September 2023 - Update

Training

Please see most recent communication from Skills Development Network, HFMA and One NHS Finance.

Skills Development Network

This link will give you a list of events currently open for bookings on the Skills Development Network website, please go to www.skillsdevelopmentnetwork.com for full details on each course and to book a place.

SDN Update

HFMA

Please follow the link to view the Spotlight newsletter detailing the regular webinars and events from HFMA.

HFMA Update

One NHS Finance

Please click this link to view the September One NHS Finance newsletter.

One NHS Finance Update

We hope you all had a well-deserved, restful summer break.

We are looking forward to picking up the pace to bring you lots of engaging events both online and in person as well as new opportunities for you to get involved in this Autumn.

Innovation

This month we can share with you some information available on the One NHS Finance site.

If you don’t currently have a log in, you can set one up by registering your details on this page: https://onenhsfinance.nhs.uk/login/

One NHS Finance

Building on the successful Future-Focused Finance initiative, in 2019 we launched a nationwide conversation that gave everyone working in the finance community the opportunity to share current challenges and input into the future of the function. All of the ideas, comments and feedback we received through this conversation were used to develop One NHS Finance.

One NHS Finance brings together three national programmes: Future-Focused Finance, the National Finance Academy, and the Finance Innovation Forum. Our main goal is to make sure that everyone working in NHS finance has access to the opportunities they need to develop their skills, excel in their roles, and accelerate their careers.

We continuously review and refresh One NHS Finance programmes so they remain relevant for all finance professionals. If you have any questions on One NHS Finance, or would like further information, please contact us at one.finance@nhs.net

One NHS Finance - Innovation library

Explore the cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of NHS Finance

Submissions to the programme are focused on the problems the innovations aim to overcome. By doing this, we will learn how organisations have innovated to address these problems and inspire other NHS Finance teams to tackle these problems in new and innovative ways.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Welcome to our September edition of the Finance EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) Blog.

This month we see a variety of Cancer awareness campaigns for the duration of the month. Cancer affects everybody and does not target a specific person due to their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, colour of their skin. 

What is cancer?

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.

Cancer sometimes begins in one part of the body before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis.

1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime.

Important links
Check your risk in 30 seconds | Prostate Cancer UK
Breast cancer symptoms | Breast Cancer Now
Thyroid cancer - symptoms, types, treatment options | Macmillan Cancer Support
Blood cancer symptoms and signs | Blood Cancer UK

Major Religious Holidays in September

September 6* – Arbaeen: The day marking the end of the 40-day mourning period after the Day of Ashura for Shia Muslims

September 11 – Coptic New Year: A feast day (also called Nayrouz) that commemorates martyrs and confessors in Coptic Orthodox Christianity

September 15 to September 17 – Rosh Hashanah: The two-day Jewish New Year that highlights rest and reflection, and is one of the most important Jewish holy days.

September 21 to September 29 – Mabon: Pagan and Wiccan religions use this day to mark the autumnal equinox.

September 24 to September 25 – Yom Kippur: This is one of the most important Jewish high holy days in the Jewish faith. The central themes of Yom Kippur are atonement and repentance.

September 27* – Mawlid: The celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad in the Islamic faith

September 29 to October 6 – Sukkot: A 7-day holiday commemorating when Jews journeyed to the desert on the way to the promised land.

September 29 to October 14 – Pitru Paksha: A period when members of the Hindu faith pay homage to their ancestors.

If you want to be involved with the blogs, or what you want to see within the blogs please do not hesitate to contact Lee.Gough@merseycare.nhs.uk

Wellbeing

Would you like to become a mental health first aider?

Mental Health First Aider's support the wellbeing of staff. Occupational Health and Wellbeing Services are running courses during September and October. If you are interested, find out more on our Trust’s dedicated Mental Health First Aid page. However, we can only accept requests to join a waiting list at this point.

It's Self-Care September!

Mini Health Checks at Work- availability for Hollins Park and Switch House from 25 September

Appointment and drop-in opportunities are available for a mini health check at both Hollins Park (25 September) and Switch House (26 September). The Health and Wellbeing Facilitators are also available to be booked out to visit your team and complete the health assessments at your base. The assessment are quick and easy and participants will be provided with personalised wellbeing advice.

Managing your mood-  next group starts 26 September

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. This group runs for 5 consecutive weeks. To find out more and to express your interest, visit YourSpace

Happier Living

Everyone's path to happiness is different. Based on the latest research, there are 10 Keys to Happier Living that consistently tend to make life happier and more fulfilling.

Together they spell GREAT DREAM.

You can nurture your connection with nature to increase your exercise and take care of your body.

Being outside, in the daylight, in or near greenery or water - spaces that we find pleasing - can help us feel happier, reduce stress and boost our sense of vitality. Exercising outdoors in urban or natural settings each had positive benefits for mood and stress levels, but natural environments were associated with greater mental restoration.  Other studies have shown that we generally feel happier in natural environments than indoors or in those that are built up.

Daylight, especially in the morning, helps to regulate our body clock which in turn helps us sleep. Sunlight on our skin produces vitamin D – important for both physical health and happiness. 

Visible greenery, both indoors and out, has been shown to reduce stress and increase our concentration and productivity. Even if we live in a town or city, there are lots of different ways we can nurture our connection with nature. 

• Go for a nature walk – even if you are in a city. Take time to notice different shades of green, the beauty of a bare branch or spot birds and other wildlife.
• Notice the resilience of nature – the flower or blades of grass poking up through a crack in the ground; trees that have withstood the wild weather; insects that help pollinate our plants.
• Cultivate greenery wherever you are – grow herbs in your kitchen, plant a window box or a cultivate greenery in a patch of earth outside.
• Pause by a pond – find some pleasant water to sit or stand by and notice the reflections on its surface.
• Take care of the natural world – pick up litter, join a gardening group, or volunteer for a conservation project nearby.

Sit less

When we are busy, sat at our computers all day, or we’re feeling down or anxious, it can be easy to spend long stretches of time sitting down, perhaps going straight from our desks to our sofa and then bed.

Research is now showing that sitting for long periods each day, over time, can be detrimental to our psychological health as well as our physical wellbeing, even if we exercise. So, as well as exercising regularly, we need to incorporate many moments of movement over the course of our days.

For example

• once an hour, spend a minute having a good stretch or twist.
• Stand up every time you use your phone or even better walk and talk!
• Use the time waiting for the kettle to boil to do a few squats, kitchen worktop push-ups or balance on your tiptoes.

Moving more in whatever way you can manage. Every little counts!

Good News

Congratulations to Chelsea Shields who got married on 10 September 2023!

We all wish you love, joy and happiness on your wedding day and always!

Baby Timmins was born on 13 September 2023 weighing 6lbs! Congratulations to Sarah and Richard!

NHS North West Games - Footballers Wanted!!

The NHS North West Games is an annual series of events to encourage NHS employees to come together to take part in a series of fun and friendly inter-Trust sport competitions.

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to enter a team into the NHS Games 5-a-side men’s football event, taking place in Liverpool on 22/10/23 (venue tbc) ⚽️

Give me a message if you are interested in taking part! All skill levels welcome 👍🏼

https://merseysidesport.com/nhsgames/

Thanks

Dan

Daniel.Hughes@merseycare.nhs.uk

Something different for Lee Gough!

On Sunday 3 September, I got the opportunity to tackle my greatest fear!! Heights.

I completed a 15,000ft Tandem Skydive located in Grange Over Sands.

The thought of jumping out of plane scared me and walking to the plane made my legs feel like jelly. I did run off at one point due the anxiety however the instructor pushed me in the politest way possible. I finally made it on to the plane and was committed once I sat down basically on this bloke’s knee. Felt like Christmas sat on this bloke’s knee “Dear Santa, I want a pony for Christmas”.

The journey up felt like eternity However, with each minute my nerves were getting stronger, head down trying not to look out the window of the plane. I eventually looked and saw a few clouds to which turned my stomach. The door opened and because I was last on the plane, I was first! Great stuff! Yay for me!! Woo woo! NOT.

The thing was making your way across the plane to the door open to the elements. You daggle your legs out the door with all trust and faith in this stranger you knew for a short period on the ground and during the decent to 15000ft. All I could think was “How am I going to breathe, I need to breathe”, Instructor shouts on the count of 3 we jump! Within 1 second, he makes that incredible jump into the air! Me screaming for the whole 45 seconds free fall until the parachute opens. The screaming was an incredible stress reliever. The parachute opens and it feels like you stop in mid-air, once that parachute settles you glide like a bird back to the ground. For some they say it feels like you’re an eagle or Falcon but for me it was more a pigeon with my arms flapping in the wind with excitement and joy. The views were awesome and the feeling you get watching the ground get closer and closer.

6 minutes later you land with a tremendous thump into the landing field. The relief and shock automatically set in and the immense feeling of accomplishment.

I had my lovely family for support, and I don’t think I would have completed it on my own. If it wasn’t for their support and my amazing Father-in-law for his support by completing the skydive with me.

I enjoyed it that much; I have decided to do this as a hobby. I have now signed up to become a student under BPA (British Parachuting Authority) and work towards AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) license which commences April 2024.

Staffing

We all wish a warm welcome to our new colleagues; Holly Nichols in Procurement, Emily Owen in Costing and Zoe Simms in Community Care Division.

Hi!

My name is Holly, and I am a new Graduate Procurement Trainee on the 2023 intake of the Pathways2Procurement Graduate Scheme. I recently moved back home to Liverpool after 4 years away studying Politics and French at the University of Bristol. Don’t ask me anything about British politics though, I opted out of it in my first year and chose to study the EU instead! 😊

I’m looking forward to starting my career in the NHS, and this is my first office job back in the UK after working as an administrative assistant in Nantes, France. I loved living abroad and travelling, but I’m happy to be home (and especially happy to be reunited with my dog!).

Hi,

I’m Emily, I’m 21 years old and currently undertaking a placement year working alongside the costing team. At Liverpool John Moores university I am studying business with finance, recently completing my second year. Alongside of my studies, I have worked at Burleydam garden centre for 6 years, however my houseplants would disagree that I am green-fingered.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going to the gym, horse-riding and cooking- which I am sure the excitement will dwindle the longer I have to decide what to cook for tea.

Hello !

I’m Zoë, I’ve recently joined the Community Care Team as a Senior Finance Analyst for CYP, Families and Sefton Place. Prior to joining Mersey Care I worked in Financial Management at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

I’m a mum to 2 children, Ted who is aged 8 and Sophia who is about to officially become a teenager.

When I’m not working, I enjoy cooking for and entertaining my family and friends, gardening and watching reality TV.

My favourite holiday destinations are Greece, Devon and the Lake District. I’m always planning the next getaway!

I look forward to meeting you all soon.

Happy Birthday to everyone who has a birthday coming up!

September

8          Ben Ormrod  

11        Phil Nichols 

15        Natasha Lee             50

22        Chris Mccormack     60

23        Carol Smith  

30        Sarah Delaney         40

October

8          Mike Jones   

12        Jake Litherland

16        Rachael Yau

27        Georgia Bell