Staff focus updates - 24 January 2013
New policy, guidance and initiatives from across the UK which focus on staff issues and professional development. For more information about this theme see Quality and Safety e-Bulletin: staff focus.
Some of the resources linked to are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
British Medical Association (BMA): BMA guide to contract changes. The BMA has published a quick guide to the intended changes to GP contracts in England from April 2013. This guide looks at what the government's proposals may mean for general practice.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): Fitness for work: the Government response to ‘Health at work – an independent review of sickness absence’. A new independent occupational health assessment and advice service is expected to be set up in 2014. The new service will enable employers of all sizes to access expert advice to help them manage sickness absence in the workplace and "will ensure employers receive bespoke, independent advice for cases of sickness absence lasting more than four weeks”.
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): Consultation on criteria for approving Approved Mental Health Professional Programmes in England. The HCPC is consulting on criteria that they will use to approve Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) Programmes in England. The criteria have two parts: processes and systems providers delivering AMHP training should have in place; knowledge and skills AMHP need to have when they complete the programme. The consultation closes on 19 April 2013.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Healthcare Improvement Scotland Workforce & Equalities Monitoring Report 2011-2012. It is a legal requirement for Healthcare Improvement Scotland to produce and publish an analysis of their workforce equality monitoring data each year. This report provides information on the profile of their workforce and covers recruitment, selection and staff development.
NHS Education for Scotland (NES): Raising the issue of smoking. There are two e-learning packages available to help equip staff with the skills to help people stop smoking and to advise them on how to start their own Stop Smoking service. Part 1 is an adaptation of the NHS Health Scotland e- learning resource which is aimed at all pharmacy staff who may be involved in providing brief advice and help people stop smoking. Part 2 contains more specialist information and is aimed at pharmacists and pharmacy staff who wish to start or are involved in the provision of a smoking cessation service. Part 1 takes approximately 8 hours to complete. Part 2 takes approximately 16 hours to complete.
NHS Employers: HR and social media in the NHS. This guidance aims to help the NHS realise the benefits of social media and implement a more permissive approach to its use. It explains that social media is increasingly becoming central to the ongoing effectiveness of the NHS. It argues that there is a need for a more open approach alongside greater clarity on professional behaviour and the importance of confidentiality. The guidance provides examples to help human resources managers, leaders and communications staff use social media more effectively within their organisations.
NHS Employers: BME trailblazer January 2013 - Justus Akinsanya. As part of NHS Employers BME trailblazer series, this month takes a look at Justus Akinsanya. “Professor Akinsanya’s contribution to nursing education is nothing short of pioneering.”
NHS Employers: Staff Engagement toolkit update. The toolkit has been updated and is a ‘one stop shop’ for HR leaders, line managers and others to help support staff engagement as the NHS faces a year of even greater challenges. It includes ten new case study examples and revised text in key sections, helpful to all from experienced practitioners to those picking up engagement responsibilities for the first time.
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): Possibilities and pitfalls for clinical leadership in improving service quality, innovation and productivity (PDF 1.1 MB). This paper from the UK National Institute for Health Research looks at effective clinical leadership in Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). It focuses on practice in two locations (the cities of London and Manchester) and two NHS service areas (dementia and sexual health). Four types of clinical leadership are identified and analyzed.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): NMC introduces new process to improve fitness to practise efficiency. The NMC has approved arrangements for a new method of determining sanctions in fitness to practise hearings. Through consensual panel determinations, nurses and midwives who are subject to fitness to practise proceedings and who admit all the charges against them will be able to provisionally agree a sanction with the NMC. The provisional agreement will then be put before a Conduct and Competence or Health Committee panel, which will have the final decision on whether to accept or reject it. Rejected cases will be considered in full by a fresh panel, which will decide on an appropriate sanction. The option of consensual panel determination will be offered to registrants after a full investigation has taken place. Before putting the provisional agreement before a panel, the NMC will consult the maker of the allegation wherever possible.
RCN: RCN has welcomed changes to NMC processes. The Royal College of Nursing has welcomed changes to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration and fitness to practise processes.
Primary Care Commissioning (PCC): Introduction to the NHS (e-learning course). The NHS has constantly changed since it was created in 1948. It is a complex organisation with complex issues. The most recent changes are arguably the greatest since its creation. This course from Primary Care Commissioning (PCC) explains in simple language the history of the NHS, the present structure and the challenges it is facing.
Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP): Personal health budgets: a guide for GPs. This practical guide describes personal health budgets, how they can be used effectively and which patients are eligible. It has been produced with input from GPs and managers with first-hand experience of using personal health budgets at the pilot sites.
RCN Frontline First: RCN Council decides on AfC proposals, following consultation. RCN Council has made an important decision in the journey to secure the national framework for pay, terms and conditions – Agenda for Change (AfC) having worked hard to negotiate a series of changes that, if agreed, would secure AfC and seek to avoid instances of regional pay.
RCN: Awards set to recognise care for military personnel. Nominations are now open for an awards scheme that recognises the joint efforts of the NHS and the military for their treatment and care of armed forces personnel. The awards honour the people, projects and initiatives that provide serving military personnel, including Reserves, their families and service veterans with the very best in health care and social care.
Military Civilian Health Partnership Awards.
RCN: Enter today for student nursing awards. RCN nursing students are being encouraged to nominate their educational establishments in this year’s Student Nursing Times Awards. The awards will also honour students who have demonstrated academic achievement, clinical prowess and personal qualities that will make them brilliant nurses as well as recognising excellent mentors, lecturers and providers of placements. The deadline for submissions is 30 January.
Welsh Government: Welsh Government investing more than £82m to train healthcare professionals. The £82.035m funding will support the next generation of healthcare professionals including nurses, midwives, radiographers, paramedics and pharmacists. The number of training places funded is based on workforce plans developed by NHS organisations and has been discussed with healthcare unions and representatives.