You can ask any questions via your line manager or email spoauct.consultation@merseycare.nhs.uk
Is night sitting moving over or is this remaining with SPOA? If it is staying, how will this be done?
Night sitting support will not be moving over to SPC as part of the consultation. Updated SOP will be circulated as to how the monitoring of referrals will be managed going forward.
Will WFH be implemented for the remaining SPOA staff?
WFH will still be managed on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the organisation's Hybrid Working Policy (HR44)
Who will manage the syringe drivers and access to the building if DNs are moving to SPC? Will these members of staff be required to be in the building?
SPOA are not responsible for managing syringe drivers, this is a clinical responsibility. However, SPOA staff will continue to monitor syringe drivers and levels of satellite stock in each of the DN bases including V7.
Will scanning and auditing remain with SPOA?
Scanning audit and following the scan and destroy policy will remain within SPOA or all staff in each DN base including V7. SPC will follow the process with any documentation that they create.
The statistics highlight 25 to 30 calls a day are to let staff into the building or order equipment, how was this data generated?
The information for equipment orders was generated by taking an average number of equipment orders created each day for District Nurses by SPOA staff over a two week period.
The information for the number of staff let into the building by SPOA was generated using anecdotal evidence from staff working lates and weekends over a two week period.
How will the remainder of SPOA work? Will people be allocated on a different service and a reduced number of remaining staff covering the phone lines?
SPOA will continue to support the main phone line (0151 351 8520) albeit with reduced staffing levels due to the reduced demand.
SPOA staff will continue to support Community Therapy, Treatment Rooms and Domiciliary Phlebotomy services as well as provided ADHOC administrative support in bases for DNs, Matrons, ICB, SPCT, DNLO, ACP, and Care Home Liaison. Staff will continue to train on these services to mitigate any impact to service provision following consultation.
Will base work be mandatory for the remaining SPOA staff?
Providing support at each of the locations across the borough of Knowsley has always been part of the JD and expected duties in SPOA and will continue to be the case.
Will the phone number change again?
There are no plans at present to change the number of SPOA.
Will the team still be based at V7?
SPOA will continue to operate out of V7.
Will WFH still be possible?
This will still be an option on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the Trust's Hybrid Working Policy (HR44).
Will all staff have to learn and be proficient in all services, would there be a timescale on this?
Staff will continue be expected to train on any of the services that SPOA support in order to maintain service delivery and resilience within the team.
Will all staff have to do work in the bases?
Providing support at each of the locations across the borough of Knowsley has always been part of the JD and expected duties in SPOA and will continue to be the case.
Would it be possible to reduce my hours?
A request to reduce your contractual hours must be submitted to your line manager and will be completed separately to this consultation.
Will there be weekend working in SPOA with the new changes
Yes, following consultation staff in SPOA will remain on a contract of providing administrative support 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday. Operating hours of SPOA on the weekend will change to 9am to 5pm.
Will the SPOA be just Therapies, Phlebs and Treatment Rooms. Will this be office based and will we have to know all these services. Will there be any home working.
SPOA staff will continue to support Community Therapy, Treatment Rooms and Domiciliary Phlebotomy services as well as provide ad hoc administrative support in bases for DNs, Matrons, ICB, SPCT, DNLO, ACP, and Care Home Liaison. Staff will be expected to train on these services to mitigate any impact to service provision following consultation.
WFH will still be an option in SPOA on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the trust's Hybrid working policy (HR44)
Who will we report in to in both services?
Any changes to your line management structure and team organograms will be communicated to you at the end of consultation.
How many weekends will we have to do in 8 weeks in SPOA?
This will vary on the number of staff that move to SPC to make up the 8.0 FTE required as part of consultation.
Will we get to work from home 20/80 like they do for SPC?
WFH will still be an option in SPOA on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the trust's Hybrid working policy (HR44)
If we stay for SPOA do I get to work from home at the weekends like SPC do?
WFH will still be an option in SPOA on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the trust's Hybrid working policy (HR44)
Do I get to keep my holidays that are already booked?
Yes, any approved annual leave will still stand.
Will I have to support in other bases all the time when working for SPOA?
Providing support at each of the locations across the borough of Knowsley has always been part of the JD and expected duties in SPOA and will continue to be the case.
If I stay working for SPOA what bases will I have to go to?
Providing support at each of the locations across the borough of Knowsley has always been part of the JD and expected duties in SPOA and will continue to be the case.
What are different job roles of SPOA?
The Job roles within SPOA structure are as follows.
- Administrator.
- Office Manager.
- Administration Services Manager.
Is there more opportunity to progress for SPOA?
There are always opportunities to continue to develop within your role and the organisation. Training and opportunities for development will continue to be discussed in Supervision and PACE.
If working for SPOA will the weekend stay the same and if so will I get to work from home at the weekend?
The amounts of weekend working required for staff within SPOA will vary on the number of staff that move to SPC to make up the 8.0 FTE required as part of consultation.
WFH will still be an option in SPOA on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the trust's Hybrid working policy. (HR44)
If there are less people working for SPOA does that mean that I am less likely to get annual leave requests accepted because there are less staff?
Annual leave will continue to be approved in line with expected impact to service provision and safe staffing levels.
I’ve already planned trips around what weekends I’m off, will this be affected by the merge?
Any approved annual leave you have had will still stand.
If I stay work from SPOA how many days a week will I get to work from home and will I get to work the weekend shifts from home?
WFH will still be an option in SPOA on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the trust's Hybrid working policy (HR44)
Will those who remain in SPOA have less weekends? If so, will the remaining staff still get the enhancements they would usually be entitled to?
The amounts of weekend working required for staff within SPOA will vary on the number of staff that move to SPC to make up the 8.0 FTE required as part of consultation.
Any change to pay/enhancements and details of how this will be managed in line with policy can be found in the following location.
HR19 - Organisation change Policy APPENDIX 2 - PAY PROTECTION
Will WFH be implemented for the remaining SPOA staff?
WFH will still be an option in SPOA on an ad hoc basis at management discretion in line with the trust's flexible working policy (HR44)
What will the remaining SPOA model look like and are we to expect further changes in the immediate future to the remaining service?
SPOA staff will continue to support Community Therapy, Treatment Rooms and Domiciliary Phlebotomy services as well as provided ADHOC administrative support in bases for DNs, Matrons, ICB, SPCT, DNLO, ACP, and Care Home Liaison. Staff will be expected to train on these services to mitigate any impact to service provision following consultation.
Services will continue to develop and improve. As clinical support services are reviewed by the organisation.
What is Adastra and will full training be provided BEFORE the move?
Adastra is a patient management computer software system and full training will be given to staff before they are expected to use the system in a live environment.
Can you still buy Annual Leave in SPC?
SPC follows the same Mersey Care policies as SPOA for annual leave and sickness.
Is there still the option to work in a base if you move over to SPC?
SPC is based in V7. Once training is completed and staff are deemed competent, they can work from home on an 80/20 hybrid model (80% home, 20% office).
Will Annual Leave be harder to take due to staff experience and limited number over in SPC?
SPC follows the same Mersey Care policies as SPOA for annual leave and sickness.
Staff have had annual leave approved for the 2025-2026 period will this be honoured for staff who move over to SPC?
Yes, all approved annual leave will be honoured.
Do they also use EMIS for everything or is Adastra also used?
SPC use both EMIS and Adastra. Full training will be provided
Do SPC have a standard script you need to follow?
SPC use a series of questions using the Adastra system, full training will be provided.
Is SPC all home working? Can you come into the office instead?
SPC is based in V7. Once training is completed and staff are deemed competent, they can work from home on an 80/20 hybrid model (80% home, 20% office).
Who will we report in to in both services?
Team leader in SPC, Office Manager in SPOA.
In SPC will we be answering just calls for Knowsley or Liverpool and Sefton too?
Initially it will be Knowsley and then further areas in future in line with appropriate training.
Will my wages go down after 12 months if I join SPC?
No there is no changes to banding involved within this consultation.
Is there more opportunity to progress for SPC?
Yes, there are opportunities to continue to develop.
Can you still buy Annual Leave in SPC?
SPC follows the same Mersey Care policies as SPOA for annual leave and sickness
Is SPC staying in V7?
There are no plans to move SPC from V7
Would I get the same pay if I went to SPC?
There is no change to banding as part of this consultation. Any change enhancements and details of how this will be managed in line with policy can be found in the following location.
HR19 - Organisation change Policy APPENDIX 2 - PAY PROTECTION
As SPC is hiring band 3s at the moment, does this affect us in the long run?
No the finances or the 1.0 B4 and 8.0 B3 staff are transferring to SPC budget along with staff.
Prior to the TEAMS meeting that informed us of these proposals, were any of the trade unions involved or informed?
Yes the consultation document was presented by Kirsten Collins and signed of at joint collab
When district nurses are out on visits, who do they ring if they require equipment?
The remaining members of staff in SPOA will continue to order equipment on behalf of the DNs.
Bank work is available within SPC.
Staff are entitled to two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch break.
All calls and referrals follow scripted guidelines using the Adastra system.
Full training on Adastra and EMIS systems will be provided to handle calls and referrals.
Once training is completed and staff are deemed competent, they can work from home on an 80/20 hybrid model (80% home, 20% office).
All personal requirements (such as HR27) will be honoured and reviewed per Mersey Care policy.
SPC follows the Mersey Care policies as SPOA for annual leave and sickness.
Shift patterns are from 8am to 8pm, including weekends and bank holidays.
Rotas are rolled out six weeks in advance, but requests for changes can be made.
Approved annual leave will be granted.
SPC has Band 4 staff members who are part of the training team and Central Management Office.
There are many opportunities to learn other services and progress within SPC.
Each employee will have an assigned team leader and a daily operations team leader for support with queries.