ESR Assessment – Supporting the NHS People Plan

The NHS People Plan sets out the actions to support transformation across the whole NHS. Following on from the NHS People Plan, the Future of NHS HR & OD Strategy outlines a vision and actions that support the delivery of the four pillars within the People Plan and embeds the seven elements of the People Promise.

The Annual ESR Assessment has recently been updated for 2022-23.  The recent changes to the ESR Assessment include references to the NHS People Plan and the Future of NHS HR & OD Strategy.

These changes to the ESR Assessment now include how ESR functionality can help NHS HRD’s / CPO’s and their teams meet some of the objectives of the NHS People Plan and the Future of NHS HR & OD Strategy.

With a focus on Retention, in recent months, the NHSBSA ESR service team has been collaborating with NHS England’s Retention Leads to raise awareness amongst HRDs / CPOs and their teams about how ESR functionality and its data can be used to support the delivery of their local Retention Strategies. This represents one aspect of how ESR capability can support local action plans in support of the NHS People Plan.

Updated ESR Assessment Reports

Using data taken directly from ESR, together with an understanding of what workforce related priorities each organisation has set out for the twelve months ahead, your ESR Functional Account Manager produces a series of reports that include recommendations about ESR functionality - aimed at helping HRDs / CPOs meet their local workforce, recruitment and retention goals.

The ESR Assessment is carried out in two parts; firstly a comprehensive set of statistics and figures taken directly from the ESR solution, looking across a broad range of functional areas within ESR. This identifies gaps in usage and highlights where organisations can gain further efficiencies and benefits.

The second part of the process involves an in-depth discussion with the ESR Functional Account Manager looking at the organisation’s current agenda and future plans for ESR; so we can identify areas where we can provide additional guidance and support. 

Following the ESR Assessment, those in attendance, along with the organisation’s HRD / CPO receive a number of reports, these are detailed below.

At A Glance Report

This report provides your organisation with a helpful overview (using a traffic light colour code) of how you are utilising ESR against key ESR functionality.

Your ESR Annual Assessment Report

This is a full report of the organisation’s ESR utilisation based on the ESR Assessment outcome. It includes all the data discussed in the meeting along with timelines and project details where these have been agreed.

Organisation People Plan Report

Within this detailed report there are 35 specific organisational calls to action, where ESR can help your organisation to deliver on local recruitment and retention plans in line with the NHS People Plan, NHS People Promise and the Future of NHS HR & OD Strategy.

Data collected and discussed during the Assessment will be highlighted within this report giving your organisation an indication of how well ESR is being used and where use of functionality could be improved.

Organisation Health & Wellbeing Report

The health and wellbeing of your NHS employees is at the heart of recruitment and retention plans, so this report specifically looks at ESR functionality that can be utilised to assist in this area.

Organisation Infographic – Future NHS HR & OD Focus

This one page infographic gives your organisation a summary of its ESR utilisation against key areas where we believe ESR can assist in meeting key objectives of The Future of NHS HR & OD Strategy.

In addition to the organisation specific reports we also produce two regional infographics:

Regional Infographic – HR & OD Report Focused

This provides a summary of ESR utilisation across all NHS organisations within your region. This enables organisations to understand the regional uptake of ESR functionality in relation to some of the key items within The Future of NHS HR & OD Strategy, and where ESR can assist. 

STP (soon to be ICB’s) Infographic – HR & OD Report Focused

This provides a summary of ESR utilisation across all NHS organisations within a STP. (We are awaiting full confirmation of ICB membership before we convert the reports to reflect these.). This enables organisations to understand the regional uptake of ESR functionality from Self Service and online payslips, to learning competencies and the use of IAT to align to the national Enabling Staff Movement principles.

ICB Infographic – HR & OD Focused (development in progress)

We are developing an ICB based report that will enable organisations within an ICB to understand the regional uptake of ESR functionality - from Self Service and online payslips, to learning competencies and the use of IAT, including alignment to the national Enabling Staff Movement principles.

We conduct ESR Assessments on a rolling programme within the regions in England. If you are looking at how you can meet the objectives of the NHS People Plan and the Future of NHS HR & OD strategy, your ESR Assessment is a good starting point. Contact your regional NHSBSA ESR Functional Account Manager to find out more.  You can find their details here: https://my.esr.nhs.uk/dashboard/web/esrweb/about-communications-team