Although our response rate was up to a pleasing 45% for last year’s national NHS staff survey, we accepted that the results were largely disappointing, with issues of poor morale, a lack of hope and staff not feeling valued or involved some of the main and concerning themes to emerge.
We were pleased that staff took the time to tell us how they feel however and want to reassure them that the Trust Board ‘is listening’ and takes their views extremely seriously.
So what as a Trust are we doing to address those concerns so things can start to improve for the future?
Over the next few months we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the things we’ve already put in place to help staff feel supported and valued at ULHT, so we can all provide the ‘excellence in rural healthcare’ that our patients deserve.
We already have more Big Conversation events planned, linked closely to the publication of our full 2021 strategy, our roadmap to a ‘different Lincolnshire, a great ULHT’, which will be soon be finalised. In it we will drill down the detail of our plans and visions for each hospital site, so together we are focussed on a way forward and can look to a future that is bright and inspiring.
We have also just launched our first round of interactive staff charter workshops which are proving popular and a great sounding board for staff to discuss how our values fit into our Trust ambitions. Staff can book on to these via the staff charter pages on the intranet but you can find more information on our website too.
One of the big issues to come out of the results of last year’s staff survey was the fact that many staff do not feel confident about raising issues in their workplace or do not know which route to consider in order to do so. Staff who do not feel they are able to talk to their line manager in the first instance, can make use of our new Freedom To Speak Up Guardian. Jayne Warner is the contact here and will ensure staff who raise concerns are fully supported to do so. Jayne can be contacted on 01522 573988 or through the dedicated confidential email address [email protected]
Freedom to Speak Up means:
- Staff have the confidence to speak up
- It is safe to speak up
- Concerns are investigated
- Speaking up makes a difference
- Concerns are well received
As a Trust we want to underline how important it is to hear staff views and concerns. We can’t move forward on our own and need their help to continually improve the services we offer, both for patients and our own workforce.
Next time, we’ll take a closer look at what came out from the last Big Conversation events. What are we doing to help improve staff health and wellbeing?