KCHFT scoops national digital innovation award for revolutionising recruitment

Colleagues at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) can now add ‘national health heroes’ to their title, after scooping a digital innovation award for transforming how quickly new staff are recruited.

A team of human resources and IT professionals were recognised by the Skills for Health: Our Health Heroes Awards, for leading the way and using process automation (RPA) to create a ‘bot’, which reduces the time it takes to hire employees and improve the onboarding experience for new colleagues.

Since the introduction of the bot, affectionately named Ravi, which has automated processes and reduced the admin burden on colleagues in recruitment, KCHFT has released 24,177 hours of time back to the team – the equivalent of more than 12 full time posts and £325,000.

The team has also been able to remove vacant posts, which has saved a further £135,000. The project has been so impactful that the team, which fought off tough competition from across the country to win the award, has been asked to share their expertise at national NHS events and conferences, including a briefing at the House of Lords.

Accepting the award on behalf of the team Sarah Hayden, Director of People Operations at KCHFT, said: “It is no secret that recruitment is one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS and we felt passionately about improving how quickly we could bring new talent into the organisation.

“Coupled with the need to spend public money wisely and the opportunities new technology offers us to improve and innovate, automation has been an exciting and productive step towards the future.

“RPA has been something we've been working on for about four years now and the results speak for themselves. Across our human resources services, there are now more than 100 automations in place. There are another 115 processes automated across KCHFT, reducing the admin burden on our clinical teams and freeing up more time for patient care.

“It’s really special knowing your peers and colleagues have nominated you and think what you do is so worthwhile. We’re delighted to be able to support other colleagues across the NHS with the work we've done.”

Supported by NHS England, NHS Employers, NHS Shared Business Services, NHS Race and Health Observatory, SFJ Awards and Integrated Care Journal, Skills for Health’s Our Health Heroes recognises and honours the hard work carried out daily by thousands of staff across the UK. To find out more visit the Skills for health website.

Pictured: KCHFT’s Darren Spinks, Sarah Hayden, Joe Tinkler and Diane Alexander were presented their award by Erika Bannerman (far left) Managing Director NHS Shared Business Services and Dr Dawn Harper (far right) from Channel 4’s ‘Embarrassing Bodies’.