Monthly archives: August 2023
Come along to Richard’s annual plan ‘town hall’ sessions
Richard Beeken, Chief Executive is launching a series of ‘town hall’ sessions to discuss our new annual plan and how you can contribute to it.
The annual plan sets out what we need to deliver in this financial year to continue to improve and ultimately achieve our five-year strategy. We have agreed 14 objectives that need to be delivered by April 2024. In order to achieve this, we have identified six high impact objectives.
- To report all incidents and reduce those with moderate harm and above
- Increase patients rating their experience as good or very good for all touchpoints including Friends & Family Test (FFT) by area
- To reduce our flexible acute beds by 86 to safely move into the new hospital
- To increase elective activity from 94 per cent to 104 per cent of 2019/20 activity levels as per our production plan
- To reduce our bank and agency spend from £64.4 million to £45.6 million
- To develop 200 leaders in compassionate and inclusive leadership
In June’s Heartbeat (page 27), Richard gives an update on our progress against the above six objectives.
The ‘town hall’ sessions will run through July to September – do come along and find out how you can contribute to our plans. Session details are below:
- 14 August, 3.30pm – 4.30pm, meeting room 2, 2nd floor, Lyndon Primary Care Centre, Sandwell, 10 people
- 16 August, 2pm – 3pm, management block meeting room 1, City 14 people
- 17 August, 10am – 11am, basement outside mess room, Sandwell, 15 people
- 17 August, 3pm – 4pm, conference room, education centre, Sandwell, 30 people
- 21 August, 10am – 11am, Benbow room, Hallam Building, Sandwell, 10 people
- 23 August, 2pm – 3pm, Dining room, Postgraduate centre, City, 30 people
- 24 August, 3pm – 4pm, Microsoft Teams
- 30 August, 10.30am – 11.30am, D46 training room, Sheldon Block, City, 20 people
- 31 August, 10.30am – 11.30am, room 20, 2nd floor, Trinity House, Sandwell, 8 people
- 6 September, 2pm – 3pm, seminar room, Sandwell A&E, 15 people
- 21 September, 3pm – 4pm, Microsoft Teams
- 22 September, 3pm – 4pm, BTC Meeting room 1, City, 30 people
If you wish to book on one of the in person sessions, please email swbh.comms@nhs.net stating your name and the session you would like to book on.
New learning path supports equality diversity and inclusion in end-of-life care
A new learning path on equality diversity and inclusion (EDI) has been added to the End-of-Life Care for All e-learning programme.
The path features 11 resources covering a broad range of topics including symptom management in people with learning disabilities, communicating with non-English speaking patients, and end-of-life care for people experiencing homelessness. It also features a new session on Palliative care: shifting the focus of care from equality to equity.
Since the programme became publicly available to everyone last October, there have been more than 275,000 new session launches with many learners praising the programme content:
“Very interesting session with a lot of information, and I have learned a lot.” (Assessment and management of agitation and delirium session)
“This section is educative and it’s like an eye opener for me as a care assistant.” (End-of-life care in care homes and domiciliary care settings session)
“Clear structure, poignant and clearly written material. Well presented.” (The importance of good communication session)
For more information and to access the learning path, please visit the End-of-Life-Care for All programme page.
Do you know how to complete a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death?
When a patient dies in hospital, the consultant in charge of their care is responsible for ensuring that a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is completed and sent to the relevant Register Office. All MCCDs should be discussed between a certifying doctor and Medical Examiner (ME) prior to completion with the exception of coroners referrals. This is to ensure accuracy of the MCCD before it is sent to the Registrar.
For more information on proposing a cause of death on Unity or the coroners referral process once a patient has died or as soon as it becomes clear the patient is likely to die, please see Medical Certificate of Cause of Death information sheet.
Interventions guidance aims to support babies, children and young people
A new schedule of interventions tool has been added to the existing interactive pathways elearning programme.
The resource aims to help local commissioners and service providers navigate current guidance and materials within the Healthy Child Programme – the national public health framework for babies, children, and young people.
These schedules bring together evidence, guidance, information, and resources to describe local prevention and early intervention and ongoing care activities from preconception to adulthood.
It includes information about preconception care, promoting child development, improving child health outcomes, and ensuring that families at risk are identified at the earliest opportunity.
Local authorities, the NHS, and other partners can use the tool to inform the commissioning and provision of good quality services for children, young people, and families at every level of need, from community and universal to targeted and specialist.
For more information and to access the new resource, please visit the Interactive Pathways programme page.
Latest edition of Heartbeat now available!
Welcome to the latest edition of Heartbeat. In this edition, we have lots of inspiring updates to share from across SWB.
In July we marked NHS75, celebrating the NHS’ birthday with colleagues across the organisation and our partners in the wider NHS. Our cover shows colleagues with their George Cross badges, given to the NHS by the queen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our centrespread shows a behind the scenes view of ITV news filming at MMUH. We’ve also announced our Star Awards shortlist for 2023 on pages 12 and 13: take a look and be sure to get your votes in for our three voted-for categories!
Click here to read the latest issue edition of Heartbeat!
Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 4 August
We know that the last few weeks and months have been challenging in the NHS, locally and nationally. In my 30 years in the NHS, I have never experienced anything like it. We are asking a lot of you at the moment – all linked to our annual plan priorities – deliver “business as usual”, improve our urgent care and elective performance, deliver big reductions in expenditure on agency and locum staff and, of course, redesign services, get the fundamentals of care right and prepare ourselves for occupying our fantastic new hospital next year.
To compound the challenge, we are growing increasingly weary and fearful about the impact of both consultant and non-consultant industrial action, more of which is planned for next week and the bank holiday weekend. That impact is both on you as my colleagues, but also on our patients. Despite all of this, the resilience, good humour, professionalism and dogged hard work our colleagues put in, day in, day out, is what I admire.
My admiration and pride in what you all achieve was never more keenly felt than when I read the nominations for our annual Star Awards. This year we had over 500 nominations and I know that everyone involved in the judging process found it incredibly difficult to whittle it down to our shortlist, because of course, there is considerable merit in each and every one. Moreover, there will be people who weren’t nominated, who probably should have been.
Nominations for this year’s awards range from acts of exceptional kindness towards patients and relatives, to overcoming hurdles and outstanding leadership, leading by example. Each nomination had a common thread – our organisation is made up of truly remarkable people – making a real difference to our patients, colleagues and our population.
The individuals and teams selected have all gone above and beyond in their roles, and have lived our Trust Values of ambition, respect, and compassion, while in many cases implementing new and innovative ways of working.
For those who received a nomination, but haven’t reached the next stage, you should still be very proud of yourself, the fact that a colleague or patient recognised that you do a wonderful job and make a difference is something you shouldn’t lose sight of.
Congratulations to those who are on the shortlist, more information will be sent to you soon, but for now, make sure Friday 13 October is clearly marked in your diary!
Remember, you have the final say in three of our categories, you can vote for your winner in Employee of the Year, Non-Clinical Team of the Year and Clinical Team of the Year.
The nominees in these categories are:
Employee of the Year
Dr Huma Naqvi, Ortho-Geriatric Consultant
Jade Reberio, Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Urology
Rajeev Pathak, Operations Manager – Contact Centre, YHP PCN
Sue Hunt, Palliative and End of Life Clinical Service Manager
Susan Edwards, Lead Bereavement Nurse
Non-Clinical Team of the Year
Chaplaincy Team
Human Resources
Single Point of Access (SPA)
The Clinical Effectiveness Team
Clinical Team of the Year
Cancer Hotline Team
IBEDS Wards PCCT
Rapid Response Therapy Services
Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre
Urgent Community Response Team
The full shortlist can be downloaded here.
To submit your vote, click here. Voting closes on Friday 1 September.
South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations
South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) first took place in 2020 and runs from the 18 July – 17 August each year.
SAHM seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities.
The month seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia.
South Asian culture has made a significant impact on Britain in various aspects, such as food, clothing, music, words, and the overall ambiance of our towns and cities.
It’s a beautiful display of the rich and proud South Asian heritage that has blended into the British way of life, contributing to the diversity of our nation. Observing South Asian Heritage Month provides us with an excellent chance to embrace and celebrate the history and identity of British South Asians.
It’s crucial to allow people to share their own stories, and this occasion offers an opportunity to showcase what being South Asian in the 21st century entails, while also reflecting on our past and how it has shaped us
Celebrate South Asian Heritage Month on Monday 7 August 2023, Conference Room, Sandwell Education Centre between 12pm – 3pm. Light refreshments will be available.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Donna Mighty – d.mighty@nhs.net.
My Part in Midland Met – Pat Hunt
From now until when we move into Midland Met, we will be sharing updates with you about the many people involved in the project and the role they each play.
The successful opening of Midland Metropolitan University Hospital relies on many people, teams and stakeholders. Once open, it will have a far reaching impact – not only on those we care for but also on colleagues and our community in terms of regeneration, jobs, housing, charitable endeavours and so much more.
Getting us to Midland Met is a team effort. We all have a part to play in making it #morethanahospital!
How long have you been at SWB and what is your current role?
I have been at SWB since December 2002 – 21 years and counting. In that time, I have worked across different roles and teams and very much enjoy my current role.
What part does your role contribute to the Midland Met project?
I am the Volunteer Recruiting Manager for the Midland Met project. My role involves engaging and recruiting some of our current volunteers, members of our local communities and students to volunteer at Midland Met when it opens.
How are you preparing for the opening of Midland Met in your team?
I am currently looking at how we get information out into our communities, meeting the wider team and stakeholders and looking at the different volunteer roles we will have available.
Our volunteers play a valuable role at SWB. We have a fantastic volunteer service, and we will be building on that for when Midland Met opens in 2024.
In what ways will our new hospital help to shape your role for the better?
It will bring changes to the patient experience, not only being a new hospital but the exciting additions that make Midland Met more than just a hospital.
It is a place that will be culturally vibrant in the arts and our Winter Garden will enhance the patient and visitors experience.
Our ambition is to build upon our diverse volunteer service so that people of all nationalities can find someone that they can converse with in a language they understand.
The biggest benefit that Midland Met will bring in your opinion is…
The greatest benefit in my opinion is that it will contribute to the regeneration of a local area and provide countless opportunities for people to access such as job opportunities, education, access to the arts to name a few.
Next Generation of Senior Leaders Programme
Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Next Generation Senior Leadership Development Programme September 2023
About the programme:
This pilot programme is aimed at getting Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidates ready to operate in Executive and non-executive board positions.
The Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Experts Midlands and East Group have developed a set of objectives aligned to the NHS England Midlands Workforce Race Equality and Inclusion (WREI) Strategy to implement over 2023/24.
One of the objectives included in the WREI Strategy is focused on improving the recruitment and progression of colleagues from a Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority background by eliminating racism and bias in recruitment and progression processes.
The Next Generation Senior Leadership programme is designed to provide development and experiential learning for leaders from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds and is a programme of work being led by members of the WRES Experts Group Midlands and East.
The programme is based on Four Ss:
SELF – you will participate in a workshop programme to support personal development and leadership skills designed to enable and assure you move into a leadership role from the skills and knowledge gained.
STRATEGIC – you will take part in the ‘Effective Board Member’ Programme which has already been delivered to over 1000 individuals globally. This will equip you with the skills and knowledge to successfully progress into executive and non-executive leadership positions.
SUCCESSION – A ‘Bravery in the Boardroom’ masterclass, the unique methodology will help you understand the steps to success and the journey to the boardroom, the session will inspire and empower participants and provide practical insights on how to lead authentically at executive and Board level.
SPONSOR – A supportive framework designed for you and your sponsor to focus on advocating and action to move you forward in your career and establish a network.
Why should you attend?
We recognise the barriers that colleagues from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority
backgrounds face and have created this programme to help break down the organisation and cultural barriers to progression for talented leaders from these groups. We will help participants to demystify board-level roles, raise their aspirations and develop board-level skills.
It is well documented that diversity at the executive level and in the Boardroom provides much-needed diversity of thought and contributes to organisations making better decisions, resulting in better outcomes for the workforce and patients.
The programme is specifically designed to support career progression and increase exposure to operating at Executive and Board levels and will equip you with the skills to be in a state of readiness to implement a sphere of influence within your organisation.
Specifically, we will work with sponsors to provide genuine commitment and ensure there is accountability and support during career progression.
Some of the benefits include:
• Membership of the Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners (ACGP)
• Access to a network of internal and external senior leaders
• Active programme of sponsors
More Information:
This will be a 10-month programme starting in the Autumn of 2023 with 25 places available.
The application process starts from 17 July– 4 August 2023.
Please complete the application form and return it to bcicb.workforce@nhs.net by 5 pm on 4 August.
Shortlisting and interviews will be completed in mid-August and early September 2023.
Successful participants will be notified by w/c 4 September
Who is eligible?
NHS colleagues and health and social care partner senior leaders Band 8a & above or equivalent from a Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic background.
Next Generation Senior Leadership Development Programme.Positive action faqs
Calling all Sandwell residents to have their say!
With your help we can improve our health and care system and make sure all voices are heard and valued.
Come and have your say on what matters to you on Thursday 24 August at Friar Park Millennium Centre, Friar Park Road, Millennium Centre, WS10 0JS.
To find out more and register, please click here.
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