Job plans are supposed to give a clear picture of how consultant time is spent.
But in most trusts, the reality is messier.

Different language.
Different levels of detail.
Different interpretations of what ‘admin time’ or ‘clinic time’ even means.

And yet the pressure is on to improve productivity, reduce WLIs, and make job plans ‘count’.

That’s why the SARD Job Plan Diagnostic toolkit exists.
It’s the simplest possible starting point:
A detailed assessment of whether the data in your job plans is fit for purpose.

What it shows:

• How consistent your job plans are;
• Whether job plans match what consultants are paid for;
• How activity is distributed across the week;
• Whether the language makes sense (and recommendations for improvement);
• Any big gaps, oddities, or inconsistencies to address.

Most importantly, it gives you a service-level health score.

That score becomes your foundation for workforce planning, demand modelling, utilisation, productivity work. Anything you want to do next starts here.

It’s not a large undertaking.
It’s not performance management.
It’s a simple, clear, factual picture of where things stand today.

And, this initial diagnostic for your NHS Trust is likely to be funded by your Regional NHS England commissioning body.

If you’re curious what the picture looks like in your Trust, we’d be happy to talk.

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.