We are proud to share that SARD has been shortlisted as a finalist in the HTN Now Awards 2025/26, recognising our work supporting Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust to improve medical job planning and workforce visibility.

The HTN Now Awards highlight digital projects that are making a real, measurable difference across the NHS. Being shortlisted reflects not just the outcome of the programme, but the practical, clinician-focused approach taken throughout.

Starting with the basics: understanding what was really happening

The work began with a diagnostic phase. Before any system changes, existing job planning processes and policies were reviewed with the trust to understand what was working, what was not, and where clinicians were struggling.

This stage was critical. Without a clear baseline, job planning can become an administrative exercise rather than a meaningful tool for managing services and supporting staff.

Moving to clear, consistent job planning

Following the diagnostic, SARD supported the trust to complete all consultant job plans across 18 specialties.

A single digital approach replaced the trust’s legacy platform, allowing consultants and signatories to create, review and approve job plans electronically. Progress could be seen in real time at specialty and organisational level, removing the need for manual tracking and repeated follow-ups.

More than 70% of the medical workforce received direct support during the programme, helping to ensure plans were completed consistently and fairly.

Turning job plans into useful workforce insight

Completed job plans were then used to carry out demand and capacity analysis across all 18 specialties.

By looking at how medical time was actually distributed between clinical care, supporting professional activities and on-call work, the trust could clearly see where capacity matched demand and where it did not.

In anaesthetics, for example, the analysis identified 31 programmed activities per week of clinical care capacity above demand, equivalent to around four full-time consultants. This level of insight had not previously been visible.

Built-in tracking also highlighted clinicians who had not yet started or submitted job plans, allowing targeted support and helping the trust achieve full completion.

A stronger foundation for future planning

As a result of the programme, the trust progressed from Level 0 to Level 3 NHS England attainment, giving clinical and workforce leaders a more reliable foundation for ongoing planning and decision-making.

Most importantly, the organisation now has clear, trusted information about how medical time is used, enabling more informed discussions about service delivery, staffing and sustainability.

Why this matters

This project shows what can be achieved when job planning is treated as a core part of workforce management rather than a tick-box exercise. Clear data, shared visibility and practical support can help NHS organisations make better decisions for clinicians and patients alike.

We are grateful to HTN for recognising this work and to the teams at Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust for their collaboration and commitment throughout the programme.

You can read the full HTN award listings here:
https://htn.co.uk/htn-now-awards-2025-26-workforce-solution-of-the-year/
https://htn.co.uk/htn-now-awards-2025-26-best-use-of-data/

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general guidance only. It may not reflect the most up-to-date NHS policies or local Trust practices. Always refer to current NHS guidance and your organisation’s policies for definitive information.