HFMA 2017: FFF outlines accreditation benefits

Speaking at a workshop on the opening day of the conference, FFF director David Ellcock said the scheme gave the Financial Leadership Council an opportunity to recognise good practice in finance teams.

There are three levels of accreditation, with the lowest level (one) based on self-assessment. In the top levels (two and three) assessment is carried out by an assessor from another NHS organisation. The levels aim to reflect continuous development of financial competence throughout the organisation.

‘The assessors will be looking at different aspects of how your finance department functions, with the focus predominantly on developing your finance staff, and how it works with other teams in the organisation to allow them to deliver a good service,’ he said.

While the first level focused on the functioning of the finance department, level two assesses how well the department links to other parts of the organisation. Mr Ellcock (pictured) said the third level was deliberately tough to achieve and examined the level of integration with the wider health and social care community.

Claire Yarwood, director of finance at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and FFF value maker senior responsible officer, said the scheme demonstrated the basics were in place in a finance department. ‘It allows you to identify your strong points and consider any weaknesses to address,’ she said. ‘If you haven’t got the basics then you haven’t got financial control.’

She added: ‘For assessors it raises their profile and develops their networks so they are known for their contribution outside their day-to-day job. Even if you are a director of finance it is a good thing to be an assessor as it takes you back to the day-to-day processes.’