Preparing for Implementation
Once planners have gathered and analysed the evidence and have
taken into account local considerations and viewpoints, they will now
need to agree the priorities that will be included in the local Vision Plan
so that a draft plan be developed and begin the consultation process. To
prepare for the implementation stage planning groups will need to:
Streamline vision plan priorities
Using data gathered, identify the overall priorities of the vision plan and
any accompanying implementation plan, the objectives and the delivery
performance indicators. Many of these priorities will have emerged as a
result of evidence gathering - some may have emerged as a result of the
consultation activities.
It is likely that areas will identify more priorities than can realistically be
delivered, priorities that are medium/long term in their delivery and
priorities that have resource implications on their delivery. Areas will
need to check to ensure that the priorities identified are the right ones to
be delivered locally, and that the focus of each priority is agreed across
the local area. Planners may wish to confirm the priorities separately, or
once they have developed a draft vision plan and begin the final
consultation process across the local area.
Draft the local vision plan
Once priorities are identified, planners will then need to produce a draft
local vision plan. Chapter headings or areas of focus might include
things like:
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Vision and principles
National and local drivers
Population and geographic information
Current picture of eye health and sight impairment support services
Strategy priorities
Implementation/action plan
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Many of the above headings link to sections contained within the
planning guidance and can help areas consider what may be important
to include in their local vision plan. Areas can also include additional or
alternative chapters in their own plan.
Will areas need an action/implementation plan(s)?
Will areas need an additional action or implementation plan or plans to
manage the delivery of your vision plan? If so, will areas need one
overall action plan, one for each of your sector partners, or one each for
specific geographical areas?
Are there any sectors or partners with particular expertise in delivering or
evaluating an element of your strategy/plan? Develop the approach that
best matches local needs and issues.
Undertake a draft Vision Plan consultation
Once planning group members have agreed priorities and their
importance, it is important to check with local partners, patients and
service users whether the vision plan reflects the needs, issues and
priorities of the local area. Areas should consider whether they wish to
undertake a consultation, and how long the consultation period would be.
The average consultation time is around three months.
Vision Plan sign off
It is likely that planners will need to get strategic sign off or endorsement
of your vision plan before beginning the implementation process.
Planning groups should have made the links with strategic decision
making boards at the beginning of the process, so they should be aware
of the vision plan, how it was developed and the identified priorities.
Planning groups should also be aware of the timetable for decisions by
local strategy or advisory Boards/Panels/Groups.
Consider the resource implications
As identified in section one, planners will need to agree how they will
address identified resource considerations to support implementation.
Areas should be clear about how they might address resource
implications once they have reached the point of producing a draft
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strategy. Areas may also have identified services where a business
case will need to be developed to support service delivery.
Monitoring and evaluating service delivery
Consider how Vision Plan implementation will be monitored including the
impact of the plan, the planning group and changes to service delivery as
a result of identified priorities. Identified priorities may also be delayed,
become obsolete or change - this also needs to be monitored. Areas
should also consider how they might measure the economic or social
impact of the Vision Plan and the planning process, particularly in areas
that service delivery by two sectors (see section 10 for guidance).
Planning groups may decide to launch the vision plan before
implementation begins. Alternatively, groups may decide to go straight
to implementation. Areas will need to consider what resources there are
for launching the document, and the type of launch they wish to
undertake.
Summary
Once planning groups have reached this point, they would have
developed a Vision Plan, alongside any action or implementation plans.
Planning groups may also have begun to identify and evidence some of
the benefits of evidence based co-planning and co-production as a result
of the planning process, which might include:
 Clearer understanding of the current and future considerations for eye
health and sight loss support enabling you to jointly forward plan
services and resources
 Better understanding of the remit of partners across Health, Local
Authority and the Voluntary Sector
 Better able to engage local people in strategic planning of services
There are likely to be several other benefits identified by planning
groups; use these to disseminate the impact of the group and its
identified priorities and plans.
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