Submission of the PFPI evidence to the Scottish Health Council

Transcription

1 Scottish Ambulance Service Board Human Resources Directorate Activity Report Shirley Rogers, Director of Human Resources and Clinical Development 5 th June Staff Governance Staff Governance Self Assessment The Staff Governance annual report and national self assessment and action plan for 2008/9 have been submitted to the Health Department. To date, we have received no comments. 2. Patient Focus Public Involvement (PFPI) Submission of the PFPI evidence to the Scottish Health Council As part of the new self assessment process all Health Boards are now required to summarise their own assessment on how they have progressed with PFPI over the last twelve months and draft a summary along with case studies and actions to report on as prescribed by the Scottish Health Council guidance. Drafts of the self assessment summary, case study examples and action points for 2007/8 were taken to patient representatives who agreed to assist us in the annual review and self assessment process. As these individuals were located across Scotland, meetings were arranged in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. The meetings enabled us to provide the background and context of PFPI for the Service and establish good links with patients who we hope will be keen to be involved with our work in the future. The Scottish Health Council was also invited to attend the meetings. These meetings have taken place and comments have been collated from the patient representatives. A draft report has now been submitted to the Scottish Health Council and will be placed on the Scottish Ambulance Service website by 30 th May. A copy of the self assessment is attached at Appendix 1 and will be finalised once the Scottish Health Council has added a final paragraph with their comments. The PFPI Steering Group The PFPI Steering Group is due to meet on the 12 th June where Divisional Representatives will give an update on PFPI activity and ideas will be gathered on action points to focus on for 2008/9. The assessment process for 2008/9 is still being finalised by the Scottish Health Council and we anticipate receiving further guidance in the coming months

2 3. Equality and Diversity (including Fair for All) Scottish Government Equalities and Planning Directorate A consultation workshop was held by the new Equalities and Planning Directorate, Health Scotland to seek views on the future work of all the Equality Streams. Most Boards agreed that strand specific work should continue but a more coordinated approach is required. There are also plans for an Equality Manager to link with Boards with one person linking with the special health boards and these posts are currently being recruited to. Race An awareness session on Diversity Impact Assessment was carried out for the Personnel team in April. Awareness raising throughout the Service is now required. This will be discussed further at the next Equality and Diversity Steering Group meeting. Gender Work is ongoing with regard to producing our annual report on progress with Gender Equality Scheme, which is to be published by 30 th June Personnel Absence Following the last Board meeting we have undertaken a review of absence levels in other UK ambulance services. The information is as follows:- Ambulance Service Published % sickness absence London 7 South East Coast 6.5 North West 6 Wales 7.5 South Coast 5 East of England 7.1 East Midlands 7.6 Great Western 7.5 North East 7 (approx) West Midlands 6.24 Yorkshire

3 Agenda for Change Negotiations are ongoing in relation to unsocial hours payments and other terms and conditions issues. A pilot of the Knowledge and Skills Framework project has commenced with the Finance Directorate and training sessions for staff have now taken place. Our Agenda for Change Benefits Realisation plan has been endorsed by the Chairman and Chief Executive and it, along with a summary of progress to date, has been submitted to the Health Department as required. The Personnel team is supporting managers with a wide range of issues; priority issues for April were in the following areas: o Absence management case meetings o Supporting RRD with review plans o Policy Development Compensatory rest, Work Life Balance, o Implementation of Workforce Planning system o Implementation of new pension regulations o Supporting Airwing change team o Supporting EMDC change team o Ongoing change management o Conflict resolution o Implementation of Managing Diabetes policy o Secondary employment issues o Reduction in on-call working groups o Grievances o Disciplinary investigations o Complex case management o Dignity at work complaints o Substance Abuse policy implementation o Further development of computerised recruitment system o Staff Governance monitoring and actions o 1 dismissals in relation to health issues o 2 dismissal due to conduct issues o No current outstanding Employment Tribunal cases o Reviewing recruitment processes for the Service o Contributing to workforce planning project team o E-cruit training being rolled out across the Service to support more effective recruitment administration and reporting. o Child Care Vouchers being progressed 5. Education and Training Paramedic Target The first paramedic course of 2008/09 will complete on the 16 th May. The original target for paramedic training may change as a result of requests and discussions with General Managers. The department is awaiting confirmation of any - 3 -

4 approved changes, from operational colleagues, before producing the final training plan. Technician Target The first Technician course of 08/09 will complete on the 13 th June. As with paramedic training the department has received requests for additional course places, to meet local issues and/or developments. Again, before committing the department to this additional demand we are awaiting confirmation of the funding and training resources necessary for delivery. The department is also acutely aware of the operational impact that the release of staff for courses can have and the Divisional Training Managers have been asked to ensure that local training is prioritised and is scheduled and delivered, wherever possible to minimise any adverse impact. In addition and in light of the financial pressures on operations, the focus should be on clinical competence and clinical priorities, for training delivery. Post Graduate Frontline Leadership & Management Programme 2 Information packs along with an invitation to submit nominations for programme 2 has been distributed to all Divisions and Departments. The level of interest is already significantly beyond our 5 allocated places; however, as last year, we will liaise with NHS Education for Scotland to try and secure additional funded places. The application process closes at end of June, thereafter, our nominees will be allocated to a group and tutor by mid August and the programme will start in late September. Delivering for Mental Health (commitment 7) Further to last month s report, the programme to roll out the safe talk initiative commences with a training seminar on the 28 th May at the College. We are keen that safe talk trainer courses are not only limited to full time trainers, but will be open to any staff with an interest, in this area and in particular as a real CPD opportunity for peer support staff. Carers Strategy The Training department is working in partnership with Carers Scotland to progress the development a staff awareness programme. The department is leading a seminar and workshop in June to produce the material and an implementation plan. The seminar will involve staff from a range of disciplines across the Service

5 6. Organisational Development First Responders On Monday 12 th May the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing visited the newly established First Responder Scheme at Achiltibuie on the North West coast. The Cabinet Secretary spent the afternoon with the scheme members before travelling to Inverness to spend the evening meeting staff at the EMDC. The visit gave the Cabinet Secretary an opportunity to meet the First Responders, experience the environment in which the scheme operates and see at first hand some of the vital lifesaving skills they have acquired. Following the visit to the First Responder scheme, the Cabinet Secretary visited the EMDC in Inverness, viewed the facilities and processes carried out and met Ambulance Service and NHS24 staff. Remote and Rural Implementation Group The report of the Remote and Rural Steering Group, previously discussed by the Board, has now moved into the implementation phase. In order to take forward the necessary actions, five work streams have been created. These are; Service Models and Care Pathways; Obligate Networks; Emergency Response and Transport; Workforce & Education and ehealth / infrastructure. We have nominated Service leads for each group. These are myself for Service models / Care Pathways and for Workforce & Education; Bill Mason for Obligate Networks, Ian Shanley for ehealth and Sam Kennedy for the work stream on emergency response and transport. 7. Workforce Planning EMDC recruitment - Socially Inclusive Project We are working closely with Jobcentre Plus on a funded project to support the reintroduction of long term unemployed people into the work place. This consists of a pre-employment course which will prepare applicants for interview. There was a limited response from suitable candidates and the pre-employment course planned for April and this has been postponed to 2 nd June with an additional open day at Jobcentre Plus planned for 15 th May. NHS Scotland Workforce Planning Staff projections for 2008/9 were submitted to the Workforce Planning Unit on 29 th April Workshops for workforce planning staff are being run by the Department and dates have now been circulated to all Boards

6 Work continues with colleagues from ISD and SWISS to review the relevance of the current post descriptors. Our suggestions will be put forward which if accepted will make reporting on staff establishment figures more meaningful. The Workforce Planning Manager took part in the Skills for Health and employability consultation meeting run by the National Institute for Adult Continuous Education. Consultation was due to be completed across the UK by the end of April. A key issue raised was the fact that the employability skills did not dovetail with the KSF indicators. 8. Corporate Affairs Freedom of Information requests We have seen an increase in the number of FOI requests recently and we have had 20 since 1 st January The current outstanding requests are listed below. o Review of a previous decision not to provide personal information about staff o Information on disciplinary cases against staff o Information on policies in relation to patient family escorts o Information on paramedics dealing with casualties in swimming pools who have sustained spinal injury o Review of decision not to provide information on cost of satellite navigation in ambulances o Information on number of children under 18 treated for drink/drugs in Highlands & Islands o Information on number of emergency call outs in Highlands and information on single manning o Requesting a fleet list of ambulances/vehicles in the Service o Transcripts of calls to incident in Netherhouse Road in Easterhouse in August 2007 o Policy on securing wheelchair passengers o Reimbursement to staff for business mileage used in personal cars and amount per mile Communications Forum The Communications Forum met on 15 th May and developed plans for the refreshment of the Communications strategy, a review of Response Magazine and the forward planning of communication lines for the next few months. Complaints The Complaints Manager is currently looking at potential case studies to place on SAMSON to share good practice and lessons learned with the organisation. The volume of complaints does appear to be rising and the Complaints Manager is working hard to identify trends and areas where complaints are on the rise. A recent report from the Healthcare Commission is being studied for good practice and ideas for future actions

7 Website/Response The Communications Manager and the Corporate Affairs Manager have formed a small project team with the web developers to look at improving the external website as a priority. A Spring issue of Response has been approved and will be out to staff in due course. Standing Orders Following agreement at the April Board meeting, revised standing orders have been placed on the website. They will be reviewed annually