Update on HR policy and practice under University Hospitals Dorset

Since merger, management and Staff Side (trade union) colleagues have been working in partnership to simplify and improve the employment framework for our people and we wanted to update you on some key areas of progress.

In undertaking this work we have recognised the importance of the heritage from our legacy trusts and the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Legislation (TUPE), at the same time as ensuring our HR policies and processes reflect best practice, are accessible and are supportive of on-going integration.

Working in partnership has enabled us to balance these needs over the last year and we look forward to continuing to ensure we do the best we can for our workforce and ultimately our patients.

UHD HR Policies

In developing these policies we have been able to draw on up-to-date best practice and reflect the principles of a restorative just and learning culture, where our aim is to resolve issues at an informal stage whenever appropriate, so that staff feel supported and empowered to learn when things don't go quite as expected.

We are now able to confirm that, with effect from 1 January 2022, this new suite of UHD HR policies will apply to all staff, not just those who have joined UHD since merger. Any open cases will be concluded in accordance with the appropriate legacy policy, which will then be discontinued.

The policies that have been ratified so far, to be found on the intranet, are:

• Handling Grievances
• Managing Attendance
• anaging Conduct, Performance and Ill-Health for Medical & Dental Staff
• Managing Disciplinary Issues
• Managing Performance
• Organisational Change

Any future HR Policies ratified through the Staff Partnership Forum will also apply to all staff.

UHD Pay Protection

Pay Protection is an important issue for any member of staff going through organisational change and you may be aware that the two legacy trusts have different pay protection arrangements which still apply under TUPE for staff employed before merger. We have agreed and ratified a new UHD Pay Protection Policy which will apply to all new staff who have joined UHD since 1 October 2020 and this can be found on the intranet.

This can also be applied to staff employed before 1 October 2020 who are facing organisational change, if they consider these arrangements to be more favourable than their legacy pay protection policy. Specific advice around this can be sought from staff side colleagues and the HR team.

Voluntary job changes

From now on, internal job advertisements will state that staff choosing to change role or take up promotions will move onto UHD terms and conditions - specifically the UHD Pay Protection arrangements - and a UHD contract will be issued to this effect.

We welcome this positive step in our partnership working and journey to unify employment policies across our trust.

Debbie Fleming, Chief Executive

Gareth Drinkwater, Joint Staff Side Chair

Gemma Short, Joint Staff Side Chair

New personal safety information available

Personal safety means looking after yourself. And while Dorset remains one of the safest counties to live and work in, according to the latest statistics from the Government, there are some basic precautions we can all take to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of crime further. To support staff we've brought together a range of personal safety information including how to access trust-issued personal safety alarms.

The trust offers a number of personal safety alarms for staff to use. These can be collected from the cash office on your site during normal office hours from 29 November. We ask for a £10 deposit, which is refunded when the device is returned when no longer required to ensure as many staff who wish to use one can do so.

For more information on personal safety please read this new document.

It's also available on the @UHD app, in the Supporting our staff section, meaning you have access to the information whenever you carry your phone. You can download our app here.

Celebrating quality improvements on FAB Change Day

On this week's annual NHS Fab Change Day on Wednesday (24 November) we shone a spotlight on the projects across UHD that are improving the hospital experience for both our patients and our staff.

From the wide range of projects submitted a panel of staff and governors selected a number to receive further recognition.

From enhancing care by improving our referral system to supporting staff with 'long Covid' - and everything in between.

• enhancing care by improving the referral system at Poole Hospital – reducing delays in referrals to specialties
• IV fluids management – an improved prescription chart to ensure doctors have clear guidance on fluid rates and fluid choice according to the latest guidelines
• reducing the use of ethyl chloride spray to check cold sensation in anaesthesia – saving on CO² emissions and expenditure
• reducing the time to cholecystectomy surgery to treat gallstone disease
• optimising care for neck of femur (hip) fracture patients, through post-operative delirium screening and IV bone protection
• supporting staff with 'long Covid' (post-Covid 19 syndrome) with their return to work and activities in their life

More on how we celebrated quality improvements and NHS Fab Change Day here.

Transit drive no longer available

As part of the roll out of Microsoft 365, there will soon be a new home for all shared files and data.

The RBHFile4 Transit drive which has historically been used for sharing data will no longer be available from Tuesday (30 November).

You should now use Teams/Sharepoint to share and collaborate on documents which offers a much more flexible and intuitive way of sharing and collaborating.

The IT training team has created a Sharepoint site containing guidance and documentation on how to use SharePoint/Teams that can be found here.

The main IT training team Sharepoint site can be found here:

https://dorsetnhs.sharepoint.com/sites/UniversityHospitalsDorsetITTraining

Virtual Charity Christmas Service returns

The UHD Charity Christmas Carol Service will be held virtually once again this year for hospital staff, patients and their loved ones to enjoy. The festive celebration will be available to stream on Wednesday 15 December, featuring readings and prayers from the UHD chaplaincy team, as well as musical accompaniment.

We had hoped to open the doors of Christchurch Priory to host an in person service this year, but following careful review we felt the virtual event was more appropriate given the rates of Covid-19 are rising in our local community.

We hope you'll join us for the virtual service and help spread some Christmas cheer from your own homes. Further details on how to access the virtual service will be confirmed shortly – follow @UHDcharity across social media or visit the UHD Charity website for further event updates.

It only takes five to protect yourself this winter

Having the flu jab is an effective way of guarding against seasonal flu, which is present in the community and already arriving in our hospitals. It only takes five minutes to have your jab and protect yourself.

Annual flu vaccinations are available at a range of drop-in clinics on our sites and delivered on trolleys at Poole and Royal Bournemouth.

Full details of our drop in clinics are in the latest news on the intranet.

RBH: West entrance closed tomorrow

The west entrance will be closed tomorrow (27 November) from 8am-2pm to remove scaffolding and enable the installation of a canopy.

There will be a marshal and signposting in place outside the west entrance to direct the public and a marshal inside the hospital to help direct people to exit via outpatients.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Christmas and bank holiday payments this year

As December 25 falls on a Saturday this year, the trust is following the Agenda for Change rules on paying the bank holidays. For further details on payments and entitlements when working over the Christmas bank holiday check the HR latest news page on the RBCH intranet.

Medical and dental staff will be paid in accordance with their terms and conditions.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any queries.

Christmas payroll date changes for bank staff

Due to the bank holidays over the Christmas period, our weekly payroll dates will change for all of our bank staff.

To avoid missed payments during the Christmas holidays please note the following changes and ensure your rosters are finalised by the correct date.

All rosters are to be finalised by 8pm on:

Tuesday 14 December for the working week 6-12 December

Monday 20 December for the working week 13-19 December

Tuesday 28 December for the working week 20-26 December

RBH: No hospital palliative care team (HPCT) cover this weekend

There will be no HPCT cover this Saturday and Sunday (27 and 28 November).

For urgent concerns, 24hr advice is available from the Macmillan Unit call ext 5470 and select option 1 from 8am to 5pm and option 3 from 5pm to 8am.

For non-urgent queries, please leave a message on ext 6021 and a staff member will pick these up on Monday 29 November.

Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Your questions answered from this month's all staff briefing

You can now view a transcript of the question and answer session from this months all staff briefing with Debbie Fleming, chief executive, and executive colleagues here.

If you missed the November staff briefing catch up on the future of our hospitals staff briefings page.

RBH: Tributes to Dawn

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of our colleague and friend Dawn Bell, directorate admin assistant on the RBH site, who passed away on 7 November.

Dawn was a wonderful colleague and friend to many, working in the older persons services management team from 2017 and prior to that volunteering in therapy services. Dawn suffered with a prolonged illness in recent years and had bravely fought until she passed away at home peacefully with her beloved husband Billy.

We will all miss Dawn more than words can express. She was not just our co-worker but our good friend too.

There will be a memorial service for Dawn at Lansdowne Church on 2 December at 3pm, where all are welcome. A book of condolence has also been placed in the RBH chapel.

- the older people's services directorate

POOLE: Pre-operative assessment team moving today

As part of the transformation works on our hospital site the pre-operative assessment team is moving departments today. The team will now be based in outpatients in level 0.

If you have any questions about the move please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Be considerate when parking

We would like to remind all staff to park their cars considerately both when on and off site.

We have received reports of staff cars parking over double yellow lines and blocking resident's driveways which can be both illegal and dangerous, especially in areas that require constant access.

RBH: Initial assessment for last days of life care plan moving to EPR

The initial assessment for the personalised care plan for the last days of life is moving to EPR in January and will be accessible under 'end of life care'.

To receive your EPR login and password please complete the EPR training on the BEAT VLE.

It's important that you have access to EPR to fill out vital information about what matters to your patients in their last days of life, and who their next of kin is.

RBH: Look for discharge stickers during palliative discharge

If a patient being discharged is known to the hospital palliative care team please look in their medical notes for a discharge sticker with recommendations for a palliative discharge.

If the recommendations include injectable anticipatory medications, a community drug chart will also be provided which should be completed and sent with the patient / medications on discharge.

Changes to public service pension schemes

NHS Pensions have updated their webpages to include a dedicated hub area focusing on the government changes to public service pension schemes as a result of the introduction of transitional protection - sometimes known as the McCloud judgment.

The webpages include an introductory video on the changes, and a factsheet to support members to understand if they are affected and what the changes mean.

RBH: Chronic pain service reconfiguration

From Wednesday (1 December) the current chronic pain service delivered by Dr Roger Laishley will transfer to Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust.

This transfer will align all pain services under one provider across Dorset and has three specific internal pathways:

• spinal injections
• chronic pain
• rheumatology pain (joints other than spinal)

Once the patient cohort is transferred to Dorset Healthcare, RBH will continue to provide outpatient clinic and theatre capacity, in line with current agreed template activity for pain.

From 1 December the current internal referral pathway to the pain service will cease and referring clinicians with need to refer patients to the relevant Dorset Healthcare pathway as laid out here.

Trainee nursing associate apprenticeship opportunities

Do you want to train as a nursing associate with Solent University? Applications are now open for their two year course.

This apprenticeship is aimed at healthcare support workers and can lead to qualification as a nursing associate and giving you the chance to apply for band 4 roles. Entry requirements include a level 3 qualification and maths and English GCSE or equivalents.

For application details please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5 December.

Shared your lived experience for Purple Light Up Day next week

As part of the global movement for Purple Light Up Day next Friday (3 December) we are celebrating the contribution our staff living and working with disabilities, hidden disabilities and underlying health conditions bring to the organisation.

Our Pro Ability network is helping the whole organisation 'listen to understand' by sharing lived experiences of our colleagues working with disabilities. The aim is to create a safe culture for our staff to bring their whole selves to work – knowing they will be supported to be the best they can be, every day.

If you live and work with a disability or long-term health condition and would like to share your lived experience the Pro Ability network would love to hear from you.

You can record a short video or write a paragraph of text about your experience to be shared on the Pro Ability intranet pages or on the UHD social media channels. To find out more about sharing your experience email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about the network email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH: Showers in male changing room 12.049 out of use next week

We are replacing the flooring in the shower areas of the male changing rooms 12.049 (near the restaurant in the east wing).

The work is planned for the 29 November – 11 December and during this time the showers will be out of use.

You will still be able to use the lockers in these changing rooms. Alternative showers are available on the first-floor eye unit and in the west wing.

Spaces available on safeguarding children level 3 training at RBH

There are spaces available to attend training if your safeguarding level 3 is approaching expiry or has been newly added to your BEAT VLE brain.

The training takes place in person on 8 December in the education centre from 9am-5pm and is open to all staff across UHD.

RBH staff can book via their self-service ESR portal and Poole staff can book by contacting the training and education team on ext 4847 or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Join our 'coaching conversations' workshops

These workshops are designed for managers and those involved with helping other colleagues to develop.

Attendees will be provided with skills and knowledge on how to effectively use a coaching style when working with individuals and the sessions will be an opportunity to develop your own coaching style and build confidence through practice.

Go to the education and training pages on the Poole intranet for more information and to book a place. If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

'Share A Smile' with our UHD charity this Christmas

This year the UHD charity team have launched their 'Share A Smile' campaign to encourage patients to show their appreciation for staff at UHD this Christmas by sharing messages, photos or videos online using the #ShareASmileUHD.

Head over to the UHD charity social channels where you can see the messages that have been shared so far or add your own messages of thanks and support to fellow colleagues within team UHD.

Charity motorcycle ride for Macmillan Caring Locally

The Friends of the Kinson Riders are raising money for Macmillan Caring Locally on 12 December with a charity motorcycle ride.

Staff motorcyclists are invited to join the ride, which begins at the Halfway Inn in Wareham at 11.30am, finishing at the Kinson Conservative Club at 1pm.

The entry fee is £5 per bike, with all proceeds to be donated to the charity.

RBH: Bournemouth Heart Club (BHC) charity table tomorrow

Tomorrow (27 November) from 9.30-11am BHC will be accepting donations for Christmas cards, wrapping paper and handmade items – just pop by the BHC back door entrance facing the lake.

100 per cent of the donations taken will go towards continuing the club's work in phase 4 cardiac rehabilitation and the Keep Well Prevention Scheme.

Help our junior doctors raise money for Movember

A group of junior doctors on our Poole site have taken on the Movember challenge. They are aiming to raise £500 to help the charity support men's physical and mental health.

As well as growing their moustaches members of the group have been attempting to run, walk or swim 60 miles during the month for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour around the world.

Click here to donate.

Your wellbeing weekly

This week on your wellbeing pages, sign up for Able Futures webinars to help you feel better during the festive season, get involved with our posture courses and stay up to date with all the latest health and wellbeing training dates.