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Important update from Richard Beeken, Chief Executive

August 7, 2024

As a Trust we value and appreciate all of our staff and have a zero tolerance of racism towards our colleagues or patients. We want to support our colleagues in any way we can and will not tolerate, under any circumstances any of our staff being subjected to intimidation, harassment, or racist abuse.  The recent events fuelled with violence and destruction with some appalling behaviours really bring home the importance of kindness and support in our Trust. We want to support anyone who may be feeling vulnerable or anxious and this is delivered through the Trust’s zero tolerance of violence and aggression, racism, and discrimination of any other form towards staff, which are more important than ever. We need to support each other, protect each other and be allies for those who may be feeling particularly anxious or concerned about the troubling events that have happened

We understand staff, particularly lone workers in the community may come up against amplified racism and so, unless life or limb of the patient is threatened , they have the right to step away/withdraw treatment as per your relevant  professional code and the sections relating to withdrawing from treatment or engagement with patients who have racially abused or threaten violence towards any of our practitioners. You can also refer to our Lone Worker policy and Violence and Aggression Policy

Our security colleagues have been extremely supportive during the past 48 hourrs, picking up additional shifts to provide an increased presence on both City and Sandwell, they have demonstrated agility in their ways of working to undertake different requests. Our  team is re committed to ensuring our SWB teams feel as safe as possible. 

However, we are still asking staff to stay vigilant and plan extra time when travelling to and from our hospital sites and in around the local area.

We would like to remind staff where possible they should:

  • Walk with a friend/colleague – Find a friend/colleague who will be taking a similar route.
  • Ensure you lock your car – Wind up your windows and lock your car as you leave.
  • Charge your phone – Make sure your phone is fully charged before setting out so that it’ll be working should you need it.
  • Plan your route – Try to stick to well-lit areas where you know it is likely that there will be people around.
  • Be alert at all times – Avoid wearing headphones and items of clothing that obscure your vision. When travelling along a road it is safer to walk in the direction of oncoming traffic, so you are visible to drivers.
  • Keep expensive items hidden – Keep expensive items such as mobile phones and iPods away from sight.
  • Carry a deterrent – Having a deterrent such as a screech alarm or personal safety device can give you extra peace of mind. Our security team have a stock of keyring torch alarms if anyone would like one for personal security.
  • Remember to keep where you work secure – Before you leave work, close the windows to prevent any intruders breaking and entering.

If you feel unsafe at work or notice any suspicious behaviour within your ward or department and require security, please contact the security team:

  • City Security – 0121 507 4133
  • Sandwell Security – 0121 507 3163

Note: In an emergency you should always call the police on 999. You can also call the security team on any internal phone on ext. 2222

In addition, the Trust’s behaviour framework is available here and we expect staff to adhere to our values of ambition, respect and compassion  at all times. Any unlawful activity will be treated as such and will be referred to the Police.

Staff are reminded that Trust behaviours also extend to social media which can be incredibly harmful in spreading misinformation, therefore, staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Trust’s social media policy which can be found here.

If you are feeling affected by events or need support, there are several resources available both at a national and local level including NHS England’s confidential text support service, we you can access by texting SHOUT to 85258 for support 24/7.   This service is available to all our NHS colleagues who have had a tough day, who are feeling worried or overwhelmed, or who have a lot on their mind and need to talk it through. There is also supportive information about racism and mental health on the MIND website.

The following resources are available to staff to help and provide support during this time. Please speak to your manager in the first instance or seek advice from HR (01215076680 or  swb-tr.swbh-GM-HR-Enquiries@nhs.net). You can also seek support via the following:

Our Wellbeing Hubs (located at City and Sandwell) also offer confidential chats with trained wellbeing coaches (as well as meditation and massage options). This can be useful for those that may need to decompress. Call 0121 507 3306 for an appointment.

Richard Beeken (CEO) will be hosting his drop-in coffee session (everyone welcome) at the BTC at City Hospital from 9am – 10am on Thursday 8 August and will be joined by colleagues from the EDI team if you feel that you would like to pop along and offer some reflection and share thoughts and concerns.

In our hospitals and across our community services we value the contribution that all of our colleagues make towards caring for and supporting patients. The diversity of our staff is our strength, and your dedication and compassion are the backbone of our organisation. Thank you for playing your part in making a positive difference to everyone who uses our services, as well as each other, and showing how proud you are to be part of a welcoming and inclusive Trust.