Short answer
A programme health check is a short, independent review that tells a sponsor whether a programme will deliver what it promised. It rates delivery confidence, resets risk and reporting, and produces a prioritised recovery or acceleration plan. It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks on a fixed fee.
What it looks at
Governance and decision-making, plan realism, RAID, resourcing and contractor footprint, supplier performance, benefits and readiness. The output is an honest delivery-confidence rating rather than another status report.
When to run one
Before a major gate or board review, when leadership or finance ownership changes mid-flight, when costs climb without visible progress, or when reporting stays green and the people doing the work say otherwise.
What happens next
Most health checks lead to one of three outcomes: continue with targeted fixes, reset the programme’s governance and plan, or stop and redirect the money. Each is a valid result.
Key takeaways
- A health check is independent – for the sponsor, not the supplier.
- It ends in a rating and a plan, not a report.
- Running one before a gate is cheaper than recovering after it.
Frequently asked questions
How is a health check different from an audit?
An audit checks compliance against a standard. A health check asks whether the programme will land its outcomes and what to change so it does.
Who should commission it?
The programme sponsor or SRO, so the findings are independent of the delivery team and suppliers.
Will it disrupt the programme?
A well-run check uses interviews and existing artefacts and takes a few hours of each key person’s time.
Can it be repeated?
Yes. Many sponsors run a light quarterly check as part of ongoing assurance.
Programme Health Check
Know if your programme will land – fixed fee, 4 to 6 weeks.