Review, Reflect and Plan: For the next financial year

A simple framework for network managers and primary care leads to adopt before the end of the financial year.

To build upon all the amazing work you have been doing over the past financial year and the lessons learnt, I believe it’s really important to review, reflect and set goals. This is a foundation for how I work in my own business and as an interim PCN Manager.

This framework can be used at the end of the calendar year and most importantly, at the end of the financial year.

At the end of the financial year, you'll have an additional layer of data - your financials - to guide you in how you plan for the next 12 months.

1. Acknowledge the things you have achieved and valuable lessons you have learnt.

• You can do this by yourself or as a team.

• You can use a flip chart paper, post-it notes or a simple notepad and pen.

• Keep it informal.

• Ensure everyone’s voice is heard

• It doesn’t matter if the achievements or things that didn't work well are seemly small. It all counts for us to learn from.

2. Get organised:

• What projects are continuing into the new financial year?

• Where was budget stretched last year? What can we plan for? Where can we make savings?

• Plan meetings with the senior leadership teams and finance team to discuss financial targets.

• Is all of your invoicing up to date?

• Have you assigned a cut-off date to ensure costs that the business incurred before year end get tax relief assigned within the right year?

5. Set goals and plan for the year ahead.

• What is it that you want to achieve next year?

• Are there processes that need to be refined to support the income/finances?

• What reports will you need to create throughout the year? Are you clear on the expectation and timing of these?

Break your goals into daily/ weekly/ monthly activities and schedule in your diary. Commit to taking action and in moments of doubt, remember why you set the goal in the first place and if the rationale still stands.

If you're looking to get into a good position for the end of the financial year, you'll find End of Year Checklist useful.

Tara provides project and network management and training to Primary Care Networks and coaching support to clinical leads and has worked with 11 Training Hubs and 19 Primary Care Networks to date.

Tara has an MBA in Healthcare Leadership and Management, is published in the London Journal of Primary Care, is the author of over 200 blogs also hosts The Business of Healthcare Podcast.

Find out more about THC Primary Care at www.thcprimarycare.co.uk

And follow Tara on Twitter @THCPrimarycare