January 2024 - update

TRUST WIDE NEWS:

People Pulse

The People Pulse survey is now live and runs from 11 to 16 January. Your voice counts and we are here to listen to your feedback so that we can improve your experience at work. Click here to have your say.

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Corporate Services changing to Trust Wide Support Services

To help design and future-proof the blueprint of our new operating model, the Trust sought expert guidance our clinical divisions were re-mapped to focus on the relationships with our patients and service, and to reflect the purpose and role of services previously aligned to Corporate Services, the division will now be referred to as Trust Wide Support Services. Continue reading on YourSpace.

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Not another staff survey…

What are your thoughts about internal communications here at Mersey Care? We want to hear from you to understand what’s working, what isn’t and to get a better idea of your preferences when it comes to getting information and updates from the Trust. Your answers are anonymous, and the questions should take just 10 minutes of your time. Have your say today!

Not another staff survey… (office.com)

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Automating the Information Asset Register (IAR)

In keeping with the Trust’s commitment to the principle of accountability, regulatory compliance and best practice, we are in the process of automating our IAR. As part of the automation project, the IG team will be contacting Information Asset Owners and Information Asset Administrators to update the register, provide training and guidance. Email IG@merseycare.nhs.uk to find out more or visit YourSpace. Automating the Information Asset Register :: YourSpace Mersey Care

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This is me

As more and more people are diagnosed with autism as adults, we look at how knowing what makes you who you are can be life changing in the latest edition of our MC Magazine.

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Safeguarding mandatory training changes - February 2024

To improve quality, ensure consistency and compliance with national guidance, there may be some changes to your safeguarding training requirements from 1 February 2024. If you have been contacted by the Safeguarding Team, please complete the training. Don’t forget to check out the Safeguarding Training Brochure too.

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Bitesize wellbeing resources

The Evidence and Library Service now have a new bite-sized wellbeing collection in each of our three libraries. From sleeping well to resilience, from burnout to menopause. Have a look at our book catalogue and search for ‘bitesized’.

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Brew Monday

Brew Monday (Monday, 15 January) is about connecting with others, nature and things we enjoy. Our Journey to Wellbeing sessions explore the holistic elements of wellbeing, including self care, stress response and personal resilience. Sessions are available to be booked onto now. Let us know how you will be connecting on Brew Monday by emailing communications@merseycare.nhs.uk

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Talking about menopause

New dates have been scheduled for the menopause forums and menopause information and education sessions running from now and through to Spring.

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Gym membership discounts and equipment deals

If you’re looking to join a gym or invest in fitness equipment for your home, there’s many offers available through schemes such as Health Service Discounts, which can help you save money. You can use Hollins Park Health and Wellbeing Centre for free and our weekly circuit classes and yoga  offerings too.

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2024 NHS Games: will your team step up to the challenge?

The first event of this year’s NHS Games is a virtual step challenge. In preparation for the Olympics this summer, the organisers are challenging NHS trusts to cover the distance between the River Mersey and Paris by adding up their daily step count - this includes all steps inside and outside of work. Find out more and sign up on YourSpace.

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Managing your mood - starting 23 January

This psychoeducational group facilitated by qualified cognitive behavioural therapists is designed to provide you with a better understanding of your mental health and alternative ways of coping to improve your overall wellbeing. The group runs for five consecutive weeks. To find out more and to express your interest, visit YourSpace.

 

Health & Wellbeing Conference - January 23

The online Health and Wellbeing Conference aims to promote health and wellbeing across NHS Finance. The packed agenda includes a keynote from the NHS England's Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing Culture Team, organisational case studies, a session on resilience with Dr William Bird, and ending with guided meditation. Health and Wellbeing Conference (onenhsfinance.nhs.uk)

Towards Excellence Accreditation - Standards and Assessors

Just a reminder to all those applying for accreditation that the standards have recently been updated, so please make sure that you are working off the latest criteria before submission: Accreditation (onenhsfinance.nhs.uk)

If you are interested in getting involved with the assessments as an assessor, view resources, training dates and how you can sign up here: Assessor Resources (onenhsfinance.nhs.uk)

 

CV Writing Workshops - Book now for January

In these free interactive online sessions, participants will receive valuable guidance and tips aimed at optimising their CVs to reflect their strengths and skills effectively.

Book an online workshop in January suited to your NHS band level here: CV Writing Workshops (onenhsfinance.nhs.uk)

 

Induction to Future-Focused Finance February 16

If you are new to NHS Finance or have been in the function for some time and are interested in what is available to support you in your career development through networks, memberships and programmes, then please join us on this online webinar to find out more about the Future Focused Finance Programme. February 16, 10:00-11:00 AM, book here…. Induction to Future Focused Finance (onenhsfinance.nhs.uk)

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The Skills Development Network brings together training and development opportunities for Finance, Procurement and Informatics staff across the whole of the NHS.

NHS Skills Development Network (NHS SDN)

 

Follow this link to view a series of interactive short, smart learning opportunities delivered directly to you at your desktop.

NHS Skills Development Network (NHS SDN)

 

 

These are some of the events being run by The Skills Development Network during January 2024

 

Event	Cost	Date	Closing date
Developing Managers and Leaders into Effective Transformational Coaches (Online course via Zoom)	1 credit (£60)	Wednesday 10th January 2024 (09:30 - 16:30)	05/01/2024
Level 3 VAT in the NHS Advanced (Online course delivered virtually via ZOOM)	Free of charge	Thursday 11th January 2024 (09:30 - 16:00)	04/01/2024
Carbon Literacy Train the Trainer (Online course via MS Teams)	Free of charge	Tuesday 16th January 2024 (09:00 - 13:00) and Thursday 18th January 2024 (09:00 - 13:00)	12/01/2024
Presenting Data to Multi-Disciplinary Groups (2-day online course via MS Teams)	5 credits (£300)	Tuesday 16th January 2024 (09:30 - 16:00) and Wednesday 17th January 2024 (09:30 - 16:00)	12/01/2024
Introduction to User Centred Design (2 half days via MS Teams)	4 credits (£240)	Thursday 18th January 2024 (13:30 - 17:00) and Thursday 25th January 2024 (13:30 - 17:00)	16/01/2024
Level 2: VAT in the NHS Intermediate - Procurement (Online course via Zoom)	Free of charge	Wednesday 24th January 2024 (13:30 - 16:00)	22/01/2024
Understanding Yourself and Others (Online course via MS Teams)	1 credit (£60)	Wednesday 24th January 2024 (09:00 - 12:30)	19/01/2024
Level 2: VAT in the NHS Intermediate - International (Online course via Zoom)	Free of charge	Thursday 25th January 2024 (09:30 - 12:30)	22/01/2024
Level 2: VAT in the NHS Intermediate - Charitable Funds (Online course via Zoom)	Free of charge	Thursday 25th January 2024 (15:30 - 16:00)	23/01/2024
Level 2: VAT in the NHS Intermediate - Capital & Estates (Online course via Zoom)	Free of charge	Thursday 25th January 2024 (13:00 - 15:00)	22/01/2024
Moving Forward - Opportunities and Anxieties? (online course via Zoom)	Free of charge	Thursday 25th January 2024 (10:00 - 12:00)	22/01/2024

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People Skills

For the individual

People skills are the life skills we use every day to communicate and interact with individuals and groups*. They are what we use at work and in our social life. Good people skills have as much impact on your success as technical skills especially if you are in a management or leadership role. You need to apply your people skills to achieve your goals.

 

 

For the organisation

What makes an organisation great? In 2 words the answer is engaged staff. An* "engaged employee" is one who is fully involved in, and enthusiastic about their work, and thus will act in a way that furthers their organisation’s interests. There is overwhelming **evidence that engaged staff deliver increased performance and efficiencies and those organisations that have engaged staff are the most successful. Managers with good people skills develop engaged staff.

 

This section is all about giving you top tips and pointers to getting people skills.

 

Click this link to find out more:

People Skills (skillsdevelopmentnetwork.com)

 

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Leadership, Workforce and Diversity

Improving the diversity of staff in NHS finance roles and to drive recruitment, retention and development.

The strength of the NHS lies in its workforce, which accounts for 70% of its day to day running costs.

Recruitment, retention and development and using staff optimally are all crucial to the successful delivery of services.

Staff development is also key within finance teams to ensure the service continues to have finance practitioners with the right skills now, and in the future,

 

Click this link to find out more Leadership, workforce and diversity | HFMA

 

 

If you’re not already a member of HFMA, sign up here!

https://www.hfma.org.uk/topics/leadership-workforce-and-diversity

With seven decades of experience, the HFMA is proud to provide over 20,000 members with high-quality continuing professional development and educational opportunities.

Individual membership options vary from affiliate, full and free access for those working in Agenda for Change bands 2 to 6, to paid and full access for bands 7 and above.

NHS organisations can also apply for membership direct, providing the benefits of a full personal membership for all of their finance staff.

 

 

HFMA National Healthcare Finance Awards 2023 - winners announced!

Finance Director of the Year

Hardev Virdee, Barts Health NHS Trust

Sponsored by Prime

 

Deputy Finance Director of the Year

Sophie Harrison, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Sponsored by Channel 3 consulting

 

Finance Team of the Year

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System

 

Working with Finance – Clinician of the Year

Adrian Kwa, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

 

Costing

Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (system costing hub)

 

Governance

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sponsored by Prochainmatrix

 

Diversity and Inclusion

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Supported by IQVIA

 

Delivering Value with Digital Technology

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

 

Environmental Sustainability

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Supported by Deloitte

 

Addressing Health Inequalities through NHS Finance Action

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

 

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ADDED 8 JANUARY 2024

 

FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME WEBINAR

WEDNESDAY 10^TH JANUARY 2024 - 09:15 TO 10:15 VIA MST

 

This webinar is aimed at anyone interested in finding out about the Network’s Foundation Apprenticeship Programme (Accounting, Digital or Procurement), in relation to the expression of interest for an apprentice for the September 2024 cohort.

 

Alongside a programme overview also hear from past/present apprentices and mangers about their experience on programme.  For further information about the programme please contact Helen Pennington, Project Support (helen.pennington@nhs.net) or sign up to the event here to find out more.

 

 

INNOVATION FORUM NEWSLETTER

 

Please click here to access the December Newsletter.

 

 

ONE NHS FINANCE ‘CAREER’ PROGRESSORS PROGRAMME

 

Applications are now open for the Career Progressors Development Programme, which aims to support NHS finance colleagues in bands 5 to 7 to take the first steps in leadership development.

 

Find out more and apply by January 31 here: https://onenhsfinance.nhs.uk/programmes/career-progressors/

Vacancies currently available on the Skills Development Network

NHS Undergraduate Placement Scheme (Closing date: 31/01/2024)

Pathways 2 NHS Procurement Graduate Scheme (Closing date: 07/02/2024)

Senior Procurement Manager (Closing date: 22/01/2024)

Assistant Divisional Accountant (Closing date: 21/01/2024)

Click here to view the vacancies

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INTERNAL VACANCIES 

 

 

Expression of Interest – Patients Cash & Benefits Supervisor (Band 5)

Financial Services is inviting expressions of interest to fill a three-month secondment into the Patients Cash Supervisor & DWP Lead (Band 5).

This opportunity has arisen due to an upcoming vacancy within the Patients Cash Team and will involve day to day management of the Patients Cash Team within Financial Services.

For informal enquiries about this role please contact Peter Ryan or alternatively, submit an expression of interest direct to me outlining the reasons for your application.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm Friday 26 January 2024.

Please note, interested parties need to seek support from their current line manager before making a submission.

Regards

 

Peter Ryan

Senior Financial Accountant

 

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Student Staff Development Lead

 

Hi All

We are on the look out for a new Student staff development lead, following the previous holder, Dan Hughes, moving on to a new role.

This is a pivotal role that will form a part of our staff development steering group, ideally this would be a current student but is not essential.

The main responsibilities would cover:

• Membership to the Staff Development Steering Group.
• Provide general support to the finance and procurement students.
• Provide advice to prospective students regarding study programmes
• Provide advice and support relating to the departmental study policy and apprenticeship levy.
• Promoting courses, events, and opportunities to the finance and procurement department.
• Input into the monthly finance newsletter (training section).
• Support the FSD Lead and Staff development steering group in reviewing any study applications.

If this is a role that would interest you, please speak with your line manager and contact myself.

Thanks

 

Danny

Danny Williamson

 

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Vacancies currently available on the Skills Development Network w/c 22.01.24

NHS Undergraduate Placement Scheme (Closing date: 31/01/2024)

Pathways 2 NHS Procurement Graduate Scheme (Closing date: 07/02/2024)

Procurement Graduate Scheme (Closing date: 07/02/2024)

Procurement Graduate Scheme (Closing date: 07/02/2024)

Procurement Graduate Scheme (Closing date: 07/02/2024)

Research Grants Manager (Closing date: 25/01/2024)

Income Accountant (Financial Management - Income) (Closing date: 18/02/2024)

Click here to view the vacancies

DRIVE CLEANSE

We are still on track to go live on 1^st January 2024 with the final phase of the drive cleanse, S drive to migrate to G drive.

Any queries or concerns please speak to your team lead or me,

 

Thanks

Tasha

 

Natasha Lee

Community Care Division Strategic Business Accountant

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The Software Skills Network

Software Skills is an online network dedicated to empowering finance professionals with essential tools such as SQL, Power BI, Power Automate, and Excel.

We have recently relaunched the network, which makes the sign-up process easy and highlights the benefits of joining. 

Find out how to join here: Software Skills Network.

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Toca

Toca combines the power of Low-Code, Apps, RPA, API, and Automation in one platform. The support from Toca is currently being explored as a means to increase efficiency in some of the more manual tasks in the department.

Home | Toca.io

Toca empowers organisations to maximise their data and teams, whether they choose cloud or on-premises deployment. With an intuitive, user-friendly approach, it provides cost-effective, scalable solutions for creating and managing data-driven applications and automation processes. Their platform simplifies development, eliminating complexities and ensuring seamless operation across various environments.

Patients Cash:

We are currently exploring opportunities to remove the need to input information into multiple systems and automate the production of service user statements

Forecast Sheets:

We are working with Toca to explore automating some of the time-consuming processes relating to the forecast sheets.

The plan is to be able to develop this automation further to run reports and add them to forecast sheets.

 

 

Meetings have been held to show and explain the current processes for forecast sheets and patients cash.

Process mapping documents have also been shared to explain each step in these processes and the Toca team are now estimating how long these tasks will take. Once we have this detail it will be confirmed if we go ahead with implementing the automation.

 

 

Procurement Updates

The Strategic Framework for NHS Commercial was launched on the 28 November 2023, covering NHS Commercial’s objectives over the next five years, with a vision to be a globally renowned commercial function in healthcare, supporting the NHS to deliver world class patient care and outcomes.

The terms ‘NHS Commercial’ and ‘commercial’ framework encompass all procurement and supply chain management activities as well as commercial innovation across the NHS in England.

Link to the Strategic Framework available here https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/strategic-framework-for-nhs-commercial/

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On 1 January 2024 the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 came into effect. The Provider Selection Regime (PSR) removes the procurement of health care services, when procured by relevant authorities, from the scope of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which had previously set the expectation that competitive tendering is used to award contracts for health care services.

Statutory guidance is available via https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/the-provider-selection-regime-statutory-guidance/

The Procurement Department is currently liaising with Hempsons to arrange a bespoke training session; details will be publicised once finalised

Fraud Updates

Please find attached the latest MIAA Fraud Newsflash Alert regarding crypto currency investment schemes.

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Fraud Updates from December: 

 

FPC-54-23-24 Mandate Fraud (Key Property Solutions Ltd)

MIAA has received notification from a North West Trust about a mandate fraud alert received from Key Property Solutions Ltd.

Key Property Solutions Ltd have issued a letter (attached) informing that they have become aware of a fraudulent letter being issued to their clients detailing new bank details for the company.  They have not changed their bank details.

No information is available relating to either the identified fraudulent bank details cited within the fraudulent email, or the fraudulent email address from which the fraudulent message was received.

Actions required:

1. Check whether Key Property Solutions Ltd are a supplier and, if so, review any recent or ongoing communications from the company to ensure this is, or has been, with the genuine supplier, and check whether any bank change requests have been received and/or actioned.
2. Ensure all relevant colleagues are made aware of this alert and remain vigilant.
3. Report any attempts, losses or local concerns to the Anti-Fraud Specialist.

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FPC-55-23-24 - Mandate fraud (Turning Tables Consulting Ltd)

MIAA has received notification from a North-West client regarding a mandate fraud in respect of Turning Tables Consulting Ltd, a company based in the South of England, who specialise in educational support services.

Turning Tables Consulting Ltd have had their email account hacked by fraudsters who requested to change the bank details for future payments.  The fraudsters then purchased the email domain - - to continue their fraud. 

Actions required:

1. Check whether Turning Tables Consulting Ltd are a supplier and, if so, review any recent or ongoing communications from the company to ensure this is, or has been, with the genuine supplier and check whether any bank change requests have been received and/or actioned.
2. Supplier lists should be reviewed for the fraudulent account details that were provided:

Sort code: 08-71-99, account number: 10658514

1. Check whether any emails have been received into the organisation from the identified fraudulent email domain and, if possible, block it locally.
2. Ensure all relevant colleagues are made aware of this alert and remain vigilant for any mandate change request that may be received or fake invoices etc. with request for payment to be made to a different bank account to the existing supplier details.
3. Report any attempts, losses or local concerns to the Anti-Fraud Specialist.

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ADDED 8 JANUARY 2024

NHS Fraud Prevention Quick Guides

 

Hello it’s me again!!

 

The Counter Fraud Authority have put together a range of “Quick Guides” covering a range of subjects. Please click the links below to open the documents.

 

Mandate Fraud

Suppliers Code of Practice

Contract Reviews

Credit Card Fraud

Petty Cash

Buying Goods and Services

Contract Splitting

Due Diligence (understanding the credibility of a third party’s business)

 

The overriding aim of the guides is to highlight the role and responsibilities of NHS organisations, their stakeholders and customers, with regard to preventing fraud, bribery and corruption in their day to day activities and transactions.

 

Please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the contents. Any problems / issues let me know and feel free to distribute further across your teams.

 

Regards

 

Mike

Mike Jones

 

Financial Accountant (Assurance)

Mob: 07939304068

Working Days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Calendar January 2024

January 1 — New Year’s Day

In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year: 1 January. Most solar calendars (like the Gregorian and Julian) begin the year regularly at or near the northern winter solstice, while cultures and religions that observe a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their Lunar New Year at less fixed points relative to the solar year.

In pre-Christian Rome under the Julian calendar, the day was dedicated to Janus, God of gateways and beginnings, for whom January is also named. From Roman times until the middle of the 18th century, the new year was celebrated at various stages and in various parts of Christian Europe on 25 December, on 1 March, on 25 March and on the movable feast of Easter.

In the present day, with most countries now using the Gregorian calendar as their civil calendar, 1 January according to Gregorian calendar is among the most celebrated of public holidays in the world, often observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight following New Year's Eve as the new year starts in each time zone. Other global New Year's Day traditions include making New Year's resolutions and calling one's friends and family.

January 4 — World Braille Day

World Braille Day is an international day on 4 January and celebrates awareness of the importance of braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and visually impaired people. The date for the event was chosen by the United Nations General Assembly via a proclamation in November 2018, and marks the birthday of Louis Braille, creator of this writing system. The first World Braille Day was celebrated on 4 January 2019.

January 14 —Old/Orthodox New Year

The Old New Year, or the Orthodox New Year, is an informal traditional holiday, celebrated as the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Old New Year falls on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar.

This traditional dating of the New Year is sometimes commonly called "Orthodox" because it harks back to a time when governments in Russia and Eastern Europe used the Julian calendar, which is still used by some jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church's liturgical year actually begins in September.

January 15 — Makar Sankranti

Makar(a) Sankranti, also referred to as Uttarayana, Makar, or simply Sankranti, is a Hindu observance and a festival. Usually falling on the date of January 15 annually, this occasion marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius to Capricorn. Since the sun has made this transition which vaguely coincides with moving from south to north, the festival is dedicated to the solar deity, Surya, and is observed to mark a new beginning. Many native multi-day festivals are organised on this occasion all over India.

January 18 — Bodhi Day

Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni) is said to have attained enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a peepal tree, also known as a Bodhi tree, and simply meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it.

January 24-25 — Tu b’shevat

Tu BiShvat (ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט‎) is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat (in 2024, Tu BiShvat begins at sunset on January 24 and ends in the evening of January 25). It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot (ראש השנה לאילנות‎), literally "New Year of the Trees". In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.

January 25 — Mahayana New Year

Mahayana Buddhists observe the New Year at different times according to country and tradition. Many celebrate it on the full moon day of January, usually mid-month. Others mark the New Year on the Lunar New Year or the secular date, 1 January.

January 25 - Burns Night

A celebration of the birthday of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns, celebrated with a Burn's Night Supper which includes many traditional Scottish dishes and reading of Burns' poetry.

January 25 - St Dwynwen's Day

St Dwynwen's Day, or Dydd Santes Dwynwen is the Welsh St. Valentine's Day, as the saint was the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and the day is a special day dedicated to love in Wales.

January 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945, an attempt to implement its "final solution" to the Jewish question. 27 January was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945

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Staff Networks

In line with our trust values we wish to develop and promote a culture of dignity, respect and inclusion for all.  

To support this, we have in place a number of different staff networks that meet regularly to support, promote and advance equality in the workplace for those that have dyslexia and dyspraxia, those with disabilities, that identify as multi-ethnic colleagues, are female, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ).

Each network has a board level sponsor.  

More details can be found by following this link: Staff networks :: YourSpace Mersey Care

 

Let's have a Happier January!

Here is a useful calendar to support you in being happier!

 

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New Years Resolutions

A New year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behaviour, accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their behaviour at the beginning of a calendar year.

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January Blues

 

 

10 tips on how to beat the January blues….

1. Understand that this is normal
2. Get as much daylight as possible
3. Keep fit and stay active
4. Avoid unrealistic New Year’s resolutions
5. Eat properly
6. Sleep well
7. Learn a new skill
8. Get help for financial pressure
9. Use positive affirmations
10. Be grateful for what has happened

For more information on the above follow How to beat the January Blues as we approach Blue Monday - Cygnet (cygnetgroup.com)

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Staff discounts

Health Service Discounts, can help you save money on things like fashion, beauty, homeware and tech. The scheme is a dedicated service for all healthcare workers and in any role. It is used by over 1.8 million NHS and healthcare workers. It’s free to join and free to use, once you are a member.

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Save on bus travel

Arriva and Mersey Care have joined together to offer employees savings on local Arriva bus travel. The travel club is open to everybody who works for the Trust. You could save up to 25 percent. There’s no minimum contract so you can leave whenever you want. Find out all the details on YourSpace and see a printer-friendly poster here.

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Mental Health First Aider training

Do you want to support your team with their mental health? Mental Health First Aider's develop the skills to spot the signs of people experiencing poor mental health. Training dates have been released for the new year, find out more on our Mental Health First Aid page.

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Winter wellbeing offer

To find out everything Occupational Health and Wellbeing Services have to offer you over the winter months, have a look at the new Winter staff wellbeing offer poster. It includes a QR code which you can scan with your smartphone to take you straight to the Staff Wellbeing Hub, as well as the team’s contact details.

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Food for Thought new dates

Food for Thought, a weight management programme, is back running in January and there’s virtual and in person groups to choose from. It’s designed to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

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Journey to Wellbeing

Journey to Wellbeing is a new workshop developed by Occupational Health and Wellbeing Services. It explores the holistic elements involved in wellbeing improvement, including self-care, the stress response and personal resilience. Sessions are available to be booked onto now. 

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NHS Games - Mersey to Paris Step Challenge 2024

Give yourself a boost at the start of 2024 and join in with a team step challenge with your colleagues as part of the NHS Games.

In preparation for the Olympics this summer, we’re challenging teams to cover the distance between the River Mersey and Paris by adding up their daily step count - this includes all steps inside and outside of work. 

Swap the lift for the stairs, take a short walk over lunch and get off the bus or train one stop earlier - every step counts!

FREE to join and open to people of all ages, all abilities and all levels of fitness.  You can enter as part of a team (max 10 colleagues), and do the 4 week challenge anytime between 15th January and 3rd March.

Find out more and sign up at www.alltogetheractive.org.uk/nhsgames

 

 

Congratulations to Tom Alexandrou who has recently got engaged and also to both Sarah Price and Richard Timmins who have got engaged recently too! 

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Lots of recent exam successes:

 

• Lydia Arnold in the Costing Team has had confirmation that she had passed another CIMA exam, this time it was the Audit and Assurance exam.
• Dylan Ashton in the Mental Health Care Division Team in Financial Management has also passed his latest and final ACCA exam – Dylan is now qualified!
• Nathan Hill has passed one of his AAT exams.
• Tom Alexandrou has passed one of his CIPS exams.

Well done everyone! 

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National Cost Collection.

The National Cost Collection is submitted annually by the Costing Teams across all Trusts throughout the UK. It enables Trusts to benchmark against local peers and the national average. It provides insight to create the model hospital and helps to determine the cost of the services we provide.

Due to a new data validation engine being used, the submission day for Trusts has been pushed back. However as of the 11 December the Costing Team has submitted the NCC. Congratulations to the Costing Team and all those who helped!

 

Procurement

The Procurement team was recently assessed against the Government Commercial Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework (CCIAF), and in December was awarded an overall score of 85.3% against the cohort score of 69.1%; it also came out in the top 3 performers in 3 of the 8 key themes measured. Well done to all involved!

Please click here to see the full report.

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Crystal Maze

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO CRACK THE CRYSTAL MAZE LIVE EXPERIENCE IN MANCHESTER?

Following an earlier mention of a trip to the Crystal Maze in Manchester, we have decided to arrange this for Saturday 16 March 2024.

It’s the oh-so-popular 90s TV show brought to genuinely immersive, 3D life. More importantly, it’s a brilliant excuse to run around wildly, shout yourselves hoarse, solve all sorts of problems and challenges, and, best of all, celebrate in some wacky satin bomber jackets. Who could ask for anything more? 

The Crystal Maze Manchester - The LIVE Experience (the-crystal-maze.com)

What is The Crystal Maze Live Experience?

You and your team must test your skills, solve mysteries, and overcome challenges both mental and physical. They’re in four adventure zones – Medieval, Industrial, Aztec, and Futuristic. Plus they’re all against the clock. The more challenges your team completes successfully, the more Crystals you win and the more time you’ll get to catch tokens in the iconic Crystal Dome.

If you would like to come and participate in our team day out, please let us know by the 16 February 2024 so we can get organised.  Depending on numbers we may be able to get a discount - general tickets start from £37 pp.

Contact Alison Roebuck, Carol Smith or Emily Owen for any extra details.

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 NHS Games - Mersey to Paris Step Challenge 2024

UPDATE: Some of the Income, Planning and Reporting Team have already signed up for this challenge - it's a total of 507 miles, just over a total of 1 million steps and will be completed over 4 weeks.

They start their challenge on 15 January! 

To start your own team see further details from NHS Games below, or if you wish to join the "Johnnie Walkers" please contact Alison and she will add you to the team! 

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Give yourself a boost at the start of 2024 and join in with a team step challenge with your colleagues as part of the NHS Games.

In preparation for the Olympics this summer, we’re challenging teams to cover the distance between the River Mersey and Paris by adding up their daily step count - this includes all steps inside and outside of work. 

Swap the lift for the stairs, take a short walk over lunch and get off the bus or train one stop earlier - every step counts!

FREE to join and open to people of all ages, all abilities and all levels of fitness.  You can enter as part of a team (max 10 colleagues), and do the 4 week challenge anytime between 15th January and 3rd March.

Find out more and sign up at www.alltogetheractive.org.uk/nhsgames

 

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Food Bank

Due to the success of the Food Bank donations in December, Frank is very kindly going to the Food Bank each month so if you have any contributions he will be happy to pass them on. 

Thanks in advance -  your support is really appreciated!

 

A big welcome to Jane Carney who started with us on 2 January 2024 as Senior Finance Administrator. 

 

Hi everybody my name is Jane Carney. I joined the Finance Team on 2 January 2024 as Senior Finance Administrator and PA to Sally Proffitt and Sarah Waterworth. I joined Mersey Care in November 2020 and prior to starting with Mersey Care I worked at Salford Royal within Medical Education Undergraduate Team.

My previous role was based at Hollins Park as in patient medical secretary based in the leadership team. I am really looking forward to gaining experience in finance and working with the team.

I live in Newton Le Willows and have two grown up sons and a three year old very friendly English Springer Spaniel called Daisy.

I love to travel; my youngest son lives in Mexico City which we visited last year.

I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

 

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Welcome to Patrick Cregan

 

Hi all, I’ve just joined Finance on the 16^th January as a Capital Accountant working with Georgina and Karl.

I have just finished the NHS Graduate Management Scheme after 2 and a half years so this is my first set role in the NHS. During the scheme I did varying placements here at Mersey Care, Primary Care 24, NHS England, and Warrington and Halton Hospitals.

I live in Worsley with my girlfriend and our 3-year-old dog Freyja who is a Samoyed.

I like to spend my time away from work travelling and going on holiday, with my favourite place so far being Thailand. I also like to spend my time going out and on holiday with friends, as well as playing and watching pretty much any sport with my main passion being football (painfully supporting Portsmouth my whole life). I have recently started running again and hope to run my first marathon in 2024.

Looking forward to meeting everyone! 😊

 

 

Best wishes to everyone with birthdays in the next couple of months!

January

6          Gill Mcketterick

9          Andy Bell

11        Katharine Clarke

20        Sarah Waterworth

29        Lee Gough

 

February

5          Helen Jones

6          Daniel Williamson/Gill Montgomery

11        Matthew Anderton

14        Natalie Hooper

19        Phil Saha (50)

22        Laura Jessop

23        Anne Warburton

25        Chris Powell