Updates
Update, 21 May
Published: 21 May 2020
PPE guidance
An update has been issued about protective mask fit testing by the Trust’s PPE group.
Please see the "Downloads" section to read the update.
Swabbing patients being discharged
It has now been agreed that patients who are being discharged to their home address and will be in receipt of a domiciliary care provider (POC) must also receive testing for COVID-19 prior to discharge.
Please see the "Downloads" section to read the guidance.
Impact of COVID-19 on BAME staff webinars
Today we launched our first Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) network webinar on COVID-19 and the effects on BAME staff.
We want to support and inform all staff, targeting those most at risk first.
We are starting with BAME staff as it is recognised nationally that BAME staff are disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lisa Stalley-Green, Executive Chief Nurse was key note speaker for the first session. Details of the webinars can be found at the link below:
Redeployed staff survey
The Trust has developed a questionnaire for redeployed staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, to allow the Trust to understand the issues, challenges and positives staff have faced during this time.
The questionnaire will be distributed by email to staff on Survey Monkey this week.
We encourage as many of you as possible to contribute to this survey so we can capture what has worked really well for us as an organisation, and what we want to keep in place.
Your responses will provide vital information to create a "lessons learnt" document, which will help with future planning.
We thank you for all your support and efforts during these challenging times.
If you have any questions please contact:
Email: Lorna.Grinnel-Moore@uhb.nhs.uk
Recruitment advice for managers
The impact of COVID-19 has seen changes to all of our working practices and recruitment is no exception to this.
Pre COVID-19, the recruitment teams across the Trust met with all the new starters to verify their identity documents (passport, drivers licence, biometric resident cards) and start dates would not be agreed without this.
During COVID-19 we changed our working practices so we could continue to provide you with a service and we accepted identity documents via email.
This means that the recruitment teams have not met your new starter and neither have we seen the original identity documents.
As part of your local induction, when you are completing the pay roll forms on ESR or finance tools you need to see your new starter’s original passport or biometric resident card.
A copy should be retained on their personnel file and a copy sent to the recruitment department together with the completed RTLW verification document. You can send this back to the recruitment team via email and they will then retain this for audit purposes.
Please see the "Downloads" section to download the form.
Upcoming staff network meetings
Network meetings provide an opportunity for staff to stay connected, support one another and discuss issues of relevance to them and their communities.
Now, more than ever, there is a need to be there for each other during this uncertain time and network meetings offer staff the opportunity to find advice and support.
A number of network meetings will be taking place in the coming weeks.
Details of the meetings can be found at the link below:
Personalised helpline for Filipino staff
A new, dedicated NHS bereavement and trauma telephone support line for Filipino staff affected by the coronavirus pandemic was launched this week, run by qualified and trained Tagalog speakers.
Live staff well-being support webinars
A series of support webinars for managers working with redeployed staff have been produced by the Trust's clinical psychologists.
You can also view the recent webinars for staff on "Staff wellbeing and changing roles during the COVID-19 pandemic" and "Understanding common emotional responses to frontline working with COVID-19".
Pre-recorded webinars and dates for live versions are available via the link below:
Domestic violence
With reports that domestic abuse is increasing during this period of isolation and home-working, we want to make sure that UHB staff are aware of the support available to them.
Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) from Birmingham Solihull Women’s Aid are available for staff experiencing domestic abuse.