Monthly archives: January 2025

SWB QI Foundation upcoming updates

The Trust are offering a unique opportunity to access a free training programme teaching skills on undertaking effective audit and Quality Improvement projects.

The course will run across two afternoons, following which, participants will undertake projects in pairs/small groups, to be presented at the end of the year at the Poster Presentation event.

The sessions will cover topics such as:

• Quality improvement tools and audit
• Project planning
• Writing aim statements
• Tips for undertaking successful QI

Dates for the diary:

• Session 1: QI Theory, Wednesday 5 February, 1pm – 5pm
• Session 2: Project Planning, Thursday 6 March, 1pm – 5pm
• Virtual check-ins, March – June
• Poster presentation: TBC July 2025, 1pm – 4pm

Attendance to both sessions is required, to sign up please click here.

Have you submitted your 2024 PDRs?

Managers who are yet to submit their 2024 PDRs can do so by clicking here.

For more information please email swbh.landd@nhs.net.

Glaucoma UK Research Programme

Glaucoma UK have launched their research programme and they are welcoming applications regarding relevant research proposals into all aspects of glaucoma care and treatment.

Key Details:

• Amalgamated fundings rounds for project grants: one round of applications, opening in January. A total of £250,000 is available, for projects worth up to £100,000.
• Funding for a PhD studentship, worth up to £120,000 over three years.
• Greater consideration than in previous years of the impact on and involvement of people with glaucoma, and the aims of Glaucoma UK, within our award process.

Applications are now open and close on Tuesday 1 April.

For more information about their programmes click here.

Star Awards 2025: Non-Clinical Team of the Year

Have you recognised a team with consistently excellent performance whilst meeting financial and operational targets, demonstrating best practice or a team that has introduced a change in approach resulting in improvements to financial or operational performance or has pulled together through particularly difficult circumstances?

If you have, nominate them for the Non-Clinical Team of the Year Award at the upcoming Star Awards!

Please complete the nomination form by clicking here with as much detail as possible about your nominee. The closing date for all nominations is Friday 31 January, 5pm.

If you have any questions regarding the Star Awards, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.

Do you want four weeks FREE bus travel and eight weeks at 25 per cent discount?

The Trust is committed to working in more environmentally friendly ways and has in place a Trust Board approved Green Strategic Plan. We are keen to support staff with getting to and from work using active and sustainable modes of travel.

As part of the West Midlands Bus Scheme, we are extending our offer for eligible staff for four weeks free bus travel and then eight weeks travel at 25 per cent discount.

• To be eligible, you must be a non-frequent bus user (one – two times a week or less). Please ensure you select that you are a non-frequent bus user when completing the form otherwise you won’t be eligible.

This is a programme to encourage modal-shift and is intended to support sustainable travel habits. Those eligible will be supported with free bus travel via Swift technology.

The form will close on Monday 27 January, 8pm. Applications will be processed at the end of each week and issued to eligible staff.

To apply, please click here.

Codes cannot be requested via email and will be sent directly from Transport for West Midlands. The form must be completed to assess eligibility.

Please only apply if you intend to use the bus pass as this will be monitored by Transport for West Midlands.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I complete the form multiple times to get more codes?

No, only one form should be completed per person. One application is permitted per individual.

When will I receive my code?

If you are eligible, you will receive a code once the window for the webform closes.

How can I redeem the codes?

• You can redeem the four week free bus travel code at the website provided in the automated email. Once the code is redeemed, you will order a Swift Card that will provide four weeks free bus travel and eight weeks at 25 per cent discount, the card will come preloaded with four weeks free travel.
• Once the four weeks is nearly over, you will automatically receive another email with the 25 per cent discount. Once the next four weeks is nearly over, you will automatically receive another email with the final 25 per cent discount.

For more information, please click here for the attached guides and information sheets. 

IT maintenance affecting Connect: 27 January, 2am – 6am

Please be aware an essential IT maintenance will be taking place on Monday 27 January to carry out security patching and reboots to ensure the Trust’s systems remains compliant. The work is scheduled to begin at 2am for approximately four hours and should be completed by 6am.

During this time the Connect Intranet site will be unavailable for up to 30 minutes.

Please be assured colleagues will be able utilise their direct connections to core applications such as iPM and Unity via desktop shortcuts at this time.

This timeslot has been chosen as a quieter time operationally.

As always, should you have any further queries then please do contact the IT Service Desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 or via chat with the IT service desk.

Free occupational health and wellbeing services available

Starting from Friday 17 January, every Friday occupational health and wellbeing services are working with Sandwell College students who are providing the following treatments at 11am – 2pm in the Berridge Room, Courtyard Gardens, Sandwell. This session is free to all staff and no booking is required.

Services include:

Beauty services

• Hand
• Eyebrow shaping
• Facial
• Body 1/2
• Skin test offered – hair colour at college

Styling services

• Basic plaiting
• Curling
• Straightening
• Updos

Massage services

• Massage treatment with/without oils
• Full body
• Hand/feet
• Back

Cutting services

• Dry cuts
• Fringes

Star Awards 2025: Volunteer of the Year 

Do you know an individual who has made a significant impact to our Trust whilst volunteering while showing selflessness and determination to support the people around them?

Why not nominate them for the Volunteer of the Year Award at the upcoming Star Awards!

Please complete the nomination form by clicking here with as much detail as possible about your nominee. The closing date for all nominations is Friday 31 January, 5pm.

If you have any questions regarding the Star Awards, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net

ED (Resus) blood fridge: Out of Action

The Emergency Department (Resus) Blood Issue Fridge is currently out of action due to an issue with the fridge. Emergency O Negs are available from the Blood Transfusion Lab on Level 4 (Pathology).

An engineer has been out to resolve the issue, however that has not happened. The Blood Transfusion team are working hard to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

In the event, emergency blood is required, contact the lab on Ext 3196.

Help us improve our logistics services

We’re always looking for ways to make the logistics service at accessible and as effective as possible for everyone.

Now we’ve been in our new home since October 2024, we’d like to hear your views about our logistics service, specifically what’s working well and where we can improve.

To help us understand your experience, we’ve compiled a quick survey. It’s short – only takes a few minutes to complete – and your feedback will make a big difference. By sharing your thoughts, we’ll be able to focus on areas you’ve highlighted to help us create a better service for you and everyone who uses the logistics service.

Click the below link to take the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/logistics_operations

Thank you for your time and input.