Learn why NLFT launched a Digital Academy to transform digital capability, become more data-driven, and improve service user experience.
Healthcare
6,000+
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) provides mental health and wellbeing support to local communities across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington. Services include:
Children and young people’s mental health services
Prison services
Forensic services
Eating disorders
Drug and alcohol recovery
In recent years, demand for mental health services has soared, resulting in acute financial and resource pressures for service providers – making it an essential priority for NLFT to leverage the benefits of data and technology, and equip staff with the skills to drive innovation and improve patient experience.
“Investment in data and analytics is one of our key priorities for the next five years - and one of the key themes of our digital strategy. There are huge pressures in terms of recruitment and retention, and there is a national agenda around improving productivity and efficiency. Supporting our staff to interpret data will directly help deliver improvements to patient care.”
— Sarah Wilkins, Chief Digital and Information Officer at NLFT
Delivering excellent digital services: providing high-quality, secure and reliable digital services, allowing staff to deliver the best possible care.
Becoming a data-driven organisation: leveraging clinical and business intelligence to improve health outcomes and decision-making at every level.
Building smart infrastructure: exploring cloud-hosted solutions, hybrid server architectures, and smart building designs that enable agile, secure, and efficient care delivery.
Exploiting AI technologies: to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver better outcomes for service users.
Fostering a culture of innovation: building a digitally literate workforce capable of utilising cutting-edge technology to improve care and empower service users.
About the NLFT Digital Academy
In 2023, NLFT launched their Digital and Data Academy, delivered in partnership with Multiverse and funded through the Apprenticeship Levy. The Academy helps staff build new skillsets in data, AI, and transformation.
Learners come from every division of the Trust and include Support Officers, Service Managers, Analysts, Clinicians, and Nurses.
“Strengthening and developing digital literacy and leadership across our organisation is crucial for fostering a culture that promotes innovation and meaningful changes in patient care. This focus is a key aspect of our digital strategy and serves as the foundation for our collaboration with the Multiverse Digital Academy.”
— Emily Burch, Chief Nursing Information Officer at NLFT
Staff are encouraged to share new knowledge across the Trust. Regular Data, Digital, and AI Academy Roundtables, chaired by Emily Burch, bring together learners and leaders to share learnings and success stories.
“The insights shared through initiatives such as our roundtables and the best practice playbooks we are developing not only enhance our practices at NLFT, but also aim to serve as valuable resources for other Trusts seeking to drive innovation.”
— Emily Burch, Chief Nursing Information Officer at NLFT
Teams are seeing the benefit of new skills, driving changes that enhance patient experience and operational efficiency. 100% of learners understand how the Academy contributes to the Trust’s strategy and supports their career goals.
“Multiverse has been an invaluable partner, and the Digital Academy has been transformational for our staff. It’s really opened their eyes to the power of data and how they’re using it, creating a huge impact for our services.”
— Sarah Wilkins, Chief Digital and Information Officer at NLFT
“I’ve learned new skills that have enabled me to become a leader in driving impactful change that benefits both service users and colleagues. The benefits have been immense.”
— Sophie Macken, Business Support Officer at NLFT
Role: London Prisons Service Lead
Fellowship: Multiverse Business Transformation Fellowship
Challenge: Reporting requirements consuming 2–3 days per month for each team lead
Solution: Process improvements saving 45 hours per month
Impact: Learnings now shared nationally with other Healthcare in Justice providers
Role: Consultant Social Worker
Challenge: High number of patients clinically ready for discharge but delayed by care assessments
Solution: Process and documentation improvements, tracked with PowerBI
Result: Patients awaiting assessments reduced from 25 to 1 in nine months
Sustainability: Recommendation to establish a dedicated discharge team in Barnet
Role: Business Intelligence Analyst
Challenge: High number of queries related to readmissions
Solution: Applied skills in hypothesis testing and predictive analysis
Finding: Gender had a significant impact on readmission rates
Next step: Findings to be investigated further by Population Health team to recommend interventions