Helping GP partnerships thrive

Edgecumbe has worked with great success with several GP partnerships to help them to adapt to succeed in the ever changing primary care environment.

The programme continues to evolve to address the organisational and interpersonal challenges facing many partnerships. The core aim of the programme is to facilitate an understanding of what it means to work in partnership and how to work together successfully.

Each programme is completely tailored to the partnership, as it focuses on the challenges that the partners themselves identify. These are likely to include themes such as setting direction and the importance of aligning values and goals. Operational matters are also addressed such as relationships with commissioners and providers, clinical and corporate governance and relationships and management of employees.

Finally the programme will address issues within the partnership, and if necessary will use conflict resolution and team development techniques to create an environment where the partnership can thrive.

Who will benefit

The programme will be of most benefit to GP partnerships who wish to enhance their partnership.

If you cannot answer ‘yes’ to all the following questions then the programme will be of value. Do you and your partners:

• share the same values?
• agree on what you would like the partnership to be like in two to five years?
• put equal effort into leading the partnership
• rely on each other in times of personal stress and pressure?
• take time to reflect on how the partnership is working?
• know that you are leading and managing your staff effectively?
• manage disagreements and conflict in a productive way?

The context

Providing a service with increased patient access; where patient demands are more strident; where PCT targets are more stringent and budgets are likely to be tightened, will place stress and strain on all GP partnerships. If the partners function in a supportive and responsive way then they will be more able to meet these escalating challenges.

A three step process

The programme starts with all partners and the Practice Manager being interviewed by an Edgecumbe consultant. These interviews are designed to build a clear understanding of the different perspectives in the partnership on the values, ambitions and opinions of everyone. Psychometrics may be used to provide a language and insight into why the dynamics are the way they are.

The second step is a facilitated one day workshop, which will be designed by the consultant in the light of the interviews prioritising matters that are of most importance. Emphasis may be on developing a joint vision and strategy for the partnership; working effectively as a team or how to lead and manage the practice and people. Issues that have been lurking in the background are brought forward and tackled in a sensitive, supportive way. At the end of the workshop, agreements and actions are recorded that all are committed to.

Step three takes place about four to six months later. This is a follow up one day workshop where progress since the first workshop is reviewed, outstanding matters are addressed and a further set of actions and measures are confirmed.

Everything you learn will be easy to put into practice as the tools we share are practical, pragmatic and proven.