The NHS is in the position to achieve social impact on an amazing scale. And their positive influence goes far beyond providing healthcare. The size of the NHS and its trusts mean they can also have a considerable effect on the nation’s employment, purchasing power, local partnerships, and efforts to reverse climate change.
But with such potential, it can be a challenge knowing exactly where to start. Especially with the unique pressures the NHS is under. Trusts are left struggling to make up for lost time thanks to the pandemic, face pressure to fill jobs quickly to overcome staff shortages, while also reckoning with a cost-of-living crisis.
Our advice? Take your social impact back to basics. Build a solid foundation and understanding first. Then look for ways to grow and evolve your approach as and when time, resources, and opportunities allow. Here are three steps for getting started.
Build a baseline understanding
To have the largest possible impact, and to set effective, realistic targets, you need to know where you’re currently at. You can’t identify your metrics for success or lay out a five-year plan without first contemplating your current position.
Performing internal audits allows you to take stock of your current performance on core metrics.
For example, the NHS is responsible for around 5.4% of the UK’s greenhouse gases. And it’s known as one of the world’s largest employers, with over 1.3 million employees. Take some time to explore how your individual organisation or wider trust is currently performing in areas like this.
Where are you exceeding expectations and making an overwhelmingly positive impact? Where might you be dragging behind slightly? Taking stock of your current performance on key social impact factors will be invaluable for identifying and prioritising further actions. It will allow you to be more realistic, risk-averse, and considered in your resource and time allocation.
Engage with local communities
The whole purpose of social value is to empower and uplift all people. Regardless of race, gender or sexual identity, household income, criminal background, or anything else. And this means it’s also your trust’s responsibility to ensure all local residents – particularly often underrepresented groups – have a voice in shaping the social impact your trust’s activities create.
Opening those channels of communication with them will allow you to assess local needs and challenges. It’ll help you hear from beneficiaries directly about the best way you can give back. And all of this will help you narrow down where your time and resources are best spent.
Lean on your staff
Remember when we said that the NHS has one of the largest global workforces? What if we also told you that your staff are a critical resource you could be overlooking right now?
There’s no end to the impact you could have by drawing on the full power and passion of your entire team, department, or organisation.
The way to achieve this is simple. Tap into the intrinsic motivation of your team. Ask them what sets their souls on fire. Work with them to co-design solutions for pressing societal problems. Put your staff in the driving seat of the impact they’re able to have on the world around them.
Doing this will work wonders for improving staff excitement and engagement with your efforts. And this will pay dividends later down the line when you come to rely on them to capture data to visualise your progress.
The NHS’s potential for positive change is massive. Now it’s about making that a reality for your trust. As with anything, we recommend going back to the beginning first. A solid awareness of your trust’s current impact, channels of communication with local communities, and high staff engagement will all pay off for your impact generated in the long-term.
Impact makes the social value side of procurement simple for NHS trusts. Working alongside your existing tools, we make comparing bids and ongoing contract management as straightforward as possible for your team and suppliers. To find out more, schedule a demo or get in touch with the team on 0161 532 4752.