We each have a voice that counts
“Listening is one of the loudest forms of kindness.”
We all have valuable thoughts and ideas about how we do things and where we can improve services. We want two way communication to be the norm and for all colleagues to feel that their opinion counts. How are we doing this?
- Our Chief Executive Ken holds regular CEO roadshows so that you can speak to him directly and ask any questions. The dates and times of the roadshows are advertised extensively - keep a look out for them.
- Our team of Freedom to Speak Up Ambassadors are there for you if you want to raise concerns privately or go to for advice. Our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian here at the Trust is Andrea Hetherington, contact details for Andrea and her team of Ambassadors can be found on the intranet.
- We encourage all staff to report incidents – no matter how big or small using DATIX – so that we maintain our positive patient safety culture. We promote a positive, learning environment, which recognises that when things go wrong, in the vast majority of cases the cause lies with the systems and organisational structures which support healthcare and not with the individuals involved. The emphasis is on learning from experience and changing systems so that similar incidents happen less frequently. Therefore it is important that when incidents occur, whether they have caused harm or not, these are reported by staff. For advice and support in reporting an incident, contact the Incident Team on 0191 404 1000 ext. 2304.
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We have developed some ‘top tips’ to help staff check-in with each other to make sure we are all okay. These include; Remember you don't have to be your colleague's friend - just be genuine and prepared to listen, plan the time for a check-in - allow enough time to accommodate any needs or support that may be required, ask open questions about how work has felt lately.
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October 2021 saw colleagues taking part in our Big STSFT Team Talk. This was a chance for you to lead the conversation and tell us what matters most to you and our patients. This work will help us to refresh our vision and ambitions as an organisation and is a really important piece of work. Thank you to everyone who took part and gave their views on graffiti walls - real and virtual, and the suggestion boxes, it was great to see so many of you embrace this piece of work.
- We launched a closed Staff Facebook Group to hear your feedback and ideas. Over half of our workforce – 4,500 #TeamSTSFT colleagues – are now members of the group. The staff group is a great way for staff to keep uo-to-date with things as well as a way of sharing our successes and praise for one another. If you would like to join please email stsft.trustcomms@nhs.net or simply click to request to join the group on the link above.
- Each year, staff gave us feedback through the NHS Staff Survey. This has allowed us to make key improvements on staff Health and Wellbeing. These include:
The introduction of Thrive - our in-house psychological support service for staff. The service has received great feedback and excellent uptake levels. Thrive is a service which offers emotional and mental health support for all STSFT staff. It provides a safe and confidential space, and also offers short-term support for up to six sessions to explore current difficulties and support strategies. for more information and to access Thrive please visit the Thrive section on the intranet.
The introduction of monthly Schwartz Rounds across our community and hospital venues. Schwartz Rounds are group reflective practice forums giving staff from all disciplines an opportunity to reflect on the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare. They help us to understand the challenges and rewards that are intrinsic to providing care, not to solve problems or to focus on the clinical aspects of patient care. Compassion shown by staff can make all the difference to a patient’s experience of care, but that in order to provide compassionate care staff must, in turn, feel supported in their work. For more information, to watch a video of a Schwartz Round at another Trust or for details of dates of future rounds visit the intranet.
The establishment of a workforce health and wellbeing group.
- Over 700 colleagues gave us feedback about our food provision for staff at STSFT. We are now taking action to improve our ‘Healthy Eating’ offer.
- We listen and involve staff when planning for the future including developments at Sunderland Eye Infirmary, our Path to Excellence programme and our new Integrated Diagnostic Centre in South Tyneside. Staff have already given their views and opinions as part of the Path to Excellence programme. Look out for information as to how you can get involved as the Sunderland Eye Infirmary and Integrated Diagnostic Centre projects progress.
- We have developed specific appraisal training for managers to make sure our employees get the best from their appraisal process. For more information and to access the appraisal e-learning module please visit the intranet.
