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Only 10% of Health staff appraisal data on new Gov IT platform

Only 10% of Health staff appraisal data on new Gov IT platform

Wednesday 03 April 2024

Only 10% of Health staff appraisal data on new Gov IT platform

Wednesday 03 April 2024


A scrutiny panel is calling for action after it emerged that only 10% of Health staff have had their appraisal data transferred onto a new government digital platform.

The 'Connect' performance system is intended to centralise performance data for all public sector staff.

In its latest report, the Public Accounts Committee noted that most departments have achieved data transfer rates of above 85%.

But only 10% of Health and Community Services' staff records have been transferred to the new Connect system.

The other largest employing department – Children, Young People, Education and Skills – is also lagging behind with a completion rate of 64%. 

The PAC, which is responsible for assessing whether public funds have been used effectively, now wants the government to publish an action plan to improve the situation.

The Connect system was introduced as part of the Integrated Technology Solution (ITS) project to replace the Government’s disparate finance, HR, inventory and asset management, health and safety and supplier systems, and move them onto cloud-based technology.

ITS was initially earmarked to cost £28m in the 2020-23 Government Plan, which increased to £40m in the 2021-24 plan, and then £62.5m in the next one.

In a report published last year, the Government's spending watchdog – Comptroller and Auditor General Lynn Pamment – found that "many of the financial benefits" that the system promised would be delayed, or not delivered at all

IT_system_stock.jpg

Pictured: The 'Connect' system was introduced as part of the Integrated Technology Solution (ITS) project to update Government technology.

The ITS transition was intended to improve how the Government managed finances, assets, inventory and suppliers and replaces the increasingly unsupported Supply Jersey and JD Edwards technologies.

However, the switch caused numerous "teething issues", most notably regarding the Connect Finance system which hindered the Government's ability to pay invoices and caused Treasury Minister Ian Gorst to ask suppliers for "patience" while it tackled the IT problems.

When the system change came into force at the end of 2022, around 8,000 outstanding payments totalling £22 million were discovered by the Government

The changes also meant that some parents of new pupils who had previously been sent a direct debit form for their school fees needed to complete a new form before the start of the academic year.

Alongside these financial problems, it also emerged that resources had to be diverted from other areas to prioritise issues arising from the implementation of Connect Finance.

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