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Monthly archives: March 2022

Remembrance and reflection day for social care colleagues: 17 March

 

The pandemic has proved challenging for all involved in care services. Thursday 17 March will see the launch of the social care day of remembrance and reflection.

Our social care colleagues play a major role in supporting the people in our communities and many of you may work alongside, or in partnership with social care colleagues.

Providing support will be a wonderful gesture for our colleagues in social care and we encourage you all to get involved in any way you can.

As a symbol of the day, social care are asking that we simply put flowers in our windows to remember those colleagues that have lost their lives during the pandemic and a ‘thank you’ and appreciation for the enormous effort and personal sacrifices our social care colleagues have given during the pandemic.

How to get involved: You can get involved by simply placing a vase or single flower, a drawing or painting of flowers created by you, your children or even encourage service users to get involved by way of creative flower related activities! If you would like more information, to leave a message on their memorial wall, or just to add a word of thanks please click here.

Changes to public service pensions – members moving to the 2015 Scheme from 1 April

 

From Friday 1 April 2022, every member of the NHS Pension Scheme will build up their pension benefits in the same scheme – the 2015 scheme.

The change means members of the 1995/2008 scheme who had full protection will automatically move from their current scheme and start building up benefits in the 2015 scheme from this date. Members can find all of this information via NHS Pensions Your NHS Pension after 1 April 2022 webpage.

The new webpage Understanding your benefits in the 2015 Scheme also links to information on the 2015 scheme and an updated video on the benefits of the scheme.

NHS pension response: Additional seminar dates for March

 

Phase one of the pension response project is designed to explore the most impactful way to communicate with you directly and explain the benefits and value of the NHS Pension Scheme and Pensions Tax for colleagues aged 50+.

NHSEI have been working with pension partners, Isio, experts in the NHS pension scheme and pensions tax, to deliver a series of seminars on pensions and flexible working and pensions tax.

With this in mind, they are able to offer additional dates for multi-regional seminars for March.

Please click here to access details regarding dates and times as well as how to join the sessions.

 

Automatic pension re-enrolment April 2022

 

Every three years employers must assess and enroll certain colleagues who have left the pension schemes back into them. This is known as re-enrolment. Employees who opted out of Trust pension schemes more than 12 months prior to Friday 1 April 2022 (Trust’s staging date or re-enrolment date) and are aged 22 and up to state pension age must be re-assessed for eligibility and re-enrolled on the staging date by law.

Note: Colleagues who are not eligible to re-enrol into the NHS Pension Scheme will be re-assessed to be enrolled into NEST the alternative pension scheme.

You can opt out by completing the application to leave the NHS Pension Scheme (SD502) form which is available to download and print from the NHS Pensions website –   www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-pensions.

To opt out of NEST please put the request in writing to the pensions department.

Any requests or forms sent before Friday 1 April will not be accepted.

Today is International Women’s Day

 

Today (Tuesday 8 March) marks International Women’s Day which is especially important for our Trust as 78 per cent of our colleagues are women.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women – while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender balance.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we at SWB will be improving ovarian cancer survival rates through a charity grant of £100,000.

The Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre, based at City Hospital, is working jointly with University of Cambridge to boost the uptake in genetic testing, especially in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities (BAME) where survival rates are low.

The project, called the Demonstration of Improvement for Molecular Ovarian cancer testing (DEMO), will create information about genetic testing in various languages both in leaflet and video format. The project will also improve the quality of the sample taken to aid diagnosis when there is suspicion of ovarian cancer by establishing a guidance document for all healthcare professionals involved in the process.

Dr Elaine Leung, Clinical Lecturer and Specialist Registrar at the Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Centre which is run by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said: “This is a much-needed project reaching those diverse communities in the area.

“With the support of our patient representatives, the materials we co-create will be in an easy-to-understand format in both written and video form, which will give women a better understanding of the link between cancer and genetic testing.

“It’s important to ensure women know that genetic testing is similar to early detection and can help prolong life – we have already seen evidence of this through other studies.

“It helps to provide tailored treatments for patients and ultimately can mean surviving an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

“The lack of informed decision-making resources for women whose first language is not English could be a contributor to the low rates of testing within these communities. The team will co-produce information in multiple languages, as well as exploring why some groups of women are more likely to decline genetic testing.”

The project has been funded by health charity Ovarian Cancer Action and is part of a wider national initiative which includes funding for five other NHS cancer centres.

The Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Network delivers cancer care to more than two million people in the West Midlands.

The project also builds on the team’s previous experience with the genetic testing studies, looking at BRCA testing in women with a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer before it became mainstream practice.

Lisa Bird, a former cancer patient who is part of the project, said: “When I was in my thirties I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which was a large shock.  My first line treatment successfully got me into remission but I wanted to know what options would be available to me if I came out of remission.

“I investigated treatment options and found that there were some treatments only available to those that have the BRCA 1 and 2 genes.  I also wanted to know if other family members were at an increased genetic risk of also getting ovarian cancer, so that I could warn them of the symptoms and ensure that they received better monitoring by their GPs.

“I’m really pleased to be part of the DEMO project team that will encourage more patients to have these same tests. I’m passionate that anyone affected by ovarian cancer should be able to have this genetic knowledge so that their healthcare teams can give them the best treatments available to them as quickly as possible. I really believe that the results of this project will help to provide patients with ovarian cancer, with a greater chance of an extended life.”

Six month secondment to matron role opportunity

 

Would you like to have experience within a Matron role within the group of medicine and emergency care?

A six month secondment opportunity commencing on 1 April is available. The role is matron working across two sites, City and Sandwell, within the specialties of respiratory medicine and gastroenterology.

Applicants will need to have experience at band 7 level and of leading and working within a MDT. This is also an opportunity for an existing matron to experience a change of specialty. A full development package will be given to enable the successful applicant the best possible experience.

You will be working within a team of matrons with great peer support and camaraderie. Medicine and emergency care is an exciting group to work within with many challenges and scope to widen and enhance your CV. All applicants must have the full support of their line manager to apply.

Interested applicants should contact Julie Thompson Group Director of Nursing for Medicine and Emergency Care by email: julie.thompson40@nhs.net

Declaring interests – new way now available

 

The Trust’s new way of declaring interests through ESR is now live.

Colleagues can follow the simple process as outlined in this presentation – Recording declarations of interest on the electronic staff record (ESR) system (Powerpoint)

As NHS staff, we need to declare any interests – including gifts, hospitality or sponsorship received from third parties – to ensure transparency on how public funds and assets are being used and accessed. This will bring the Trust in line with the NHS England Guidance https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/coi/.

It’s important to know that having an interest isn’t necessarily a problem – it’s the perception that can be damaging to individuals and the Trust, especially if something isn’t declared – but it is necessary to be open about what interests we have so that they can be taken into account in the appropriate way.

All staff are required to declare any interests on appointment and again if they change job or their circumstances change (e.g. they take on a second job outside of the Trust). Additionally, all ‘decision-making staff’ – these are classed as the following:

  • Executive and Non-Executive Directors (including Associate Non-Executive Directors)
  • Those at Agenda for Change band 8c and above
  • Medical Consultants
  • All staff in the Procurement Team
  • All staff listed as having delegated financial authorities per the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation

All the above individuals are required to make a declaration at least twice a year, even if it’s just to say they have no interests to declare. These declarations will be published on the Trust website to ensure openness and transparency.

Some key tips on what to declare:

  • Any non-cash/voucher gift (e.g. from a patient) of over £50 (gifts under £50 don’t need to be declared but it’s good practice to)
  • Any sponsorship received from suppliers/individuals
  • Any secondary employment or private practice

Staff should also always:

  • Decline gifts of cash or vouchers (to individuals) – cash donations can be made as a donation to the SWB charity
  • Decline any gifts from suppliers or contractors doing business (or likely to do business) with the Trust

There is helpful specific guidance from NHS England for the following staff groups:

The Trust’s Associate Director of Corporate Governance / Company Secretary can also help provide advice on interpretation of the guidance; however decisions about what to declare or not are the responsibility of individuals. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Associate Director of Corporate Governance / Company Secretary, Dan Conway at  swbh.declarations-admin@nhs.net if you have any questions.

He will also be offering the following drop in sessions on Microsoft Teams, for a live demonstration of how to make your declarations on ESR and a Q&A session.

Black Country Provider Collaborative newsletter

 

The latest edition of the Black Country Provider Collaborative newsletter is now ready to read.

The new year has brought with it many more exciting developments for the Black Country Provider Collaborative.

Black Country Provider Collaborative Newsletter – March 2022 edition

In this newsletter you will be able to read about the visions and plans for future working within the Black Country, information about a proposed new skin hospital and the plans for the next clinical summit.

We hope you find the following information interesting and informative.

Hallam car park lamp post repairs

 

Colleagues are advised that a section of the Hallam Staff Car Park which neighbours the Mental Health Trust at Sandwell will be cordoned off tomorrow (Tuesday 8 March) whilst repairs are made to a damaged lamp post.

Please ensure you keep the cordoned off area clear when parking and be aware of the works taking place.

Urgent donations needed for Ukraine

 

The shocking events taking place in Ukraine have led to millions of people being displaced and families forced to flee to neighbouring countries seeking shelter. This has led to a urgent need for donations to support those families with their essentials.

If you have any of the following items you are willing to donate, please do so:

  • Clothing – especially winter and layers
  • Food tins and packets
  • Baby nappies, bottles, bedding and essentials
  • Toiletries

Our Trust will be passing on donated items to the ‘Bearded Broz’ voluntary organisation based in Birmingham. Bearded Broz have pledged to take donations overseas to Poland and neighbouring countries who are supporting the refugees.

Please ensure all donations are taken to Cancer Services at Sandwell or the Breast Unit at the Birmingham Treatment Centre by no later than Thursday 10 March.

Donation drop off points:

  • Cancer Services, Hallam Building, Sandwell, 0121 507 2776/2613
  • Breast Unit, Birmingham Treatment Centre, 0121 507 4976
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