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CNO Bulletin January 2023

 

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE CNO – TRACEY BRIGSTOCK

Welcome to our first edition for the CNO Bulletin in 2023.

Firstly, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your incredible work throughout this incredibly busy winter period. We're facing challenging pressures as an organisation, but I've been blown away by the attitude you've shown to face this challenge head on, showcasing teamwork, shared-decision making and an incredible sense of togethernes on wards and departments across UHCW.

This month, I’m excited to welcome a contribution from our Head of Voluntary Services, Kristine Davies, who will provide us with an update on the implementation of a new ‘Response Volunteer service’ and their primary focus on supporting our inpatient pharmacy, Discharge Lounge and Medicine wards.

There is also a valuable inclusion from Davina Hewitt, Senior Research Sister, on the opportunities for Student Nurse Associates (SNAs) to undertake research-specific placements during their time at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

In this issue, there will also be a celebration for a Clinical Sister who was won the Trust’s latest World Class Colleague award, updated times for our Covid-19 and flu vaccination clinic, and dedicated ‘self-help’ resources for patients who suffer with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

 

In This Issue

 

Voluntary Services: New roles within the Trust and a National Volunteer Certificate

The Voluntary Services Department is working with Helpforce, an independent not for profit innovator, focused on co-creation of volunteering projects with NHS Trusts and systems, rapidly sharing insights and best practice. The NHS Long Term Plan includes a commitment to doubling the number of volunteers in the NHS with the provision of resources to “up-scale” the Helpforce Programme.

The Back to Health Pathway is an integrated health and care, volunteer supported pathway. It brings together existing and emerging volunteer work into a single impactful pathway that supports patients both within the hospital and in the community. We are creating two new volunteer roles.

Response Volunteers: to complete discharge related tasks that focus on improving   efficiencies and patient experience. Tasks will include delivering TTO’s, delivering blood samples to Pathology, moving patients to discharge lounge etc.

The Response Volunteer service was implemented on 5 December 2022 with a primary focus on supporting our inpatient pharmacy, Discharge Lounge and Medicine wards. We plan to roll the service out to the whole of University Hospital week commencing 6 February with plans in future to introduce a similar service at St Cross. Below is a breakdown of the Response Volunteers activity for December 2022.

We currently have 10 active Response Volunteers and are busy training more to enable us to extend the service.

We held an initial Response Volunteer Stakeholder meeting on 17 November in CSB to help design the role and to hear what would be most helpful for staff.

Contact Centre Volunteers: telephoning patients that have been discharged from hospital or are on waiting lists with a focus on reducing readmissions, DNA rates, tackling health inequalities and improving our patient experience.

We will be holding a Contact Centre Stakeholder event late January / early February to develop this service and are hoping to launch this by the end of April 2023.

National Volunteer Certificate

The aim of the National Volunteer Certificate is to ensure that all volunteers in health and social care, have the same basic learning and supports the Volunteers Induction and Mandatory Training to ensure that volunteers are safe in their volunteering role.

There are six core standards required by completing a set of core learning sessions. The standards are:

  • Your role and responsibility
  • Communication
  • Respect for Everyone (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion)
  • Safeguarding (Adults and Children)
  • Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Disability
  • Health and Safety

The standards are achieved through successful completion of 11 eLearning sessions as detailed below. Each is a short session with a multiple-choice test at the end.

  • Roles and Responsibilities of a Volunteer
  • Communication for Volunteers
  • Data Security Awareness for Volunteers
  • Conflict Resolution for Volunteers
  • Equality, Diversity and Human Rights for Volunteers
  • Safeguarding Adults for Volunteers
  • Safeguarding Children for Volunteers
  • Preventing Radicalisation (Basic Awareness) for Volunteers
  • Mental Health Awareness for Volunteers
  • Health, Safety and Infection Prevention and Control for Volunteers
  • Fire Safety for Volunteers

Once volunteers have completed 30 hours of volunteering, we will provide them with an in-house Volunteer Certificate.

Volunteers will receive an accredited certificate awarded through SFJ Awards once they have completed a minimum of 60 hours of volunteering in addition to the training. Up to 30% (20 hours) of these hours could have been completed prior to commencing the training.

The Voluntary Services Department will confirm that the volunteers hours and the required sessions for the core standards have been completed before submitting the request for the volunteer to receive their digital certificate and badge which are awarded by Health Education England (HEE) and SFJ Awards.

We will be holding face to face sessions to support volunteers who are not confident using technology and will also provide a guide for the volunteers to complete the training.

For more information about volunteering or if you have ideas on how volunteers may be able to support your team, please do not hesitate to Kristine Davies via email (Kristine.davies@uhcw.nhs.uk) or by using extension number 25147.

 

Research Placements for Student Nurse Associates (SNAs)

There is no standalone ‘research’ placement available to student nursing associates as a set standard within placements assigned by Coventry University. When we did host students for a bespoke visit it became apparent that there was a need to demystify what clinical research meant and looked like in clinical practice compared to what is taught by academic institutions. This is where the proposal for a placement within Research and Development was envisaged.

The purpose behind designing a Research specific placement was to create an opportunity for the next generation of nurse associates to have a better understanding of the current workings of clinical research, observe and work with the roles associated, and recognise how important research is in the NHS. The objective was to create a varied and multifaceted timetable program that would attempt to give insight to the many levels of clinical research currently delivered at UHCW and St Cross.

Initially a task and finish council were created at UHCW to discuss allocation of SNAs per cohort across all clinical research delivery teams. This group consisted of approximately 15 members of the clinical research delivery teams.

A timetable was suggested to help structure the visit to give each SNA a mentor and help manage expectations. Each timetable program included research setup, feasibility, delivery, and recruitment alongside supporting departments.

The creation of the individual program would take up to a few weeks to collate to ensure that as many clinical research areas were included to give each individual SNA as best a snapshot of R&D as possible.

This venture served its purpose to break down myths associated with clinical research as feedback from the SNAs described how they gained new knowledge and insight into the clinical research nursing roles and had exposure to areas that would usually have been either off limits or unavailable in the usual placement setting. They also stated these placements had improved their knowledge and skills surrounding the topic of clinical research which is becoming more recognised and regarded in nursing care delivery and management.

Following on from this we looked at creating links between R&D and the various clinical areas to improve on the awareness and benefits of clinical research. The ‘Research Ambassador’ link was proposed to serve this need, and the council believed an SNA could be the greatest supporter for this role as they were best placed to advocate clinical research to all, whether it be a patient, a relative/carer, a fellow SNA or other healthcare professional.

These placements have brought about the importance of clinical research and its necessity to be positively and effectively embedded into SNAs curriculums to promote transparency and a better understanding of the current research delivery pathways so that we can, and do, offer the best care and services possible every day.

If you would like to know more about the Research Placements for SNAs please contact Davina.Hewitt@uhcw.nhs.uk.

 

Update to Covid-19 and Flu vaccination clinic

Please be aware that the clinic for staff to get their Covid-19 and flu vaccinations will close on Sunday, 29th January 2023.

Until then, drop-in clinics (no appointment needed) remain available in CSB Ground Floor Room 00002 (no need to book unless aged 65 and over):

  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 8am to 5.30pm
  • Saturdays and Sundays, 8am to midday

Booking your appointment

Please note, all staff aged 65 and over, whether at University Hospital or the Hospital of St Cross, will need to book an appointment for a flu vaccine by emailing: occupationalhealth@uhcw.nhs.uk.

 

Self-care guides launched for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions

We’re excited to launch a range of self-care guides on the Trust’s external website which will empower our patients through useful advice and tips on how can manage their own symptoms, avoiding unnecessary trips to hospital.

Aches and pains in muscles and joints are a normal part of life for many people, affecting over 20 million people in the UK, but sometimes they can interfere with your day-to-day activities.

Patients can access these self-care guides here.

'Compassionate, strong, and caring leader' Christina is your latest World Class Colleague

A huge congratulations to Christina Middleton on being voted as our latest World Class Colleague winner.

Christina is a Clinical Sister on Hoskyn Ward at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby where she’s been praised for taking the ward from ‘strength to strength’ in a glowing nomination from a colleague.

“I have never come across a Sister who goes so above and beyond for our patients and their relatives quite like Christina,” the nomination read.

“She never misses a patient’s birthday and will even come in on her days off to talk to relatives, or even just to see how our patients are doing.

“Christina is also an advocate for the staff’s mental wellbeing and always lets us know about anything which could improve our work-life balance.

“She is leading the way by being the most compassionate, strong, and caring leader anyone could wish for.”

Congratulations Christina.

Our World Class Colleague award scheme celebrates the clinical and non-clinical staff who make up TeamUHCW.

If there’s someone you know at the Trust who deserves our next award, consider nominating them here.

 

Staying on the Pulse - take part in NHS People Pulse survey and make a difference

We have launched our People Pulse survey for January 2023 as part of our ongoing efforts to offer the best possible experience and working environment at UHCW.

This survey will run until the end of January and provides an effective outlet for your voice to be heard in a clear, open and transparent way.

The People Pulse, held quarterly, asks about your experiences at work and includes important questions on how informed and motivated you feel and what would help make a difference to you.

It complements the annual NHS Staff Survey and allows us to regularly check in with you to continuously improve the support we provide as an organisation.

Click here to take part in the People Pulse survey now.

Listening to your views is vital to understanding what you really think about working at UHCW so that we celebrate successes and take decisive action to better understand and strengthen potential focus areas.

You will receive regular updates on the findings and actions from the surveys, starting later this year, so you can see how your voice is making a difference.

The survey, which takes just a few minutes to complete, is completely anonymous and does not ask for any personal information.

It does ask for some demographic information, for example ethnic origin, age or job type, to explore the results for different populations within the NHS. These questions are not mandatory.

Please take a few minutes to get involved. Your feedback makes a huge difference.

 

Save the Date: E-Consent Demo: 14th February 2023

The Trust’s e-consent working group is hosting a demo session for our potential electronic consent solution suppliers on the 14th February (15:00~18:00) in CSB 20063/64.

Project lead and Deputy CCIO, Mr Feras Izzat, would like to encourage our colleagues to attend the session if possible alongside our core working group to engage with the software, see what it can do, and ask questions.

 

Bus timetable changes from Transport for West Midlands

Transport for West Midlands have confirmed a number of bus timetable changes which came into effect on Sunday, 1st January 2023.

These timetable changes can be found on the Transport for West Midlands website here.

 

Tweets of the Month

 

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