demographical requirement of
consumers, then this assist in improving working style of NHS and brand image in industry.
2.3 Evaluate the overall impact of recent changes in health and social care
Changes are important and crucial in current environment because organization has to
make long term existence in external market. In health and social care organization, there are
many changes due to change in issues of patients, medication up- gradations, etc. Hence in this
case change is important in NHS for the betterment of society. There are possibilities of positive
as well as negative impact on overall performance of NHS. There are any professional which are
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working in NHS, hence with change, they learn new techniques which assist in improving their
knowledge and working style. With change in working style quality of services offered to
consumers gets improved, consumers gets prominent and frequent services which societal
development is possible. There is proper safety measures through which consumers feel safe and
secured while their treatments. There are some protocols which has to be followed by
management of NHS through which workforce at health and social care organization are
satisfied. When change is implemented in health and social care, then organization is able to get
skilled and equipped workers which improves their performance in industry.
With recent changes in health and social care organization, there is proper and systematic
way of completing task. Health and social care organization is the sector in which perfect
services are required. Hence with implementation of changes, clients gets best and appropriate
services which gives positive impact on their health (Deci and Ryan, 2012). With understanding
changes which is planned in systematic and relevant manner, employees are able to enhance their
knowledge which is important for their career and professional development. But at the same
time, there is negative impact of change. For instance: new technique is implemented at NHS
and workers does not know how to implement it, then this affects services offered to consumers
and gives negative impact on brand image of NHS. So it is evaluated that changes can bring
negative results, if management of organization does not take care of it.
2.4 Propose appropriate service responses to recent changes in health and social care services
There is specific response from different parties which are associated with health and
social care of organization, such as employees, doctors, administration department, etc. When
change is implemented in organization, then all the parties are affected with it. Hence there are
different types of response over these changes.
For instance, if technological change is implemented in organization, then consumers get
frequent services with more up- gradations. They get complete information from online sources.
Hence their response is positive over it. While workers with working with new techniques get
assistance in their personal and professional development. But there is requirement of training
through in which workers face issue because of new technologies (Seers and et. al., 2012).
In case of change due to cultural and demographic region, patients are able to avail most
preferred services and they are treated with more positive environment. But there are possibilities
of negative response from workers, because they have to work in more focused and effective
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manner. There is requirement of proper understanding about demand and preferences of
consumers through which can alter their services accordingly (Hasson, Blomberg and Dunér,
2012).
In case change due to political and legal requirements in society, then it is essential for
mangers of NHS to understand it and implement it. There are many changes which are taking
place in external market due to change in political parties or alteration in rules and regulations.
Due to this, patients of health and social case get authentic and appropriate services because
services are as per legal norms and authorized by authentic personnel. While management of
NHS have to understand changes properly and then implement it, so there is difference in
working style. There are possibilities that overall performance of NHS also negatively affected.
Hence it is clear that there is difference in response of individuals which are associated with
health and social care. So it is important for stakeholders to understand changes properly through
which positive response can be achieved.
TASK 3
3.1 Key principles of change management
Change can be executed with the help of different individuals in organisation such as
legal practitioners, doctors, etc. So it is important to performance actions through which they can
perform actions with understanding external market and perform business operations in context
of external market. In order to manage changes, it is important and crucial to understand external
market changes and principles assisted with it. Lewin's Change Management model is best way
to know policies and understand ways through which change is possible. In this model, there are
three steps: freeze, change and refreeze. In this firstly, there is requirement of working with
consistent situation, then change is implemented which is specific and relevant in current market.
After implementing changes, feedbacks has to be considered from employees, actions has to be
taken with understanding mindset of workers (Laranjo and et. al., 2014). At last with
implementing change properly, actions has to be taken with best approach to get better outcome.
At last implemented change is refreeze through implementing in organisation. This assist in
applying changes properly to get better outcome. Apart from this there are some principles as
well which assist in implementing changes-
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Rise to the occasion- It is important to change the perception of workers while they are
working. Superior have to motivate workers through which they can perform actions as per
requirement and ready to understand what has to be done. It is important and crucial to improve
performance of organisation in order to understand policies as per external market. Managers of
NHS must communicate with workers regarding change and plan operations to get positive
outcome.
Recast the role of project managers- Project manager is the person who manages,
organise and control operations of project. It is important and crucial to provide specific role and
responsibilities to individuals as per their skills, knowledge. Project managers has to make
individuals responsible for their task but at the same time, there is requirement of ownership and
powers to them, so they can perform actions to get proper outcome.
Foster a supportive change culture- There is requirement of supportive environment in
team through which individuals are able to share their issues and hence actions can be performed
with implementation of change. When culture and environment is supportive, then it is easy to
create open communication in organisation. Supportive environment can be created with
planning new and innovate activities for employees through which they understand mindset of
each other (McSherry and et. al., 2012).
3.2 Explain how changes in health and social care are planned
Changes are implemented in health and social care organization, there is requirement of
proper planning with which positive results can be achieved. It is essential and significant to
understand to analyse factors which are available in environment and plan procedure according
to it. There is requirement of proper plan through which individuals are able to understand ways
in which project can be completed. While planning changes in health and social care
organization, there is requirement of different documents such as Gantt chart, project
management plan, etc. through which individuals are able to perform actions which are specific
and relevant for getting positive outcome.
Stakeholders management plan- There is requirement of proper plan through which
stakeholders get to know about changes. While implementing changes, it is important that
stakeholders must have proper knowledge about changes, its impact and reason behind it. So
stakeholders report will be considered for communicating with different individuals in
organization.
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Communication plan- Communication plan refers to the way through which
communication is considered among individuals which are associated with project. Changes are
caused due to some changes in factors, hence it is important that management of NHS must use
some specific process of communication for communicating with parties (Mulholland and
Turnock, 2012). This makes synchronization in business operations and individuals are aware
about progress rate of project.
Action Plan- Action plan is the process and systematic flow of activities through which
actions covered while implementing changes. This is the way through which activities which has
to be considered in implementing alteration are used. With this, actions for applying changes are
performed properly and related parties in NHS have knowledge about progress rate. Hence this is
he document through which planning for implementing changes is done with considering all the
factors.
3.3 Assess how to monitor recent changes in health and social care services
Merely implementing change is not only task of management of NHS, it is crucial and
relevant to mange and monitor organizational operations properly. Monitoring and managing
health and social organization is possible with interference of top level managers. There are
different ways through which changes can be manages and monitor health and social services
before and after implementing changes. Observation, survey, log book monitoring, etc. are the
ways through which monitoring of health and social organization can be known.
With the help of survey, feedback can be taken from managers and individuals through
which mindset can be known. This also provides ideas whether positive results are achieved or
not. Survey can be taken through focus group or personal interview. Hence it is easy for
managers of NHS to understand changes required.
Observation can be done with observing employees through which they came to know
about positive or negative outcome. For instance with implementing technological changes,
consumers gets complete and relevant information with minimum time, hence this is best way to
understand whether results from changes are positive or not. Observation has to be done by
trained person who have complete knowledge about external market and analyse whether change
gives positive result or not (Redmond, 2017).
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CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it is evaluated that change are taking place in health and
social care because of external environment or due to protocols such as technological change,
cultural and demo-graphical changes, etc. These changes gives positive impact on organization
and other individuals which are related to it. When change is implemented, employees are
trained regarding with new techniques so their knowledge and skilled are improved. With
understanding changes managers have to make policies through which they can get better
outcome in consideration of external market. Stakeholders are satisfied because performance of
organization gets improved as it bis working with new and latest techniques. Lewin's change
management model is used to understand principles of change management. With implementing
changes in organized and managed manner, then positive results are achieved. Top level
managers and legal practitioners have to monitor changes to evaluate results before and after it.
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REFERENCES
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social care research: a systematic review. Health Expectations. 17(5). pp.637-650.
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Curtis, L. A. and Burns, A., 2015. Unit costs of health and social care 2015. Personal Social
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De Jongh, T. and et. al., 2012. Mobile phone messaging for facilitating self‐management of long‐
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interventions: a case study of a continuum of care program for frail elderly people in
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Laranjo, L. and et. al., 2014. The influence of social networking sites on health behavior change:
a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Informatics
Association. 2I2(1). pp.243-256.
McSherry, R. and et. al., 2012. The pivotal role of nurse managers, leaders and educators in
enabling excellence in nursing care. Journal of Nursing Management. 20(1). pp.7-19.
Mulholland, J. and Turnock, C., 2012. Learning in the workplace: A toolkit for facilitating
learning and assessment in health and social care settings. Routledge.
Redmond, B., 2017. Reflection in action: Developing reflective practice in health and social
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Seers, K. and et. al., 2012. FIRE (Facilitating Implementation of Research Evidence): a study
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Online
Three Key Principles Of Change Management. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/insights-pmi/2019/03/15/three-key-principles-of-change-
management/#56e142525829>.
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