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NHS Workforce Bulletin
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| Issue 225 | 26 July 2010 |
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In this issue |
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1.
Government launches commissioning consultations |
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The Government has launched two consultations on GP commissioning and local democratic legitimacy following the publication of its white paper on 12 July. The two new consultations set out detailed proposals for new GP commissioning arrangements through GP consortia, and greater involvement of local people in planning and commissioning health services. Find out more on our latest news web pages.
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2.
Budget FAQs – update |
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The Government has said that part-time staff earning less than £21,000 will still be subject to the public sector pay freeze if the equivalent full-time salary for their job exceeds £21,000. A set of FAQs on the workforce implications of the Government’s 2010 Budget were published on our website last month to help NHS trusts answer questions from staff. The FAQs are regularly updated as further details of the Government’s plans emerge. Find out more.
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3.
Implementation of the Equality Act 2010 |
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The Government has confirmed that the Equality Act will come into force in October 2010. A new, quick guide for public sector organisations is now available from the Government Equalities Office’s (GEO) website. Areas of the Act requiring further consideration from the coalition Government include the socio-economic duty, positive action provisions and the issue of gender pay reporting for the private sector. A further consultation document is likely to be issued in relation to the public sector equality duty, ahead of its proposed implementation in April 2011. For more information see our equality and diversity web pages.
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4.
Tier 2 interim limits on certificates of sponsorship introduced |
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The interim limit for the number of certificates of sponsorship (CoS) that licensed employers can issue came into effect on 19 July. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) will shortly be writing to all sponsors informing them of their individual CoS allocation for the period from 19 July 2010 to 31 March 2011. Employers are advised to check their allocation against their requirements and monitor their usage closely. For more information see our Tier 2 web pages.
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5.
NHS Employers’ annual conference – session bookings now open |
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Session bookings are now open for Leading workforce thinking, NHS Employers’ annual conference and exhibition from 16 to 18 November in Liverpool. The conference programme will reflect the challenges for the NHS workforce as a result of the Government’s white paper, structured around the themes of productivity and efficiency; people management; and policy into action. There will also be additional masterclass sessions covering current HR management issues. Secure your first choice of sessions now on the event web page.
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6.
On-call arrangements – new data collection tool |
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NHS Employers has created a tool to help employers collect data on their current on-call arrangements, such as rotas and payments, in readiness for local negotiations on new on-call arrangements. This follows the launch of the on-call consultation on 15 July. For the data collection tool and details of how to respond to the consultation, see our on-call consultation web pages.
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7.
New policy on alcohol and drug offences for nurses and midwives
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Nurses and midwives who have received a caution or conviction for an alcohol or drug related offence must now submit a medical assessment when they reapply for registration. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has introduced this new policy for nurses and midwives with immediate effect and it will also extend to individuals whose fitness to practise is under investigation for alcohol or drug related offences. For further details see our nursing regulation pages.
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8.
Staff engagement – top tips, webinar ideas and survey |
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The case for getting staff engagement right and top tips on how this can be achieved are now available online in an NHS Employers article written for the Healthcare 100 awards. We are also calling for your suggestions for topic ideas for our next staff engagement webinar in September 2010, as well as seeking your views on staff engagement and productivity through a short survey. Read the article and submit your views on our staff engagement web pages.
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9.
High impact action to reduce sickness absence |
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A new guide from the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement looks at how three NHS organisations are using innovative ways to improve the health and well-being of their nursing and midwifery staff, and provides advice on how to use these ideas in your own workplace. The fit and well to care high impact action aims to reduce sickness absence in the nursing and midwifery workforce to no more than three per cent. Find out more from our nursing web pages.
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10.
Open Your Mind – new campaign materials |
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The Open Your Mind campaign website now contains new staff and employer videos, case studies and best practice examples from trusts. The campaign’s aims include reducing stigma and misunderstanding around mental ill health and helping to create a better working environment in the NHS for those experiencing mental health conditions. For more information or to order campaign materials see the Open Your Mind website.
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11.
Equality and diversity case studies |
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A programme to teach health-related English to clients and the creation of a single equality scheme are demonstrated in two new case studies from NHS Warwickshire and Wolverhampton City PCT. Read Improving access to primary and community care and Implementing a single equality scheme on our shared learning web pages.
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12.
EU consults on pensions reforms |
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The European Commission has launched a consultation on how the EU can best support European countries in ensuring their pension systems are adequate, sustainable and safe. While pensions are a national competence, the European Commission has a role in coordinating policy, providing a legal framework and facilitating the exchange of experience between member states. NHS Employers and the NHS European Office will be reviewing the consultation and considering the implications for the NHS before deciding if, and how, it will be responding. Read more on the NHS pension scheme web page.
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13.
Sir David Nicholson sets Olympic challenge |
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Chief executive of the NHS in England Sir David Nicholson is challenging NHS organisations to use the inspiration of the London Olympic Games to get 2,012 NHS employees actively engaged in sport or physical activity by time the Games take place. The NHS Challenge, launched this month, aims to get 300,000 staff across the NHS involved in physical activity. The challenge is a response to the Boorman review of NHS staff and health well-being and aspires to reduce sickness absence, improve staff morale and provide better care for patients. Find out more on our staff health and well-being pages.
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14.
Quarterly sickness absence figures published |
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The NHS Information Centre has published the quarterly sickness absence figures for January to March 2010. Key findings include an average sickness absence rate of 4.5 per cent for the NHS in England, which is a rounded fall of 0.2 per cent on the previous quarter. The North East SHA area had the highest average sickness absence rate, with its organisations averaging 4.9 per cent, while the London SHA area had the lowest average at 3.7 per cent. For more information see our health, work and well-being latest news pages.
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16. Further interest |
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King’s Fund productivity report
The King’s Fund has released the report Improving NHS Productivity: More with the same not more of the same, which suggests that reducing clinical variation is the key means for delivering productivity gains. Find out more on the King’s Fund website.
NHS workforce statistics published
The NHS Information Centre has published provisional monthly figures for headcount, full time equivalent, role count and turnover of NHS staff groups working in England, excluding primary care staff. See the detail on the NHS Information Centre website.
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