Member to member / Don’t be afraid to be creative

The HFMA Mental Health Finance Faculty recently appointed Suzanne Robinson their new chair. She takes over from Paul Stefanoski who chaired the faculty for over six years. In 2016 Suzanne moved to the mental health sector, having previously worked in acute trusts.

Alongside her main job as director of finance, performance and digital at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, she is also finance director for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sustainability Transformation Partnership and senior responsible officer for Future-Focused Finance’s value makers.

A few months ago, she received an HFMA key contributor award, recognising her longstanding support for the association. We spoke with her about her career path and the influence being an HFMA member gives you.

How did you start your NHS finance journey?

When I left school I had no idea what I wanted to be and studied Psychology, English Literature and French at A-Level. I’ve always been interested in people and what makes them tick so that maybe explains the psychology, but as for the other who knows. I quickly started my finance journey studying finance & accounting at university where I first discovered the NHS Graduate Finance Management Training Scheme. I was 100% sold and through either an overwhelming belief in fate or complete stupidity, I only applied for this scheme and threw everything at being accepted… I started September 2001 and have felt hugely privileged and lucky ever since.

Why did you get involved with the HFMA?

As graduates we were exposed to the work of the HFMA early on and 17 years later it’s through HFMA events that my alumni usually catch up! The network has always been really strong and something the finance community should be proud of. My other executive colleagues are genuinely envious of the support we draw from the HFMA and opportunity to learn and share best practise. I’ve used the HFMA to help my career too – it’s given me exposure and access to representatives from the Department of Health, NHS Improvement, NHS England, the National Audit Office. The groups really influence key finance policies as they are developed and the HFMA is a considered valued expert voice from all of these organisations. Over the years I’ve been a member of a number of the specialist interest groups (costing, payment systems, and specialist services) and now I chair the Mental Health Finance Faculty.

What is the role of the faculty in the NHS finance world?

The Mental Health Finance Faculty is a network of trusts who have common interest, can share experience and expertise, and want to use their combined numbers to try and influence thought and policy in the sector. We aim to support and represent the interests of finance professionals in organisations delivering mental health services and provide an opportunity to work on solutions for common issues. We’ve recently been working on the Lord Carter recommendations, taking an early look at the National Tariff changes for our sector and how this could reform, system working and lots lots more. All NHS mental health providers in England are members of the faculty which gives us great credibility when we conduct our surveys and gather opinion.  We are currently surveying members on Five Year Forward View Investment mental health directors of finance should have received the email link to the survey last week!

What’s the most important HFMA member benefit for you?

Everyone will say the networking opportunities within the HFMA are exceptional and we all rely on it when we need help or ideas. I’d also call out the resources they produce though; we’re all busy so to be able to refer to the briefing notes they produce can be hugely helpful and I often use them for my meetings and committees. The other part is access to the work of the special interest groups – you can guarantee if you’re having an issue that’s causing you concern about the world of NHS finance, one of the groups will be on to it!

What piece of advice do you have for others in NHS finance?

Get involved! It’s as simple as that. Whether you want to develop your own personal career or are happy in your job and just want to make it better. The NHS finance family has so much to offer and the HFMA is just one fabulous example of how you can do this.

And for those considering the NHS finance as a career choice? Being part of the wider NHS family is one of the most rewarding careers you can have.  I am humbled each and every day by the work the NHS does – it’s great to be a part of that!

And finally don’t be afraid to be creative – I encourage my teams to constantly look at the way we do things – whether it’s how we raise the awareness of finance across the trust, report our information, support and advise, use technology – basically continue to innovate. The NHS is transforming and we should too.