Monthly archives: November 2022

We need to hear from all voices in the NHS Staff Survey

Now more than ever it is important that we hear from as many colleagues as possible as we move to recovery from the pandemic.

In order for SWB to implement the changes required to make our organisation the best lived experience for all our colleagues it is important that we hear all voices.

• What is the SWB experience like for you?
• What can be done to make our workplace a good place for everyone?

Please do take time to reflect and give your feedback.

Here is a short video by Danielle Sewell, Trust Deputy Convenor talking about the importance of the survey.

Many of you will have received an invitation via email to your NHS account from insightandfeedback@iqvia.com. Colleagues in catering, transport, portering and domestic/ward services will have received paper copies with a freepost envelope to send the feedback straight to Quality Health.

If you have any queries or have not received your survey please contact Quality Health 0800 783 1775 or helpline@quality-health.co.uk.

Join in the leadership sessions

The Trust Leaders’ Conference took place on Tuesday 27 September and the presentations and resources from the day can be found by clicking here.

Following on from the event, we have arranged a number of subsequent sessions for any colleague to take part in that will incorporate some of the key content and workshop sessions.

Note: These sessions are for people who did not attend the conference. Places can be booked by emailing swbh.execadmin2@nhs.net (please be assured this mailbox is monitored regularly).

Potential industrial action affecting NHS services

You will be aware from both local and national news that a number of Trade unions, representing NHS staff, have advised the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that they are in dispute over the 2022/23 pay award. Several unions are balloting or have signalled their intention to ballot their NHS members to take part in industrial action.

The ballots of the individual Trade Unions bodies are currently taking place and the Trust are working closely with our union colleagues to ensure that communication is maintained throughout this process.

You will have seen that the RCN has announced that nursing staff at many NHS employers across the UK have voted to take strike action over pay levels and patient safety concerns. The results for each NHS employer are analysed individually in what is known as a ‘disaggregated’ ballot. Industrial. For the RCN ballot SWB did not meet the 50% response threshold which means that the RCN will not be in a position to take action at SWB.

As such as a Trust we are preparing for any potential industrial action to ensure that we are able to maintain safe patient care and emergency services can continue to operate as normal, whilst supporting and respecting our colleagues with their right to industrial action should this be the outcome of any ballot.

We will ensure that communication is maintained on an ongoing basis with the lead Trade Union representatives and that colleagues are updated of Trust plans. A frequently asked questions briefing is available by clicking here.

Women and child health leadership team get hands on at Midland Met

Recently the women and child health leadership team headed to Midland Met to enjoy their first site tour together as a leadership team.  

The sun was shining bright, and the team were keen to inspect their areas to get a feel for their new home.  

As the team made their way around the site, they were impressed with the space where teams will be working and how far advanced the build is in certain areas.  

Dr Nick Makwana, Group Director for Women and Child Health, said: “It’s been amazing to see what we’ve been talking about for so long. The space is incredible, and when our colleagues get a chance to see this space, they’ll realise how fantastic it is. The possibilities to enjoy this area will be much welcomed by colleagues – being able to socialise over a coffee in the Winter Garden is something I will look forward to.” 

Nick added: “Teams will benefit from working in the big ward areas with natural light. For me, an exciting area is the Winter Garden which doubles up almost as a wellbeing space. It’s a massive area that will house an art gallery. It has lots of open space perfect for events such as dance workshops. Plus, it offers valuable space for our community groups who can use this area too. The green space is something colleagues will enjoy being able to sit out on in the summer months as well.” 

Standing on the balcony of the Winter Garden, Jade Payne, Group Director of Operations, remarked: “It’s a beautiful day to visit Midland Met. I can imagine what it will look like when we open in 2024 with a seating area and being able to use this space to meet with colleagues away from work areas will be an asset.  

“I’ve seen level eight, which is near completion, and the facilities look incredible for our patients. I think these modern facilities will enable us to give patients the care they deserve in a welcoming, modern hospital. Colleagues will benefit from working in a new hospital too as some of our existing estate is quite outdated.” 

Jade added: “We are reinvigorating the MMUH project teams and boards. Colleagues must start getting involved and feed ideas to their senior managers and leaders to get their thoughts out there. We need to understand any concerns and look at care pathways. It’s a big site, and we need to learn how we can do things differently together. Now is the time to start getting involved.” 

Reflecting on what she had seen, Louise Wilde, Head of Midwifery, said: “The tour was fantastic. I haven’t been on site since 2018, and it’s changed lots. There are complete rooms, the paint is up on the walls, and the flooring is down in some areas.  

“We’ve got a state-of-the-art maternity unit, and I’d like to see all our colleagues get involved in the work we need to do to bring this to life for our area.” 

Cheryl Newton, Group Director of Nursing, said: “Seeing our new hospital emerging is quite something. We’ve seen the wards shaping up, the paediatrics area and big open spaces for our children, young people and our gynae patients. It looks great and will be a hospital we can all be proud of.” 

If you would like to arrange a site tour for your team, please email mmuh.projectoffice@nhs.net.  

To share any ideas with the women and child health leadership team, please email Claire, Group PA at claire.wilson14@nhs.net.  

Remembrance Day events

Remembrance Day is fast approaching and the chaplaincy team are hosting two events to mark the occasion:

• Remembrance Day event, Friday 11 November, across all site garden areas (City, Sandwell, Rowley and Leasowes) – ceremony will start prior at 10.45am.
• Remembrance Sunday event, Sunday 13 November at City chapel, 11am and Sandwell chapel, 2.30pm (will coincide with the normal Sunday services)

For more information the team can be reached at City on ext. 4055/5051 and at Sandwell on ext. 3552/3557.

Stay and thrive – virtual sharing and learning event: 15 November

Across the NHS, increasing numbers of internationally educated colleagues are being recruited. These colleagues make a vital contribution to the ability of the NHS to provide safe, high quality care. This raises some important questions:

• How are we taking steps to make sure that we retain internationally educated colleagues?
• What actions can we take to ensure that internationally educated  colleagues don’t just want to stay but are able to thrive and have brilliant careers in the NHS?

Over the last 18 months, teams from 43 organisations from across the South West and North East and Yorkshire have formed a community called #StayandThrive. Their aim is to create the conditions where internationally educated colleagues can #StayandThrive in the NHS. They have worked together to create a much learning and now want to share it with other teams across the NHS.

They are holding a virtual sharing and learning event on Monday 15 November, 10am – 4pm. It is free and open to everyone with an interest in supporting our brilliant internationally educated colleagues. Come to the whole day or just pop in to sessions.

• Learn about the #StayAndThrive community and the inspirational journey it has been on.
• Meet some members of our fantastic #StayAndThrive community who are working hard to improve the experiences of internationally educated colleagues
• Learn about what makes a difference in retaining internationally educated colleagues.
• Share and celebrate your experiences with #StayAndThrive.
• Join our #StayAndThrive community and continue this Journey of making a positive change for out Internationally educated colleagues.

To find out more and join this event please click here.

£50 up for grabs for six lucky winners who complete the staff survey

There are £50 vouchers available to six lucky colleagues who give their views in this year’s staff survey –  all you have to do is feedback on how you feel about working for our organisation.

The NHS staff survey is out now and everyone in our workplace is being given the opportunity to take part.

• How motivated do you feel about coming to work?
• How safe do you think our organisation is?

You can tell us what you think about this and a lot more. All it takes is 15 mins of your time.

Watch this short video from Mel Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer talking about the importance of having your say.

You will have received an invitation to take part via email from insightandfeedback@iqvia.com. Some colleagues will get paper surveys delivered directly to their home addresses with a freepost envelope to send the feedback straight to Quality Health.

Free pensions seminars for late-career nurses and midwives

As part of our retention activity, NHS England’s people directorate has commissioned our pension partners, Isio, to deliver online pension seminars targeted at nursing, midwifery, and AHP colleagues aged 50+.

Isio cannot provide personal financial advice. However, this is an opportunity for individuals to get answers to any questions they may have about the NHS Pension Scheme. Isio will help clarify any misunderstanding or confusion and most importantly, provide the accurate information so that staff can make informed decisions about their pension savings and their continuing career options.

The seminars will cover:

• An introduction to the NHS Pension Scheme and where to find information on pension benefits.
• The impact of flexible working on pension benefits (eg part time working, step-down, wind-down, retire/return etc).
• A brief outline of the McCloud judgment.
• If applicable, how having “Special Class” and “Mental Health Officer” status affects your options.

The booking portal is open to any late career nurse, midwife, or AHP and will remain open up to Friday 31 March. The seminars are free of charge and will last around 1h and 30 minutes, including time to ask questions.

For more information please email england.nhsreward@nhs.net

18 – 24 November is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.

A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015. One of the key objectives of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.

Would you like to become an antibiotic champion? We are currently seeking clinical colleagues who want to become antibiotic champions. This could be nurses, junior doctors, ward managers, registrars, pharmacists, consultants, matrons and pharmacy technicians – anyone who is interested in helping to improve the use of antibiotics at the Trust to improve patient care and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Would you like to become an antibiotic champion? We are currently seeking clinical colleagues who want to become antibiotic champions. This could be nurses, junior doctors, ward managers, registrars, pharmacists, consultants, matrons and pharmacy technicians – anyone who is interested in helping to improve the use of antibiotics at the Trust to improve patient care and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.

If this is something of interest to you, please see the antibiotic champion information sheet for further details.

Maternity coffee shop closed until 14 November

The coffee shop at maternity, City will be closed until Monday 14 November where it will reopen from 10.30am – 1.30pm. The nearest retail outlet is BTC Costa.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.