Focus on CQC
You may well have noticed that preparations are well underway for our upcoming CQC inspection that we anticipate will take place in early 2019.
I know that we continue to provide outstanding services and care for our patients, and our next inspection gives us the opportunity to demonstrate that once more.
I also know that the arrival of the CQC can provoke worry and anxiety, and it can also take a lot of time and planning. Our challenge is to be as prepared as we can possibly be so that we are able to do ourselves justice, while at the same time delivering business as usual for our patients who need
our support.
As you would expect, there is a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes in preparation, both within central support teams and within front-line clinical areas, to help us be prepared. An important part of the inspection this time will be the ‘Well Led’ questions.
The starting point for the assessment of well-led at trust-wide level is an assessment of
leadership and governance at Board and executive team-level; the overall organisational
vision and strategy; organisation-wide governance, management, improvement; and
organisational culture and levels of engagement.
This is certainly an area that the CQC team will ask about and to help with this all staff will be able to access the CQC leaflet which includes key information about the Trust – for example who the Board members are and our vision and values.
It’s important to remember that we are currently reviewing our vision and values alongside our new strategy. However the current Trust Strategy, Vision and Values are still in place – and will be until 31 March 2019. The CQC leaflet and information will be available on the Intranet early next week.
As well as the leaflet we are also producing one page briefings about key issues that you might be asked about. There are also opportunities to attend face to face meetings to find out more. All of the information will be added to the CQC Intranet page early next week.
One of the most important things that we can all do is to really take pride in our services and our surroundings. I loved seeing the compendium of innovations from around the Trust, which we have produced – these will shortly be available on the Intranet. I am certain that within every single team in the Trust there are many, many things that you are proud of – please think about what those innovations are and be ready to talk about them to CQC inspectors about your innovations.
Also, let’s take the opportunity to tidy up any areas that need a spring clean. To fix or dispose of things that are broken, to make sure that noticeboards in our public and staff areas are up to date and tidy. Small things like that are very important in letting people know that we care. So please do continue to take the time to pick up that stray piece of paper or wrapper that you see on the floor. It really does make a difference.
Bright ideas in Health
Some of the brightest innovations from across the region were celebrated at the AHSN’s ‘Bright Ideas in Health’ Awards last week. I was delighted to be invited to speak at this annual celebration which has grown from humble beginnings to become a major event which was attended by hundreds of members of staff from across the region.
I focused on the how the NHS has always had innovation and the drive to learn and improve at its heart, and this has never been more important than now – as we sit at the eve of the birth of the NHS long term plan which we will learn more about in the next few weeks, and will guide us over the next 10 years.
I am very proud that the Trust had six finalists in four categories including – Innovation Champion of the Year, Development of an Innovative Device or Technology and Service Improvement. I am particularly pleased to say that the ‘pop up hospital’ were the outright winners in the Innovation Champion of the Year category. It was a fabulous evening and a real inspiration – a reminder that we should never be afraid to try something new.
Flourish – our staff survey
Our staff survey closed this week and I am thrilled to announce that 47% of you have shared your views with us. Thank you to every one of the 6,664 staff who took the time to have their say. The infographic below shows the results by directorate and also includes information about what will happen next with the information that you have shared so that we can take some positive actions together to make Newcastle Hospitals an even better place to work.
There are of course other ways that we would love you to be involved in sharing your experience and helping to develop our organisation – the next one is our Flourish event on Thursday 13 December which will focus on our values and behaviours. Everyone is welcome and there are still a few places available at the event. Please confirm your attendance by emailing:
[email protected]
Flourish – invitation to be a cultural ambassador
If you are a member of staff from a BAME background you might like to consider becoming a cultural ambassador. This programme is designed give BAME staff more confidence in formal HR processes in NHS organisations. Cultural Ambassadors will be included and regarded as part of any investigation team, if that is required to explore the facts of a case. Their role is simply to identify and challenge any issues of less favourable treatment or unconscious cultural bias, and ensure such elements are taken into consideration within the decision making process.
The project runs in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), although it’s important to emphasise it is not restricted to nursing staff and open to members of every staff group. Full training will be provided early in the new year 2019, and this will consist of a three-day training course and on-going mentorship.
If you would like the opportunity to work in partnership, develop new skills and challenge and change the status quo please contact the [email protected] to express an interest or find out more.
Flu
It’s wonderful to see so many flu stickers appearing all over the Trust recognising the teams that have reached 75% vaccination rates in their departments. This is brilliant work from all of the vaccinators and everyone who have supported this achievement. It’s an easy and vital way of keeping our patients safe. Thank you!
Flourish at Christmas
Next Friday (14 December) we will be collecting all of your many generous donations and delivering them to the Trussell Trust Food Bank in Heaton so that they can be distributed in time for Christmas. So if you are out shopping this weekend, please pop a couple of extra items into your trolley to donate – every item really does help.
Please ensure items all items are boxed and clearly labelled Flourish/Food Bank. All items must be at dropped off on Friday 14 December between 8.30am – 9.30am as we have arranged collection with a courier.
Please do not deliver items before this time as unfortunately we cannot hold goods in storage.
The collection points and times are below:
- Regent Point – next to reception
- RVI – Peacock Hall
- Freeman – Communications office (behind main reception area)
- CAV – Post Room
In the news and award winners
As well as our successful entries to the Bright Ideas in Health Awards, we have had a number of other notable celebrations over the last month, including:
- Karen Heslop-Marshall, Nurse Consultant has had a paper published in relation to a successful trail introducing CBT to patients with COPD
- Professor Paul Corris, British Thoracic Society Medal
- Ian Joy, Senior Nurse, awarded Leadership Scholarship by the Florence Nightingale Foundation
- James Dixon, Sustainable Healthcare Leader of the Year, Sustainable Health and Care Awards
- Newcastle’s regional sleep team named ‘Health Hero’
- Our palliative care team for heart and lung transplant patients, were presented with the Dundas Medal, awarded by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Scottish Charity PATCH
- Consultant neonatologist Professor Nick Embleton won the Healthcare Professional category at the 2018 Butterfly Awards
- Freeman heart transplant patient Max Johnson, Child of Courage Award at the Pride of Britain Awards 2018
- Newcastle Hospitals recognised as ‘Veteran Aware’ in Armistice Centenary.
Your views
I really value the time staff are taking to meet me and share their views – and if this briefing has sparked off any ideas for you then I would love to hear them.
Dame Jackie Daniel
Chief Executive
@JackieDanielNHS
@NewcastleHosps