1 www.staffordshireandstokeontrent.nhs.uk

The Word

18 October 2013

It is always disappointing for me if a week passes

without the opportunity to get out and meet our staff across the county. Unfortunately this was the case this week as, along with other commitments; I spent two days away from the office at the Foundation Trust Network Conference in Liverpool.

This national event was a really valuable opportunity for our organisation to showcase the lead we are taking in championing raising concerns and calling for a more open and transparent NHS. We were in prestigious company at the event where speakers included David Behan CBE, chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, Dr David Bennett, chair and chief executive at Monitor and Sir Malcolm Grant, chair of NHS England.

I am proud to report that the Partnership Trust was the only NHS Trust speaking on the main stage and together Helene Donnelly and I spoke to delegates about our raising concerns campaign and the Ambassador for Cultural Change role. We did acknowledge that the Trust is still a way off where we would like to be in terms of embedding positive cultures and attitudes, but I do feel that we are taking the right position in prioritising support for staff that ultimately will help to enhance our care and services.

We were certainly well received at the conference and I was pleased to meet later with several NHS leaders keen to adopt our approach and introduce a similar role in their organisations. It was a very positive event which has done much to raise the profile of our organisation as one at the forefront of a more open NHS we all want to see.

The year is certainly moving on very quickly and you will be aware that we are already into flu season. You may feel that the consequences of flu for yourself are not particularly great but every year flu kills hundreds of people. Please do get protected from the virus and join the fight to safeguard vulnerable patients and service users by not passing on the virus by. The flu jab can help you and your family to have a healthier winter too.

I really would like to encourage you to take up the opportunity of a free flu vaccination from either Team Prevent, our occupational health provider, or by contacting the Infection Control team to arrange a team vaccination session. Next week the Trust Board will get their vaccinations at our meeting on 30th October and I hope by then even more of you will have become flu fighters.

Finally this week a reminder and a plea for anyone who hasn’t as yet filled in their Staff Survey for 2013 to please complete and submit it. The Survey really is a vital tool for the Trust as employers to gain a good indication of how things are going and how you feel. Thank you to those of you who have already submitted for taking part and if not, please do not miss this chance to register your opinions and views.

Next week I will be away and another member of the Executive Management Team will bring From the Top to you. Have a good week and I look forward to getting out and visiting services again on my return.

Stuart Stuart Poynor - Chief Executive

2We Put Quality First We Focus on People We Take Responsibility

The Word 152 - What’s In

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Sign Language Talk at Cafe

Celebrate the Hindu festival of light with traditional music, dance and crafts. This year the event will also pay tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema as you are invited to enter the colourful world of Bollywood.

In partnership with the Hindu Cultural Society of Staffordshire.

preventing • protecting • responding

Staffordshire

stoke.gov.uk/museum01782 232323

A Handmade Thank You!Some of our patients make a very special effort to say thank you for the great care and service they receive from our staff. Audley District Nurses had a lovely surprise delivery this week of a box of bespoke, handmade cakes from a grateful patient.

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3We Put Quality First We Focus on People We Take Responsibility

Away Day Encourages Team to Be Part of Vision

In late September 2013, the Partnership Infant Feeding Team held their first team away day since the two teams merged back in 2012. The team oversees the implementation of UNICEF UK Baby Friendly and other initiatives to promote and support breastfeeding across Stoke and North Staffordshire.

The team work closely with health visitors and other agencies to ensure that the all women and their families are enabled to make an informed choice on how to feed their babies and can access the support they need to make their choice a reality. The Infant Feeding team offers additional support which includes telephone contact following hospital discharge for mothers in Stoke, as well as ante-natal and postnatal groups, 1-2-1 support, a Tongue Tie clinic and a local breastfeeding helpline.

Jan Summerfield, Service Manager for Staff Counselling, facilitated the away day using a mixture of fun and challenging activities for the team of Breastfeeding Co-ordinators, facilitators, administration staff and Anita Cartlidge, Infant Feeding Team Manager /UNICEF Lead. The team explored many topics including the important contribution each individual makes towards the whole team’s achievements. The importance of effective communication and areas for improvement were identified, leading onto the challenge of change. Follow up sessions to support the team to implement the improvements they identified and to cope with change are also planned.

Kieron Murphy, Head of Children’s Services, joined the team at lunch time to share the progress made within Children’s Services. Kieron emphasised that “The Trust is committed to ensuring that all children have the best possible start in life and that we work together with others to ensure that families are supported and enabled to provide this best start.”

Kieron highlighted the “Importance of such events to support staff during changes” and he also encouraged the team to “Take part in building the vision for the new Children’s Directorate by feeding back their comments and ideas.”

Anita expressed her thanks to Jan and her team for all their work to ensure the success of the day. Anita said “It was great that Kieron could join us and that we were able to share with him fantastic feedback from families that have been supported by the team.”

“I was really pleased that Kieron recognised what a highly motivated team we have and the fantastic work that every member of the team makes in supporting local families.”

The Infant Feeding team welcomes enquires from health professionals you can contact a member of the team on 0300 7900 163 or via email at infantfeeding@northstaffs.nhs.uk.

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You Are the Champions!

Last month the Time to Quit team hosted it’s 5th annual Champions Awards ceremony to recognise the excellent performance of team members and community based advisors. The event sought to highlight their achievements and identify the dedicated people across Staffordshire who help thousands of people to quit every year.

The event, sponsored by Pfizer, saw over 50 advisors from a variety of settings attend events at The Waterfront in Barton Under Needwood, and Tillington Hall in Stafford at the end of September.

All those attending had the unique opportunity to hear guest speaker Darush Attar-Zaddeh, - Pharmacy Lead at Ealing & Hounslow Stop Smoking Service. Darush focussed on ‘engaging and supporting smokers to stop and stay stopped’. The presentation was very focused and useful, and many positive comments were passed back to the team.

The event also gave Time to Quit the opportunity to update advisors on their new ‘Pass it on’ campaign which targets four week quitters to tell their friends and family about the great help and support Time to Quit can provide.

The finale of the awards saw a number of advisors recognised for their contribution to making the Time to Quit service a continued success. Awards were presented to staff in a range of categories recognising high numbers accessing the service, and dedication to the cause. The winners were:

Most Accurate Paperwork / NRT Costings

Allison Forde – Heathview Medical Practice (Tamworth)

Mr Bains – Bains Pharmacy (Cannock)

Asda – (Stafford)

Greta Williams – Boots (Newcastle)

Marie Bremridge – Talke Clinic

Sheraz Ratyal – Boots (Lichfield)

Most Enthusiastic Advisor

Holly Fitzsimons – Crown Medical Practice (Tamworth)

Yvonne Martin – Higherlands Surgery (Newcastle)

Amanda Johnson – Claverley Medical Practice (South Staffordshire)

Best Performer in a Challenging Environment

Michelle Neascu – Forensic Unit (St George’s, Stafford)

Naomi Potter – Assertive Outreach Team (Cherry Orchard, Tamworth)

Best Performance in North Staffs Locality

Debbie Cresswell – Co-op, London Rd, Chesterton

Lynn Williams – Village Surgery (Newcastle)

Best Performance in West Locality

Featherstone Family Health Centre

Gnosall Surgery

Rawnsley Surgery

Northwood Pharmacy (Penkridge)

Best Performance in East Locality

Sian Skerritt – Dr Yarra’s Surgery (Tamworth)

Trent Meadows (Burton)

Joanne Emmanuel / Sharon Starkey – Alrewas Pharmacy

Alice Ward – Tesco (Lichfield)

Fiona Walker / Sandra Spencer – Stapenhill Medical Centre

Special Award Nominated by Team

Julia Moore and Helen Millington – Team Coordinators for Time to Quit

If you have a client, who would like to quit, or would like support yourself then please contact The Time to Quit Team on 0800 043 4304.

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North Staff - Need to access email anywhere, anytime?

Did you know that if your work in the North Division, you can use the Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access (OWA), on any internet web browser to access your Trust Microsoft Exchange Mailbox from any computer with an Internet connection?

You can do many of the same things you can do with the full Outlook service such as read and send messages, organize contacts, create tasks and rules, schedule appointments, and access public folders.

1) How to Access the Partnership Trusts Email Portal

Type the following web address (URL) into your browser bar http://mail.northstaffs.nhs.uk/owa

You will automatically be redirect to a https connection, this will secure your email communications.

2) How to Log in to OWA

You should see the following login screen:-

When you login, you must type NS\ followed by your domain login credentials e.g.

Username : NS\{username}

Password : {domain password}

The Security option should be selected as “Public or shared”, which is the default, and leave the Outlook Web App Light as unselected.

For more information contact:

The Service Management team on 0845 602 6772 Ext. 2398 or smescalations@ssotp.nhs.uk

Payroll, expenses and ordering goods is changing!

NHSShared Business Services

On 1 November the Trust will transfer Finance, Procurement and Employment Services to NHS Shared Business Services. We have worked with the NHS SBS project team over the last three months to ensure that systems and procedures are in place and training has taken place across multiple Partnership Trust locations to ensure that staff are fully up to speed.

We’ve compiled a series of FAQ’s which will tell you all you need to know about the project and what is currently happening. This includes important information on how to book on training if you have missed any recent training dates.

You can locate these FAQ’s on the dedicated NHS SBS project page on our intranet(Click here Health Staff / Social Care). If, however, you have any further questions, please email kelly.sanders@ssotp.nhs.uk

Payroll, expenses and ordering goods is changing!

NHSShared Business Services

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Helping with Housing – Better Together In Tamworth, the Partnership Trust is involved in a special project together with Tamworth Borough Council, South East Staffs & Seisdon Staffs Peninsular CCG and Brighter Futures, that aims to improve and address the risks associated with poor housing conditions and people’s health.

Hospital to Home’s focus is to prevent hospital discharge delays otherwise caused by a person’s poor housing conditions. The project also works to improve housing conditions which are affecting a person’s health in the community, increasing the likelihood of hospital admission or demand on local health and social care services.

A recent example of this project in action involved a person in Tamworth who needed advice and support to arrange essential urgent repairs to his privately owned home, which were impacting on his health. Prior to this he was reluctant to engage with previous offers of support, but has now had his house re-roofed preventing leaks, and been able to source funding to facilitate this, he would otherwise have not be able to access.

For more information contact Darren Statham Tamworth Neighbourhood Manager darren.statham@staffordshire.gov.uk Tel 01827 475 562

Generous Donation to “Angels” AppreciatedThe family and friends of a patient who recently passed away at Haywood Hospital have made a very generous donation of £745 to Chatterley Ward in her memory.

Robert Hambley and Christine Conlon from Fenton said

“We would just like to say a big thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love and care you gave to our precious Diane. We could not have wished for any better care.

“Each and every one of you showed such dedication and we are truly grateful. We would also like to thank you for the support you gave to us at this very sad time.

“Diane was very comfortable and peaceful and we will always remember what you did for her.

Christine added, “Not all angels are in the sky, they are here on Chatterley Ward, they are amazing staff.”

Chatterley Ward housekeeper Steph Birch said “All the team are really grateful and we are putting the donation towards the purchase of an INR COAGUCHECK machine. It calculates blood clotting time, provides instant results and is kinder and less invasive for patients.”

Chatterley Ward staff

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Partnership’s Hospital Dementia Care on Show

Health officials from Gloucestershire visited community hospitals in North Staffordshire last week to learn about the changes introduced by the Partnership Trust to improve the care and experience provided to people with dementia.

Hospital staff at our five community hospitals at the Haywood, Longton Cottage, Bradwell, Leek Moorlands and Cheadle shared the additional measures and enhanced staff training now in place, putting greater focus on the needs of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Trust has also introduced a dementia champion onto each of the fifteen wards across the five hospitals to better support patients, their families and carers.

“Through research, we know that a long stay in hospital can cause additional problems for people who have dementia caused by the unfamiliar surroundings, people and routines, which can be very destabilising and stressful them even after they return home,” explains Deputy Matron Janet Bisson, Dementia Care lead for Community Hospitals for the Partnership Trust.

“To combat this we have worked hard over recent months to make sure we offer a more comfortable and less stressful experience for people with dementia and look at how we can make their transition home again as smooth as possible. Our priority is to focus on the individual and their personal needs and what is important to them.”

The new dementia focused training for staff provided by Staffordshire University has involved focusing on communication, personhood and person centred care plus the 4 Ds (Dementia, Dignity, Depression and Delirium).

Sandra Daniels, the Partnership Trust’s Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for community hospitals said, “We are delighted to be able to share our progress and developments with GP commissioners from other parts of the country. With a growing older population with more people experiencing the impact of dementia, it is so important that together the NHS does all it can to improve the care and experience we provide.”

I’ve had my flu jab, have you?

“I’ve had the jab to protect my patients and my 3 week old granddaughter.” - Sue Mason Tissue Viability Lead (North)

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Trust Well Armed in Fight Against Flu!Director of Nursing and Quality Siobhan Heafield launches this year’s vaccination drive.

“Well it’s the ‘flu season’ again and already staff are starting to get coughs and colds. We have now launched the Trust Flu Fighter campaign with the mission to keep ourselves, our families and patients and service users as safe as possible from the virus.

“The Trust Infection Control Team are doing sterling work with their mobile vaccination clinics which we’re pleased to see are being well attended. In the first week at least 425 people have been immunised which is great to hear.

“Last Friday I helped out at a session held at the Haywood Hospital where we gave over one hundred vaccinations. We’ve also met some people who hadn’t had vaccinations before because they had been told it would make them ill – it won’t! It’s a myth; the vaccine does not contain a live virus.

“I want to say a special well done Valerie Booth, Janet Harris and Amy Howell from Scotia Day Unit for joining the fight against flu. Amy had the jab having thought about how it would help her to keep her nan safe this winter.”

Make sure you know where to get you free flu jab. Click her for flu clinic dates.

http://ssotp.ns.xnsht.nhs.uk/newscentre/Pages/Flu-Clinics.aspx

To ask the Infection Control Team to come to you and run a vaccination session at a meeting or base please contact Catherine.hill@ssotp.nhs.uk or tel: 01543 412987 or 01543 672989

9We Put Quality First We Focus on People We Take Responsibility

Please remember to send any thank you messages to theword@ssotp.nhs.ukPlease send a few summary lines and a good photograph if available. Do not send scanned or photographed documents.

Thank YouThe Healthcare Team at HMP Brinsford have received some positive feedback about their care from an inmate.

“The staff in healthcare are very good, they are always smiling and there are never rude, there is always good service.”

An appreciative patient has written to a local newspaper to thank the NHS for their care and in particular praised the Moorlands Community Intervention Service.

“I was discharged after four days into the care of the district nurses and a physiotherapist. In the first eight days I have had five visits. Their care and approach could not have been more helpful. They have left me with telephone numbers to call them out at any time within 24 hours.

“It must be very depressing for hard-working staff to read the constant criticism and sniping of the NHS. No organisation anywhere is perfect and there must be areas of inadequacy in all walks of life. In my limited experience well done NHS. I am very grateful to you all.”

Another CIS service, the Lichfield & Tamworth team, have also received warm compliments. This time from a service user in Shenstone. “Now that I am reaching the end of my association with you enablers I feel that I should write to you in appreciation of their help.

“I cannot single out any one girl for special praise because all were very good. They were so professional, pleasant, kind & caring, not minding what they did so long as it helped me in my present predicament. They were very encouraging thus enabling me to progress towards an eventual full recovery which is not too far away now. Thank you very much indeed to you all your team concerned in my care.”

Clinicians Sarah Matthews, Laura Freeman and Stephanie Talbot from the Community Pain Management Service based at Sandy Lane Health Centre, Rugeley, recently received the following comments on an evaluation from a patient.

“This course was educational, friendly, supportive and inspiring. I am so pleased (and grateful) to have been included. The facilitators made it a pleasure to learn.”

Staff on Saddler Ward at Leek Moorlands Hospital have been thanked for loving care show to a lady who has recently passed away.

“The dedication of all of you who looked after our Mother was second to none; you all treated her with extreme kindness and true compassion. Many times she would say what fantastic people you all were. We think as a family that the care she received was above and way beyond the call of duty.

“We will also be eternally grateful for the way in which our family were treated with respect and with a great deal of compassion during the final hours leading up to the passing away of our fun loving mother. Sincere thanks to all.”

Longton Cottage Hospital domestic support work Vanessa Reeves has been praised in a letter from the relative of a patient she helped to care for. Sadly he passed away after a short time in a nursing home following his stay at Longton. “Think of you often, thank you”.

Judy Foster, school nurse from Seisdon has received a thank you note from a young person attending “Clinic in a Box”. “I just want to thank you very much for everything you have helped and supported me with. I think this clinic is brilliant and it’s helped many people. Thank you so much.”

Congratulations Community Practice Teachers in the south division would like to congratulate their students Maura Upton, Rebecca Mitchell, Suzanne Reardon and Debbie Hallwood on successfully completing their Specialist Community Public Health Nurse degree in school nursing at Wolverhampton University. Rebecca and Suzanne completed their studies at post graduate level. We wish them all every success in the future!