IMPOWER shortlisted for four Management Consultancies Association (MCA) Awards

We are delighted that IMPOWER has been named as a finalist in four categories of the 2023 MCA Awards.

The Management Consultancies Association (MCA) is the representative body for management consultancy firms in the UK. Their annual awards demonstrates the value of consulting, and celebrates the results achieved when clients and consultants work together. This year has been more competitive than ever, with a 22% increase in SMEs entering the awards. So get to the finalist stage in the four categories we entered is a massive achievement and we are truly proud.

Two of our projects have been shortlisted in the following categories:

• ‘Change and Transformation in the Public Sector’ for our work with Manchester Local Care Organisation
• ‘Performance Improvement in the Public Sector’ for our work with Lincolnshire County Council

The impact we deliver for our clients is only possible because of our dedicated and passionate colleagues, two of whom have been shortlisted:

• Michael Wyatt for ‘Young Consultant of the Year’
• Chris Maxsted for ‘Rising Star’

A 500-word summary of each nomination can be found via the MCA website, but below is an overview.

The growing number of submissions demonstrates the MCA’s increasingly strong reputation and the fantastic work being delivered by consultants. Having our work recognised in this way is highly significant, and we very much look forward to celebrating with our colleagues, clients and fellow consulting firms at the MCA Awards Ceremony on 9 October in London!

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Change and Transformation in the Public Sector with Manchester Local Care Organisation

Through the Resilient Discharge Programme (RDP) IMPOWER has re-energised those working on hospital wards and injected a renewed sense of confidence and clarity for the future among senior leaders across the NHS and local government within Manchester and Trafford.

Hospitals are now better placed to manage spikes in demand while ward clinicians are now focused on assessing a patient’s strengths and getting them home safely. The transformation work has brought partners together around a common goal so that they are now looking at further opportunities to collaborate and drive better outcomes for the residents of Manchester and Trafford.

The average length of stay for patients on intervention wards has fallen by 1.5 days while ward staff’s understanding of strengths-based practice has increased by 49%.

Katy Calvin Thomas, Chief Executive at Manchester Local Care Organisation, says IMPOWER’s work “makes change feel real” and has helped to turn a vision into reality: “Together we created an approach where we have focused on delivering specific interventions, we gave these interventions time to succeed, and then we have created real energy in the system.”

Performance Improvement in the Public Sector with Lincolnshire County Council

IMPOWER has helped one of the country’s largest acute hospital trusts to kickstart a culture shift in the way patients are assessed by implementing an effective model for discharge and flow. Where previously too many patients were staying in acute hospital beds unnecessarily, systems are now in place to bring a more consistent and timely approach to assessing whether they can be safely discharged.

It has significantly increased rates of discharge, relieved some of the pressure on wards and generated substantial cost savings while identifying further opportunities for efficiency.

The project is bringing about a culture shift that galvanises practitioners around a common purpose so acute beds are not viewed as a ‘safe place’. Over time, it should see more patients discharged to receive care and support in the most appropriate setting rather than face lengthy stays in hospital beds.

Nikki Pownall, System Flow Director at United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust explains: “Whereas previously changes haven’t stuck, the intensive support IMPOWER provided on the front line has resulted in improvements being embedded. When I walked around the wards in January I found so much of the positive work was continuing even though their consultants had moved away from those areas. The fingerprints of IMPOWER are all over these successful improvements.”

Rising Star – Chris Maxsted

Since joining IMPOWER from HM Treasury, Chris has brought invaluable insight that’s helping to bridge the gap between central government and local delivery. Chris says:

“It’s great to have been shortlisted for the Rising Star Award – even if it did come as a bit of a shock! This is really testament though to all of my great colleagues here at IMPOWER who have been so helpful in supporting me to transition away from the ivory tower of central government finance and into the real world of making real change happen through IMPOWER’s work”.

Young Consultant – Michael Wyatt

Since joining IMPOWER two years ago, Michael has been promoted from Senior Consultant to Senior Manager. He demonstrates excellent leadership skills on busy hospital wards while effectively managing relationships with clients and their many stakeholders. Michael says:

“It was a complete privilege to be put forward by IMPOWER for Young Consultant of the Year considering all the amazing people we have here, let alone be shortlisted. This is testament to both the IMPOWER and public sector teams I am lucky enough to work with each day, particularly our frontline health and care heroes who believe in delivering better outcomes.”

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