Monthly archives: July 2018

Safeguarding Children Level 3 Training: court report writing

We’re offering Safeguarding Children Level 3 Training (court report writing) for all our colleagues.

The course aims to:

• Improve competency in promoting the welfare of children through provision of succinct, analytical and timely reports.
• Contribute to the process of making the right decisions for children in the legal system.
• Have clarity regarding roles and responsibility within a legal context of providing a factual report and giving evidence in court.

You can book via the ESR – Self Service queries on connect page.

For more information please contact tanyaclarke@nhs.net.

Free NHS health checks

Do you want to know your risk of heart disease?

The occupational health and wellbeing services, in conjunction with Mytime Active, are offering free NHS health checks which includes a measurement of height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and cholesterol as well as lifestyle questionnaires. The NHS Health Check aims to help you prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.

Appointments will last 30 minutes and must be booked in advance.

The health checks will be available at Sandwell and City Hospital on following dates between 10am – 2pm.

City Hospital (Room 1, Occupational Health, Sheldon Block)

• 20 July

For booking appointments please contact Jatinder Sekhon/Emma Williams on 3306.

Heartbeat: Apprentices whip up some good results in catering survey

A survey into the catering facilities at our organisation, led by level 3 Apprentices has revealed that colleagues and visitors are impressed with the service.

A group of five apprentices, who are studying for a Business and Administration qualification, spoke to those visiting Hallam Restaurant at Sandwell, and Arches at City over a 10-day period to find out what they thought about the food and customer service.

They surveyed more than 100 people and the results showed that people were pleased with the new-look Hallam Restaurant and with the food that is served on a daily basis. Many however, complained about the long queues experienced at the Arches.

Stella Powell, Assessor/Coach from the Learning and Development team, said: “The project was a good way for our apprentices to use their skills and it was very realistic. It took place over a six week period, which included time to analyse the results.

“The overall results showed that users of the facilities found it generally good. These findings have been passed onto the catering team so that they can work on the feedback. “

She added: “The apprentices demonstrated that they carried out the task effectively. They found it very interesting and they took ownership of it.”

The results were presented to the catering department by the apprentices, Joe Quinlan, Hayley Johnstone, Amina Safeer, Terri Montford and Isabella Gianfreda.

Terri, who also works as an acting team Leader in antenatal, said: “I found this project very enjoyable and interesting, gauging a wide variety of feedback from staff and visitors.

“We discovered that people found the overall service good but have pinpointed some negatives which were brought to the attention of the catering managers. I definitely think that future apprentices who will be doing their Level 3 in Business and Administration would benefit from doing another project like this as this has helped me build my confidence and team working skills.

“Hopefully we will be seeing some positive changes within the catering department.”

David Calder, Catering Manager, said: “The information we received from the apprentices was brilliant and really valuable – especially about where we needed to improve.

“Generally, diners thought the food was of good quality and they were impressed with the refurbished Hallam Restaurant.

“However, as a result of the feedback regarding long queues at the Arches, we are now looking at ways to solve this issue by extending the serving hatch, so that we can place another till inside.

“This will mean more people can be served, but also we will be able to offer a wider range of food. The proposal is still in its early stages, but it just shows that we are working on those issues that were flagged up by this important project.”

#WorldEmojiDay

Today July 17th 2018 is the fifth World Emoji Day, a day where the virtual world celebrate the miniature pictures that have changed the way many of us communicate online.

Invented by Shigetaka Kurita, the ability to send a heart symbol on early Japanese pagers is the source of all emojis. Kurita drew inspiration from marks used in weather forecasts and from kanji characters to design a set of 176 symbols that covered a range of human emotions and activities that could be used on phones in 1999. The rest as they say is history.

The Staff Networks wanted to take today as an opportunity to highlight the Social Media Presence they have along side their pages on connect. These allow colleagues from across the trust to access our activities on their own phones at any time.

BME Staff Network
Connect Page – BME Staff Network
Twitter look up @swbhbme
Facebook look up “Sandwell West Birmingham BME”

Disability & Long Term Conditions Staff Network
Connect Page – DLTC Staff Network
Twitter look up @SWBHDisability
Facebook look up “SWBH Disability”

LGBT Staff Network
Connect Page – LGBT Staff Network
Twitter look up @SWBH_LGBT
Facebook look up “SWBHLGBT”
Instagram look up “SWBH_LGBT”

Catering meal deals introduced across Hospital sites

Hallam restaurant, Arches and Boaters have launched meal deals across our hospital sites.

Click here to check out the catering department meal deals.

Nurse portraits: Windrush generations – 20 July

As part of our Windrush event held on the 16 June, we have commissioned Inès Elsa Dalal to take portraits of nurses from the Windrush generations.

The portraits will form part of a touring exhibition and curation in celebration of the 70th Birthday of Windrush and the NHS. The portraits will also feature during Black History Month.

Our next photo session will take place on Friday 20 July, 11am–2pm at Birmingham Treatment Centre, Level 2 meeting room, city Hospital.

City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham  B18 7QH, (Birmingham Treatment Centre, Level 2 Meeting Room).

If you would like to attend the session, please contact d.mighty@nhs.net by 12pm on Thursday 19 July.

NHSSC code changes: Fixation pants used with continence pads

We have been advised that from today the order codes for fixation pants (net knickers) will be changing due to the commencement of a new contract.

All materially managed wards and departments will automatically start receiving the new brand of fixation pants.

If you have any queries concerning the above please call ext. 4938 or any of the procurement team listed below :

• Peter Lowe ext. 4699
• Mark Shervington ext. 4937
• Jackie Graham ext. 4939
• Gurprit Galsinh ext. 2824
• Becky Vanes ext. 2689

Making adjustments to support colleagues at work

Conflict Resolution Trainer, Richard Burnell has recently been appointed as Chair of our disability and long term conditions staff network. In this issue of Heartbeat, he has bravely shared his story to raise awareness of the importance of supporting those with a disability or long term condition within our organisation.

Richard, who joined us in 2009 was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011, this means he experiences periods of depression and periods of hypomania.

“My condition is what they call rapid cycling bipolar,” Richard told Heartbeat.
“This means that my mood can change from one day to the next, and sometimes I can suffer bouts of depression and then hypomania within the same day. When I am in the depression cycle, I have chronic anxiety – I have sweaty palms, dry mouth and feel really fatigued.
“The best way I can describe mania is feeling really excited all of the time and doing everything in double speed. It can create a lot of stress as you end up saying yes to everything and then being unable to complete what you have said you will do.”

When he was first diagnosed, Richard struggled understand his diagnosis.
“I was embarrassed,” he said. “I thought that it was a form of weakness and I was worried about how I would continue to do my job. I did a lot of teaching in the mornings, and this seemed to be when I was at my worst.”
He knew that he couldn’t go on without talking to his line manager.
“When I made the decision to talk to John (Rigby) I was incredibly nervous, but he was brilliant. I said ‘John, I have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, but I don’t want anyone to know.’
“Straight away, John found us a private room so that I would feel safe to discuss my issues. He just said ‘what can I do to help?’ and from that moment on he has been incredibly supportive of me.”

Together Richard and John came up with a plan which would support Richard to manage his illness and his work better. John suggested that Richard could be flexible with his start times.
“I explained that mornings were the worst time for me,” said Richard.
“So we agreed that I could take a flexible approach to my work hours and start at 10am and work through to 6pm. John also sets my monthly targets, but is flexible on how I achieve them. He understands that I will achieve a lot more on a good day as oppose to when I am suffering a particularly bad day.”

“John also gives me adequate notice of any changes that may be happening. He understands that it could affect me if he drops something on me suddenly.”
Richard now handles his illness a lot better than when he was first diagnosed and recognises the part that John has played in this.
He said: “I could never have got to his point without John’s support. He is understanding of my illness and shows confidence in me to perform well in my job with some slight adjustments.”
Richard is delighted to have been appointed chair of the disability and long term conditions staff network and he is hoping to encourage colleagues who may be struggling themselves to have the courage to seek support from either the network or their line manager.
“The network is there to advise both the organisation and individual colleagues,” Richard said to Heartbeat.
He added: “I would like to encourage colleagues to speak up if they are experiencing any issues relating to a disability or long term condition. There is no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed. Talking things through with your manager can help you to understand the impact on your role and put strategies in place to support you.”

John is delighted to see Richard doing so well now. He said: “There is a stigma attached to mental health that should not be there; it is an illness along with many other illnesses that can be managed in the workplace with time and understanding.
“I am glad that Richard had the confidence in me to speak out so that we could together devise a plan that supports him and gives the organisation an effective member of staff.”

If you would like to speak to someone regarding a disability or long term condition, please contact either Richard (richard.burnell@nhs.net) or Stuart Young, Head of Equality and Diversity (stuartyoung1@nhs.net)

Heartbeat: Nurse Joy represents the West Midlands for prestigious national award

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Senior Ward Sister, Joy Walker is the only finalist from the West Midlands to be competing for the Nurse Leader of the Year title, in the coveted Nursing Times Awards.

She was selected from hundreds of nominations and is one of 10 finalists. Joy, who manages D26 said: “I just couldn’t believe my ears when I was told about the news.

“To be shortlisted for this prestigious award is like a dream to me. This is definitely one of the best highlights in my career, which I will treasure for the rest of my life.

“This is also an important recognition for my team. I truly believe that I wouldn’t be able to be here without the support of my team and the organisation. I do often say to my colleagues that I’m only the engine, but my colleagues are the wheels that make the whole system work.”

Organisers of the awards have named this year as one of the most competitive after receiving an influx of nominations. Judges were impressed with how Joy led her team to become a high achieving ward, ensuring patients consistently receive the highest standard of care.

Joy added: “Since the news was announced, I have been showered with praise from colleagues, friends, and family. Everyone has been wishing me good luck and I just feel speechless.”

She has been recently praised for her excellent work in implementing the consistency of care plan which has led to the ward winning three awards for their outstanding performance. Joy has also ensured that the safety plan has been properly implemented, which ensures all patients receive the correct checks within a certain time from when they are admitted to the ward. The initiative has helped our organisation Trust to be shortlisted for the Patient Safety Awards 2018.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony in London on 31 October.

LGBT Staff Network #ComeOutForTransEquality

LGBT Staff Network #ComeOutForTransEquality

Last weekend London celebrated Pride in the roads of the nations capital, there are many Pride Parades that have happened over the summer, it has been important for members of the LGBT Community and our allies to demonstrate our commitment for all that LGBT Prides represent that of equality, diversity and inclusion of all.

This year has been even more special to be able to celebrate the 70th Birthday of the NHS,  

There was a protest that took place at the begging of London Pride  and whilst everyone has the right to protest, the language used and the opinions expressed by the protesters is one of segregation and  not one of Inclusion.

The original Stonewall Pride protests which took place almost 50 years ago  and these protests included community members from a variety of races, every sexual orientation and gender identity.

SWBH LGBT Staff Network believe that there is no place for transphobia at any pride event, these are about bringing our community together.

Within SWBH we have been working hard to develop a safe and inclusive space for all members of the LGBT community and in the last seven months we have been working with the trust to write and develop the Trans Policy for Staff and the Trans Policy for Patients, these can be found on connect.

We will continue to campaign and to help raise awareness alongside providing support to staff of any sexual orientation, gender identify or expression.

For further information around the work Stonewall is doing around Trans Equality click on the link Stonewall Trans Equality