As set out in Performance Management in the HSE - Guidance Document 2012, it is the policy of the HSE to "implement, maintain and monitor a Performance Management System that develops the capacity and capability of its employees, improves the performance of the organisation and addresses the underperformance in a timely and constructive manner". The performance management system applying to all HSE staff can be found within the Staff and Benefits section of the HSE website. It should be noted that top-level management in the HSE (National Directors) are line-managed personally by the Director General.
The Consultant Contract 2008 provides for a structured work planning and performance management mechanism at Appendix III ‘Clinical Directorate Service Plan’. In addition, the Contract requires that consultants:
- “co-operate in giving effect to such arrangements as are put into place to verify the delivery of the Consultant’s contractual commitments.
- “are subject to statutory and regulatory requirements and corporate policies and procedures.”
- “participate in development of and undertake all duties and functions pertinent to the Consultant’s area of competence, as set out within the Clinical Directorate Service Plan
- “ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services.”
- “work within the framework of the hospital / agency’s service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer.
- "the contract also provides that service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure or other arrangements as apply.”
- “formally review the execution of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan with the Clinical Director / Employer periodically.
In addition, the agreement between health service management, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation under the Public Service Agreement entitled ‘Consultants Implementing the Public Service Agreement – 17th September 2012’ introduced strengthened working arrangements for consultants.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2014 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to a system where the HSE must manage their staffing within an overall pay budget framework will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery.
In this regard the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has requested that the HSE and Department of Health submit a 2015 Pay and Numbers Strategy to support the move to the new framework. Following approval of the strategy by DPER, a letter of delegated sanction for staffing will be issued.
