January 2020

Business Nam e

UP FRONT Highland Healthcare Branch Newsletter

01463 715891 inverness.office@unison.co.uk

http://www.unisonhighlandhealthcare.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/unisonhighlandhealthcare/

How long have you been in the role? About 6 years as Branch Secretary, and around 20 years as a UNISON rep before that. I originally became a rep as I responded to a letter looking for new reps.

What would a typical day look like, what kind of things do you do? I deal a lot with members, in particular with more com-plex cases. There is quite a bit of time spent organising and running the Branch, for example making arrangements for con-ference delegates. I am on the Health Committee [this is the national group drawing together representatives from all UNISON Health branches]. I am a lay tutor within UNISON, so I’m involved with training reps, and we run about 5 or 6 courses a year. I am the staffside lead for Agenda For Change, and also involved in a lot of partnership meetings with manage-ment. It’s very varied!

What do you think is the biggest challenge of the role? Trying to balance all the work without letting something slip!

What would be your advice to anyone thinking about taking on the role? Try not to feel too “bogged down” with all the work. If you can’t get something done today, you will get it done tomorrow. Remember there are others out there to support you. Although I definitely think we should get a phased return to work after holidays…..!

Janette, you once said that you were “old enough to have learned a lot, but young enough to learn some-thing new”. What do you think you have learned in

the role? I’ve learned to treat everyone the same. And to listen and be as helpful as you can be. If you help people, they will help you!

What do you think you have achieved? Someone once said to me “you can’t do that, you’re only the Band 2!”. When I look back now, I feel that I have achieved more than I ever thought I could, and this has been because of UNISON and all the training and support I’ve had to get me to this point.

Do you have any regrets? Sometimes, if I feel that “maybe I didn’t handle that right” – but this has been about constant learning, to do things better or differently the next time. I will always be supportive to members. Sometimes there might be a need to set aside personal views. I feel that I never let personal views cloud the union work and what I need to do.

What have you enjoyed the most? Meeting people, talking to people, helping and doing my best for people. The autonomy of the role has been great – and it needs to be that way. Of course I’m ac-countable to the Branch and to members, but as to “how I get there” – well, I have control over that.

What will you miss/not miss? I will miss meeting people. I won’t miss the travel to Inverness and back every day! [Janette lives in Alness]. I will miss the job – and it will also be a huge change for Stan [Janette’s husband – who is also retired] having me at home! But I will want to keep in contact and hear about what’s going on! The office has been a totally relaxed place to work, and we all have some laughs and get on well. So I will miss that too. Can I say that I wish for whoever takes over that they enjoy the role as much as I have!

Thanks Janette and best wishes for a long, happy, and well-deserved retirement! Don’t be a stranger!

INTERVIEW WITH OUTGOING BRANCH SECRETARY, JANETTE MCQUISTON

Janette McQuiston

Page 2 Highland Healthcare Branch

NHS Scotland Inpatient Experience Survey 2018

Members will be interested that some of the services we work in are rated as

amongst the best in Scotland by the people who matter most – the patients.

This survey was conducted across Scotland, and for all indicators bar one (where it

was equal to) services in Highland were rated more highly than the Scottish average.

This included the response rate to the survey (response rate from patients in Highland 46%, compared to a

response rate of 40% for Scotland as a whole).

The survey gathered people’s experiences on 48 feedback questions, including an overall rating, for 8 areas,

listed below.

These were the overall results for NHS Highland – these are positive ratings of care and treatment and various

processes etc, compared to the Scottish average:

Indicator Positive experience rating

NHS Highland NHS Scotland

Care and treatment in A&E 94% 89%

Hospital admission process 88% 83%

Hospital ward environment 90% 88%

Care and treatment during hospital stay 91% 90%

Staff patients came into contact with 92% 91%

Arrangements for leaving hospital 78% 78%

Care or support services after leaving hospital 83% 82%

Overall rating of experience 88% 86%

These are great results and reflect the hard work and dedication of UNISON members working every day to

do their best for patients in NHS Highland, in often challenging and difficult circumstances.

Adam Palmer, Employee Director and UNISON rep

UNISON Bullying and Harassment awareness training for members

UNISON has received some fantastic feedback from members who have attended these courses. This includes comments like:

“Very thought-provoking. Hoping this will allow me to support my/all staff as appropriate”

“The course was excellent in delivery and content. I learned a lot from the inputs. The course is infor-mative and worthwhile”

And:

“Really enjoyed the course”

So far three courses have been held (one in Oban and two in Inverness).

The Branch are looking at holding further courses – please get in touch if you would like one in your area, and we will do our best to provide this.

What did the Buddhist ask the hot dog seller? What do you give a person who has everything? Make me one with everything Penicillin

Why was 6 afraid of 9 on New Year’s Eve? Looking at the New Year’s calendar Because 9, 8, 7 We’ll all have 2020 vision

What’s a cow’s favourite holiday? Knock Knock, Who’s there? Abby, Moo Year’s Eve Abby who? Abby New Year!

Page 3 Highland Healthcare Branch

We are delighted to have launched

this year's Winter Fuel Grant Pro-

gramme on Monday 2 December!

Members living on a low income constantly

struggle to make ends meet and this can be

particularly acute in the winter when the cost

of heating homes rises as the outside tempera-

ture falls.

But it’s not all bad news – help IS available. The union’s welfare charity There for You has once more set up a limited

fund to help members on low incomes towards the cost of their winter fuel bill through a one-off payment of £40.

The process is very similar to previous years and an amount of money has been ring-fenced to support this initiative. How-

ever, once it’s gone it’s gone! So don’t miss out. Apply early and send your form and supporting paperwork in as soon as

possible. All the information you need can be found at https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-

you/there-for-you-winter-fuel-grants/. Alternatively, contact UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857 for a form to be sent to

you.

Just one more thing, please don’t keep details of this grant a secret. Help us to help even more members and let your work

colleagues know that help is at hand. There will be many, like you, worrying about how they will cope this Winter.

Completed applications need to be sent to There for You, (WFG) UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY

by Friday 14 February 2020 at the latest.

NHS Highland “Healing Process”

following Sturrock report

This is a summary of the information

presented to the NHS Highland Board,

setting out the principles of the

“Healing Process” which will be avail-

able to those who have experienced

bullying and other associated issues as

identified by the Sturrock report. (The

“us/we” used relates to NHS Highland

as an employer).

Who will it be open to?

Former employees of NHS Highland

who had experience of inappropriate

or bullying behaviour whilst they

worked for us.

Current employees of NHS Highland

who experienced bullying or inappro-

priate behaviour should be managing

this via the formal and informal proc-

esses in place and have access to Occu-

pational Health support and services.

However, we will listen to employees

who wish to share their experiences

through this process, where there is no

ongoing informal or formal action

which could or should be taken or is

underway. We will also ensure that

they are signposted into Occupational

Health where appropriate.

What will it offer?

An opportunity to be heard and lis-

tened to, in the format of their choos-

ing.

Investigation of complaints or concerns

where this is deemed necessary and

appropriate and it is possible to do so.

Access to appropriate support and

treatment where the experience at

NHS Highland has impacted their men-

tal or physical wellbeing or health.

This is not an HR process, it will be

managed by the Senior Responsible

Officer and overseen by the Culture

Programme Board. It will primarily use

internal resource, but external support

will be accessed wherever required and

appropriate.

What about Financial Compensa-

tion or Loss?

We have taken extensive advice and

reflected on the most appropriate

route for such matters to be ad-

dressed, in line with our status and

responsibilities as a publicly funded

body.

The route for financial compensation

for loss is via the Employment Tribunal

process for employment related cases

or via the Civil Courts for matters of

employer liability or damages.

The existing legal routes are the most

appropriate for claims to be heard,

using a structured legal framework,

which ensures any settlements are ap-

propriate and have the necessary re-

view and approval within NHS Highland

and the Scottish Government.

We will continue to consider claims for

financial loss and damages entered

through the above channels but we

cannot accept these via the Healing

Process.

Investigation of specific Com-

plaints

In some cases, we may conduct further

investigation, where there is a concern

that inappropriate or bullying behav-

iour is still taking place or where there

are concerns raised about practice,

standards, patient care or safety, or

other matters of a regulatory or crimi-

nal nature.

Any investigation would be carried out

by a suitably trained and impartial indi-

vidual and a report would be provided

to the complainant detailing what was

found and how this will be addressed.

Next steps

We are setting up the necessary forms,

systems and resources to deliver this

process. We will recruit some addi-

tional support resource and ensure all

those involved are fully trained and

aware of their role in the process. We

will also set up a panel of experienced

colleagues who will be allocated appro-

priate cases to listen to and hear.

We anticipate that we will have been

ready to start receiving claims in mid to

late December. We will start by con-

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Page 4 Highland Healthcare Branch

NHS Highland Makes Big Payout in UNISON LGBT Case

NHS Highland has made a five figure payout to UNISON member Vicky Walker following UNISON supporting Vicky in taking a case complaining about discrimination on the grounds of her sexual orientation. The case was handled by Thompsons Solicitors for UNISON. Following judicial mediation NHS Highland agreed to make the five figure payment, issue an apology and write to Vicky’s former colleagues warning of the consequences should there be a failure to adhere to the NHS’s stated expectations and values with regards to colleagues and former colleagues.

Simon MacFarlane, UNISON Regional Organiser said, “This case shows the importance of being in a union and having ac-cess to support and legal representation. UNISON is committed to fighting for LGBT equality in the workplace and society. Vicky is to be commended for taking a stand and showing such perseverance. We hope this settlement will at last provide some closure and allow her to move on with her life.”

Vicky Walker today said “This marks the end of an incredibly difficult two years during which I suffered relentless harass-ment and victimisation while working for and since leaving NHS Highland. The decision to pursue litigation was not an easy one however I felt I had to try to ensure my situation was not repeated for any other employee. I am encouraged that NHS Highland wish to learn from my experience and have acknowledged the systemic failures by both HR and management. I hope they can now take the necessary actions to ensure the safety of LGBT employees and their allies within their organi-sation.”

Elspeth Drysdale of Thompsons Solicitors today said “Cases of discrimination against LGBT employees are on the increase. It takes enormous courage to challenge these behaviours through the courts. We’re delighted that, with the support of UNISON, Ms Walker got the justice she deserves. We can only hope that her bravery in speaking out will change the cul-ture at NHS Highland and prevent the same thing happening to others.”

(The full media release on this is available on the Branch website http://www.unisonhighlandhealthcare.co.uk/)

UNISON Integrated

Joint Board (IJB)

Training Day, Stirling

On 20 & 21 November,

Dawn MacDonald, UNI-

SON Convener of Argyll &

Bute HSCP and Britt

Doughty-Godchaux, UNI-

SON Steward attended the UNISON IJB training in Stirling.

This training course was well attended with UNISON members

from all over Scotland from the Shetland Isles to Midlothian,

from Council and NHS.

Annual General Meetings (AGMs)

Yes, that season is approaching again, and we’re getting organised early! Dates arranged so far are:

Tuesday 3 March – Golspie, Migdale & Invergordon Thursday 12 March – Kyle of Lochalsh & Fort William Tuesday 17 March – Inverness (UHI Inverness Campus)

We will circulate more information (including times/venues) shortly.

If you would like a meeting in your area but it is not shown above, please get in touch (we expect there will be at least some meetings in Argyll and Bute, so watch this space).

Left-Right Dawn, Britt

tacting those who have already been in

touch and asking them to fill out the

form.

In early January, we will be ready to

begin wider promotion of the scheme

and details of how to get in touch.

With respect to all of the above, UNI-

SON is currently taking legal advice,

and we (UNISON) expect to be in a

position to advise our members fur-

ther, shortly. The process above has

been shared with UNISON, and other

trade unions, and comments back to

NHS Highland on this are expected.

If you have an issue which you would

like support or advice on, please get in

touch with the Branch (tel 01463

7 1 5 8 9 1 , e m a i l i n v e r -

ness.office@unison.co.uk). If necessary

your case will be legally assessed and

the appropriate support provided.

(Continued from page 3)