Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

JCM was initially engaged to lead a contract management transformation project at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. The project focussed on transforming the management of the Trust’s PFI Project Agreement, a complex, £64m p.a. outsourced facilities management contract. JCM led on the implementation of Sirion to provide Trust staff with a single solution to manage all aspects of the Project Agreement from new service variations through to invoice validation.

In October 2021, JCM was additionally commissioned by BHRUT to review the Managed Equipment Services element of the PFI contract. The work will comprise of an assessment of the contracts and performing a gap analysis between the contractual provisions, and the service delivery over the 15 year life of the contract. This review will also provide recommendations to all parties on ways to improve value for money from the contract in the future.

During 2022, JCM completed an independent assessment into the compliance of the Queens Hospital Managed Equipment Service (MES), highlighting operational risks and making recommendations for improvements to the contract management of the service. JCM was subsequently engaged to implement these recommendations and support the day-to-day management of the MES service. This has resulted in an improvement in the working relationship between the Trust and Siemens, their contractor, allowing the Trust to benefit from an expedited schedule of equipment replacements and leveraging greater value for money from the contract.

JCM continued to work closely with BHRUT throughout 2023 and into 2024, providing both consultancy and technology services.

“The Trust has made significant improvements to the financial scrutiny and control of the PFI contract throughout the engagement with JCM and Sirion. We have increased accountability with clearer processes, reduced risk through effective knowledge management and improved financial controls on invoice challenge and validation.

JCM worked as part of our team, provided us with excellent advice and have identified significant opportunities for potential savings. We are now working in partnership to realise the saving opportunities to improve our financial position and the quality of patient care.”

Stuart Greenacre - Associate Director of Finance, BHRUT

“From the start, JCM’s consultants worked as integrated members of our estates team – they are ‘doers’ and not just advisors. By working together, they have identified efficiencies and material savings which can be directed towards front line patient care. 

JCM’s deep understanding of the health sector and the intricacies of PFI agreements has enabled the joint team to deliver the agreed objectives early and within budget.”

Steve Last - Interim Director of Estates & Facilities, BHRUT

“I had a basic level of knowledge about the contract before the project started but working with JCM has given me a much deeper understanding of how to ensure compliance with obligations, processes and a best practice governance structure. Sirion is helping me drive greater levels of accountability and efficiency across all stakeholder groups. 

I have come away from the experience better informed, knowing how to ensure the Trust is getting value for money and making sure we get the services we pay for to improve the quality of patient care. I have really enjoyed the experience.”

Neil Seymour - Hard FM Compliance Manager, BHRUT

Buckinghamshire NHS Trust

Just Contract Management supported BHT with the implementation of Sirion’s technology to support their complex PFI contract management.

During 2021, JCM also assisted BHT in the collation and submission of data for their NHS ERIC return. This work was underpinned by the installation of the contract management technology solution previously mobilised by JCM to provide real time reportable data, especially in regard to the required information for the delivery of FM services. JCM were able to offer the client both a cost saving and time efficiency on previous years’ submissions through utilisation of technology.

Further work in 2022 involved completing a market test negotiation of Wycombe and Amersham PFI contract. By re-scoping and going to market, the Trust achieved an annual saving of over 20% for the remaining 9 years of the PFI contract, saving the Trust significant costs.

“The Trust’s engagement with JCM who have supported our implementation of Sirion has been extremely positive. Delivering such a complex project through an extremely challenging period is testament to the calibre of good team working between JCM and the Trust’s own staff. In the months since we went live, the Sirion solution is giving the Trust much greater control of our PFI contracts and is providing assurance that we are getting the services that we are paying for.”

Ali Williams - Chief Operating Officer

“The end result has far exceeded my expectations and it is a really exciting platform that not only performs a huge amount of analytical work on complex contracts, that would otherwise need to be done manually, such as validating and reconciling invoices, it provides “live” dashboard reporting over 9 services, 2 contracts linking multiple systems together as one. These improvements now provide us with greater assurance of service delivery and improved financial scrutiny whilst releasing more time for my team and I to focus on value-adding activity that supports front line care. 

Working with JCM has been a fantastic experience over the past six months, your extensive knowledge and enthusiasm about contact management has made a real difference to the management of our PFI contracts and enabled growth in contract knowledge to all levels of my team. Where before they may have not challenged you have empowered them with this new system.” 

Rochelle Gee - Head of Operations - Property Services

East Suffolk and North Essex
NHS Foundation Trust

In late 2022/early 2023, Just Contract Management undertook a high level review of ESNEFT’s PFI contract and provided a bespoke training programme around PFI management to the Trust’s Contract Manager.

The project included furthering the Trust’s understanding of the PFI’s lifecycle replacement arrangements and this has helped suppport the negotiations around a repurposing of large areas of the PFI estate.

Lewisham and Greenwich
NHS Trust

On behalf of Lewisham and Greenwich, Just Contract Management managed and administered the annual collation and submission to central Government of their 2021/22 Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC) data. The project included validating the data against peers and previous submissions, as well as managing and responding to follow up information requests from the NHS Estates and Facilities Management Information System (EFM).

North East London NHS Foundation Trust

From April 2024, JCM is delighted to have been retained by NELFT to support the Trust in its preparations for the expiry of its PFI contract at the Goodmayes Hospital.  JCM will be working with the Trust team and the Project Company to ensure that the facility is returned to the Trust at the end of the PFI contract in a condition which meets the requirements of the Trust and its patients.