Welcome to our August bulletin from a very sunny Dorset and what an incredible summer ! I hope you are all enjoying the weather and have not been washed away in the latest deluge.

I know I keep banging on about it but we really need to find ways of evidencing how effective we are! Item 2 in this month’s bulletin gives a link to the challenge fund set up to encourage innovation, I am sure some of you out there have some great ideas about how we can improve practice so can I encourage you all to have a go and apply for funding.

The Network conference is fast approaching and for those of you who have not done so remember to book your places, I have in my service funded an additional place for my team and would encourage you also to do so, it really represents excellent value for money and it has a very interesting programme.

I am currently co-ordinating the work stream on professional standards for the FOHN, if any of you would like to contribute. We would really value some more NHS input since it remains the case that more OH nurses work in the NHS than anywhere else, if so please drop me a line through Wendy at admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk.

Anyway, keep well and enjoy the rest of the summer

David Maslen-Jones
Deputy Chair

The next edition will be circulated on 5th September.

In this edition:

1. Network annual conference – 12th/13th September
2. Challenge fund
3. MoHaWK – still time to enter your data for Round 13
4. New musculoskeletal core capabilities framework
5. Disability guide for employers
6. RCN/SOM conference – 30th November 2018
7. National School of OH newsletter
8. NHS Employers update
9. Flu fighter – order your 2018/19 resources

1. Network annual conference – 12th/13th September

Our programme is now finalised and has received 4 CPD accreditation points from the FOM. We are looking forward to an interesting and varied day at Chesford Grange.

Network member organisations have one free place for their team but must complete a booking form so that we know who is coming and can send them joining instructions. You can also purchase additional places at £295 for a full delegate place or £150 for a day place (for Thursday 13th only).

Non-members are welcome to attend as day delegates at a cost of £295.

Please contact admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk if you have any queries.

2. Government launches £4.2 million Challenge Fund 

This month, on 16 July, the Government’s Work and Health Unit, a joint unit funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care, launched the Challenge Fund, a new time-limited source of funding aimed at testing new or promising approaches to helping people experiencing mental health or musculoskeletal (MSK) issues to stay in work.  They might be at risk of losing their job because of sickness or may be already off work through ill health. 
 
The Fund is squarely aimed at encouraging innovation and ideas with an emerging evidence base.  To that end, the Unit is looking to fund small to medium scale initiatives, with £4.2 million available. Applications are welcome from organisations in any sector, including employers, charities, social enterprises, local authorities, health bodies and others, with applications from smaller organisations particularly welcome.
 
The deadline for applications is Friday 17 August at 17.00. For more information, visit challengefund.flexigrant.com.

If you are a Network member and intending to make a bid for funding, please contact andrew.gilbey25@gmail.com to help us develop an overview of Network activity.

3. MoHaWK – still time to enter your data for round 13

If you haven’t submitted your Round 13 date on MoHaWK you still have plenty of time as it will close at the end of August.

New telephone assessment experience

Don’t forget there has been a new telephone consultation experience questionnaire loaded into the system in recent weeks – you can use this and collate feedback over the next few weeks to submit data to this section. For those of you working towards SEQOHS this will assist your compliance with F2.1.

In addition the electronic record keeping audit which was launched for Round 12 will assist with compliance against B1.1.

Any queries please contact hilary.winch@nnuh.nhs.uk.

4. New musculoskeletal core capabilities framework

Skills for Health, with Health Education England, NHS England, Public Health England and the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) have just launched a new framework aimed at practitioners who will be the first point of contact for people with musculoskeletal conditions. More information available here.

5. Disability guide for employers

Remploy has recently issued practical guidance for employers on supporting disabled people at work. This free guide provides advice on 19 common disabilities plus information on the Equality Act 2010 and the Access to Work scheme.

6. RCN/SOM conference – 30th November 2018

Booking is now open for the inaugural joint Royal College of Nursing and Society of Occupational Medicine Conference which takes place at RCN HQ in London on Friday 30th November 2018.

The conference has been designed to support OH Nurses and Technicians in developing their knowledge and skills in practice. The broad programme will provide updates and examples of best practice in OH nurse management and practice, including the following topics:

• Dementia and employment
• Working with cancer
• Menopause at work
• Fitness to drive
• Dealing with stress, anxiety and depression in the workplace
• The role of OH nursing in health

For further details and to view the full programme please visit www.rcn.org.uk/OH18. The conference is open to members and non-members alike and we are pleased to offer a group booking discount of 10% when 3 or more conference places are booked together.

7. National School of OH newsletter

The latest newsletter from the National School of OH is available here.

8. NHS Employers update

Health and wellbeing network regional events

We are hosting a series of regional events, as shown below, exclusively for our health and wellbeing network focusing on the new NHS Health and Wellbeing Framework.

• Manchester Thursday 6 September
• Taunton Thursday 20 September
• Leeds Wednesday 3 October
• Suffolk Wednesday 10 October
• London Tuesday 13 November

The events will look at how to implement the framework in your organisation and what we can do to support you on your health and wellbeing journey. Places are going fast, book yours now. 

Reducing sickness absence and presenteeism

Learn how Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust put staff health and wellbeing at the centre of its strategy to reduce sickness absence and presenteeism. 

Mental health in the workforce

In our latest podcast, Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind discusses using the workplace as a place to talk about mental health and shares key actions to improve staff mental wellbeing. Listen now.  

Domestic Abuse: a toolkit for employers

Business in the Community’s new toolkit will help your organisation make a commitment to respond to the risk of domestic abuse and build an approach that ensures all employees feel supported and empowered to deal with domestic abuse. 
 
Using your 2017 NHS Staff Survey data

Read our new briefing for advice and support on how you can best use your NHS Staff Survey data to identify and address any workforce issues,  and improve staff experience.  

Cycle to work day

Wednesday 15 August is the UK's biggest cycle commuting event. Encourage your staff to take part with the promotional pack and get involved on Twitter using #CYCLETOWORKDAY. 

9. Flu fighter – order your 2018/19 resources

Your 2018/19 flu season resources are now available to order from the NHS Employers website. The order form will close on Sunday 12 August and your order will be posted week commencing 27 August.

Please note only one order per trust is possible. We advise you determine your order amounts by dividing the total number of frontline staff at your trust by 15. For example, if you have 5,000 frontline staff, we’d suggest you order about 330 total posters. Once ordered, you’ll receive the materials ahead of the start of flu season.

To help spread the message, you can also order a Stay Well this Winter 8 page leaflet on our form. This provides useful information for patients and service users.

If you have a query about ordering or need support with your campaign, please email flufighter@nhsemployers.org or call 0844 334 5252.

The NHS Health at Work Network brings together all OH teams providing health and wellbeing services to NHS OH staff.  It is dedicated to providing consistent, high quality health at work services to all NHS staff through collaborative working.

Members of OH teams in NHS Health at Work Network member organisations can receive the bulletin and access the restricted areas of the website as a membership benefit – if you are not sure of your login details email admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk.

Please share this bulletin with colleagues and encourage them to register to receive it regularly.

Non-Network members can also register to receive the monthly bulletin.

You can contact the Network through your regional representative or as shown below. Please get in touch if you have any queries or comments, if there is anything you would like to see in future issues of the bulletin, or if you have news to share.

Dr Shriti Pattani, Chair shriti.pattani@nhs.net
Andrew Gilbey, Network Manager andrew.gilbey25@gmail.com
Wendy Coleman, Network Administrator admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk

Postal address: PO Box 642, BS23 9NG
Tel: 07584 269322