Weeknotes s01e15
TLDR: Still finding my way around KGH physically and mentally. Introducing Wardley Mapping to the org.
[Week ending 19/04/2019]
I promise these notes will start to condense as the weeks progress, but I’m learning so much and meeting so many people, I’ve a lot to reflect on.
Monday — The day didn’t start well – I’d got the early train (06:13) but within a few minutes the exquisite smell of brake pads percolated through the train. The train ended up being stopped in Derby to have a look and I changed trains. However, the thing I’ve grown to love about commuting on trains is that I could just keep on working, and delays generally have little consequence. Once I got into the office, I started the week with a couple of 1–2–1s. This is still very much the period of getting to understand the work people are doing and what their challenges are. Before long, we’ll move to setting some OKRs and the conversations will be more about how I can help.
I then met Ian, the Director of Estates to have a walk around the site. Despite randomly wandering around a few times last week, there were loads of parts of the hospital that I’d not seen before. Not sure I’ve fully got my bearings, but I have now at least identified a third spot to get a coffee. Then a meeting with internal audit and another one to understand some of the board committees. The morning concluded with our weekly ‘informal exec’ meeting, where all the Exec Directors meet to discuss any issue or concerns. In the afternoon I went with Natasha from the internal transformation team to meet the clinical coding team (who were in a building that was not part of Ian’s tour earlier in the day). The last meeting of the day was to get access to the internal risk tracking system and start to understand what I need to be looking at. The rest of the day/evening was spent reviewing papers for a meeting on Tuesday, plus reading a set of papers in preparation for a board development session later this month.
Kicked off the day with a whiteboard sessions with the boss. It was good to share some of my emerging thoughts and hear Simon’s views. Followed this with a meeting with Polly, the Director for Strategy and Transformation. The transformation programme has made some great progress is helping the organisation improve over the years. Polly explained her world and gave me updates on a few things in train that I’ll take over sponsorship of.
Another introductory meeting with YouTube sensation Duane, who turns out is a fellow Derbyshire resident. Impressive to see the dispensing robot in action — this was the first one I’ve seen in a real hospital after seeing loads at the Health and Innovation Expo in 2018.
Back to the office and crammed in a few folk from the team to introduce Wardley mapping. It never fails to amaze me that people grasp the concept and application of mapping very quickly. My plan is to try and do an initial map of the org this week ahead of a collaboration meeting with colleagues down the road at NGH.
Follow up call with Andrea who runs the Information and Coding teams at NGH. I’ve been so fortunate to benefit from the generous time and support loads of people around the system have given to me as I’m finding my feet in the acute world and Andrea was no different.
Executive Group meeting. Happens every fortnight, sharing progress and discussion of a number of fronts. I left with a few actions, including supporting Andrew the medical Director’s proposed system to share HES data for consultants. This is going to be an opportunity to draw on the CIO community who have been so helpful.
Finished the day with a session to discuss the ERP implementation plans and then a few calls with some potential suppliers.
On Wednesday I chaired a contract review meeting, where we reviewed a number of contracts. This was followed with a ‘week 1’ review with Simon. I’m still in learning and understanding phase, but I’m gradually understanding the enormity of what I need to do, but still not clear about how. I forgot how frustrating it is when you join a new org and don’t know how do get things done, like who to talk to advertise a new role, or what things go to which committee. It will come of course, but doesn’t help me feel very productive yet. Then a quick follow up session to do a bit more Wardley mapping. I then met up with Ajay, the second CCIO in the organisation. I’ll be spending a lot of time with the two CCIOs over the next few months, so it was good to understand about Ajay’s perspective about the task ahead. I finished the day with a call with colleagues from NHS England and NHS Digital about some work we’re going to be doing later this year.
Thursday started with a quick conversation about the EPR resource plan with Vicki and then my first 1–2–1 with Alan the Chair. This post is the first board position for me, so interacting with the Chair and Non-execs on a regular basis is all new. I talked through some of the themes I’m seeing from the conversations I’m having. We also talked the difference in approach that digital-first companies like Amazon take, compared to the health supplier market. I then met the Improvement Director, Sue who talked through her role and gave me some helpful coaching on the narrative I need to create in my work. I hope to spend more time with Sue!
I then had a call with a company who are doing some work supporting partnership working in the Northamptonshire area. I got a some good background of the work so far ahead of a meeting next week. I then met with Simon and Richard to talk through some of our Board Reporting needs. Finished the day with a conversation with Natasha from the Transformation Team about the work she’s doing with the Clinical Coding team.
Friday – Bank Holiday. Cycled 65 miles, cleaned bathrooms, changed bedding and supervised some creative car washing.
Interesting stuff read this week:
- Let’s Talk About Meetings by Erik P.M. Vermeulen. Loved this article. Nodded all the way through.
- Weeknotes S01E13 by Darren Curry.
- The (Messy) Shift to Starting Together by John Cutler. I’d love to go to hear John speak. I was jealous last year at a visit to GDS to see some posters advertising a forthcoming talk he was doing there.
- Trust but verify: reimagining service assessments” by @jukesie. Another legend I hope to meet one day.
- Weeknote: 15 to 19 April by Matt Edgar. A legend that I have met! Liked the stuff about the leadership programme Matt is doing, and noted the need for me to follow up about the digital ready workforce stuff.
Books finished this week:
- None. Turns out starting a new job and trying to read Dickens are not compatible.
Currently Reading:
- Fiction: Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.
- Non-Fiction: Tony Benn a Political Life by David Powell.
- Non-Fiction: First Break All The Rules.
