Implementing Telecare
Assess resource requirements - Implementing Telecare

All projects need resources, and the effective project manager ensures that they secure those they need, and use them effectively to secure the intended outcomes. Having agreed what the project is intended to achieve, by when, the project team will also establish how to achieve that – such as re-design processes, procure technology, provide training. These will all require resources, and they need to be specified and secured for the project to achieve the outcomes. It is worth spending time assessing resource requirements and identifying potential sources of funding in order to ensure that:

• all the resources needed to deliver a new service are identified;
• this is done in sufficient time that they can be made available in the most cost-effective way;
• those providing them do so willingly, as they can see it is in their interests to do so;
• senior management gives formal commitment to release these to secure the desired outcomes.

Implementing a telecare service and then discovering (for example) that there is no budget for training or equipment maintenance is likely to lead to failure, unless other creative approaches are adopted.

Work to assess the availability of resources may lead the project team to propose a revision of the strategic outcomes – if they believe they cannot secure the resources they need, they may wish to make senior management aware of this sooner rather than later. The team should undertake an options appraisal to highlight the options for the way forward.

Steps in estimating resource requirements

Some steps in estimating resourcing include:

1. Identifying the resources required

These arise from each of the headings in the project plan, and include:

• Finance to secure equipment, software, maintenance contracts, additional staff etc;
• Time and expertise of, say, a training department to provide an in-house service;
• Availability of staff – ranging from significant commitments as active members of the project team, to being willing to give occasional advice and support – always in competition with other demands on their time.

2. When will they be needed?

Resources will typically be required at different stages of the project. The sooner requirements can be established, and approaches made to secure them, the more likely it is that they will be available: or if the preferred source cannot deliver, there is more time to identify and arrange alternatives.

3. Who will provide them?

Identify whether these are coming from:

• central government;
• departments / services within in the local authority, or NHS Board;
• other public agencies;
• commercial suppliers;
• voluntary organisations;
• charges to service users.

It will help the project team to be as precise as possible about what is required: and also to think about alternative sources of resourcing if the first source cannot deliver.

4. How to persuade potential resource providers?

The project will probably be competing with other projects for some, if not all, of the resources required. Once the team has established who they hope will provide the resources; they need to decide how they will persuade them to meet requests for finance, staff, etc. They do not have to agree, so the team needs to plan their approach– by demonstrating how the telecare project will support the interests of the different resource providers. Remember – even if not successful initially, other opportunities may arise at a later date. Project teams need to be aware of budget setting processes and timescales and look for opportunities, for example secure underspend at the end of the financial year.