Monthly archives: September 2024

Pay award for October confirmed

The NHS Staff Council has endorsed the agreed-upon pay offer between the government and trade unions. This will now be implemented for staff employed on the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service that eligible staff will receive as part of their pay in October 2024.

It is recognised that it may be preferable for some staff to receive these payments in multiple instalments rather than together in a single lump sum. An example of this might be when individuals receive Universal Credit payments, where any changes to monthly income will directly impact the value of these payments.

Step 1: Staff would need to consider the potential impacts of spreading the payments across multiple months. For example, if an individual claims Universal Credit, any lump sum or backdated earnings may affect how much Universal Credit is received in the month they are paid. Please see this Universal Credit guidance for further information.

Colleagues should access appropriate advice before submitting a request (for example, through the Universal Credit helpline or Citizens Advice) to understand how receiving these payments in multiple instalments may impact their situation.

Step 2: Consider the timeframe over which payments should be spread based on advice received at step 1 on their situation, subject to a maximum of 6 instalments (maximum 6 based on the end of the tax year). Once selected, this cannot be amended.  If you leave prior to the end of the instalment period, all outstanding instalments will be paid in the final salary payment.

Step 3:  Any colleague wishing to take up this option must complete the details in the pay award spreadsheet and email to swb-tr.swbh-gm-payroll-offmgr@nhs.net, requests should be made as soon as possible and by Monday 30 September to ensure payroll deadlines are met. Due to the timescales and additional work required, requests received after this date will not be actioned, only complete spreadsheets will be accepted.

For more information please contact email swb-tr.swbh-gm-payroll-offmgr@nhs.net.

Success this september for Kirk Johnson

We are delighted to announce that our September’s winner of ARC Star Award – Kirk Johnson!

Colleagues across the organisation were nominated for the award, which reflects our Trust Values – Ambition, Respect and Compassion, but it was the Senior Contracts Manager who stood out to the judges.

He was presented with a certificate, badge and a voucher by Deputy Chair Lesley Writtle, who said: “He is a hidden gem – procurement is a very important part of our organisation, and though they aren’t patient-facing, they play an essential part of the patient experience here at the Trust.”

Kirk Johnson, Contracts Manager in the procurement team, was awarded the ARC Star Award for his ambition and respect towards his colleagues and his work with internal and external stakeholders.

The recipient of the newly established ARC Star Award is someone who consistently lives our values throughout their everyday life and will go above and beyond to make a difference within their team and towards their patients.

Watch Lesley surprise Kirk with his award, in the video below.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdA2S-O-fDo[/embedyt]

Mike Hanson, Director of Procurement, added: “Kirk has been working with us for four years, and his work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Procurement is often overlooked, but our work plays a crucial part in the services we provide to our patients. Kirk is an exceptional colleague – one of the most committed colleagues I have had the pleasure of working with. He prides himself on the highest standards of procurement contracting, doesn’t take shortcuts, and is methodical in his work to ensure we are upholding best practices and keeping the taxpayer’s money, Trust, and colleagues safe.

“Kirk actively listens and makes sure procurement is a team effort. He keeps colleagues informed and incorporates your ideas to get the best possible outcome. When it is necessary to question or challenge, he does so with patience and respect in a constructive manner, explaining his thinking and phrasing to consider the impact on the receiver.”

“Kirk is exceptionally kind and always takes the time to explain ‘why’ when it comes to contracting, something that can be overlooked in a technical ‘back office’ profession. He ensures that you understand the difficult legal frameworks in a sensitive and easy way, even if it takes a bit longer.”

“We are lucky to have him!”

Do you know someone who could be our next ARC Star? Nominate them now by going to the link  here.

One-to-One conversations guidance

Following suggestions raised via the People Engagement Teams, new guidance has been developed on how to conduct effective one-to-one conversations. This is available on Connect here: One-to-One Conversation Guidance for Managers

One-to-one conversations are vital tools for effective management and employee engagement. These regular, dedicated meetings between managers and their direct reports provide a structured space to discuss progress, address concerns, and offer support. They are essential for building trust, recognising achievements, and aligning with team objectives.

One-to-one meetings are crucial for enhancing communication, well-being, and overall performance. They offer employees an opportunity to share thoughts, receive feedback, and discuss career development in a supportive environment. When managers prioritise these meetings, they foster a culture of recognition, early problem-solving, and mutual trust.

Managers to encouraged to ensure they have regular one-to-one conversations with their direct reports and to review this guidance to help ensure these conversations are meaningful and effective.

ENEI online events

Workplace diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in Great Britain has the Equality Act 2010 as its legislative framework. This evolved from the human rights principles set out in 1948 by the United Nations in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a response to the atrocities of the Second World War. That’s why ENEI are running a variety of events for staff to attend, to register for these events, please visit the ENEI Website here

Youth forum for young people interested in health

Do you know someone aged 13-21 who is interested in health and would like to know more about our hospitals and community services?

Our next youth forum known as ‘Youth Space’ is taking place on Tuesday 24 September, doors open at 5.30pm with the workshop starting at 6.15pm through to 8pm.

Food and drinks provided from 5.45pm.

Complete the Microsoft form to secure your spot, or email the team at swbh.engagement@nhs.net.

The event will be held at the Sandwell Education Centre.

Patient flow workshop with Avnash Nanra

Teams have been hard at work ensuring a smooth transition to Midland Met for our patients.

In August, we successfully completed 41 critical patient flow workshops, and now we’re taking the next step testing some of these flows onsite at Midland Met this week and next week.

Avnash Nanra, PAU and Adolescent Ward Manager, shared her experience and said: “Our workshop helped us visualise the crucial pediatric pathways for the move. It was insightful, and now the teams have a clearer picture of how patient transfers will work in October.”

Take a look her video for more.

Emergency Duty service telephone downtime: 21 September

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council are completing some essential maintenance work on their telephone system which will mean that all numbers starting ‘569’ will not be operational on Saturday 21 September, 8am – 1pm.

During this time, the Emergency Duty Service will be contactable on 07816 065265 instead.

National Inclusion Week: 23 – 29 September

Black Country ICB are hosting a jam-packed week of events to celebrate National Inclusion Week starting from Monday 23 September through to Sunday 29 September.

To view the events taking place, click here.

To gain access to watch all of the pre-recorded videos please email bcicb.workforce@nhs.net by Thursday 19 September.

Midland Met Rewind – 13 September

Things have once again been buzzing on site. Wherever you look there is something going on.

Last week saw mock CQC visits in preparation for the real thing this week. We welcomed back MLR to test our automated guided vehicles and we put our new hospital through its paces with stress testing across public facing areas.

We’re so close to opening the doors to patients on 6 October. Catch up on some of the highlights from last week’s activities here.

On the road to Midland Met – our engagement bus is visiting a site near you

Our engagement team are on the road again with the Midland Met bus, where staff also have a chance to learn more about the new hospital, the locations of various wards, along the opportunities it will bring to staff and our local community. 

If you would like to know more about Midland Met and grab some goodies, come and visit the minibus at the following dates and times.

• Sandwell A&E: Tuesday 24 September 2024, 1pm -4pm