RepsDirect No 170 - 6 March 2003

• NHS University
• AFC Briefings
• NHS Learning Organisers
• Community Nurse Car Vandalism
• AFC Roadshows

• Amicus MSF welcomes the NHSU Development Plan, and the opportunities for lifelong learning and career expansion that it provides. 
• We welcome the broad vision for the NHSU as an organisation that will seek to open up lifelong learning opportunities for all staff, and provide support for learners.
• Access to CPD opportunities for health care workers should be a key priority.  However, wider learning needs should not be overlooked and the NHSU should support a broad and inclusive vision of lifelong learning.
• Proper support for learning, in the form of financial support and protected time for learning is essential.
• The NHSU will need to develop clear guidance on partnership/staff involvement and establish clear entitlements to and facilities for learning and CPD.
• Union's, and in particular workplace learning representatives are in a unique position to support and encourage the learning of their colleagues at work.  Proper support for this role is vital.
• The NHSU should be devised and delivered in partnership with unions at local and national level.  Amicus MSF seeks to be fully involved in all stages in the NHSU's development, including curriculum development, delivery, qualifications and quality control.
• The NHS should capitalise on this bold initiative to use learning and CPD as a key tool in the recruitment and retention of health service workers.

Learning and Development for Healthcare Professionals
The key aims and objectives of this project are designed to build upon a number of initiatives to promote Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for healthcare workers.  These initiatives include the NHSU, NHS ILA's and the establishment of Learning Representatives.

The aims and objectives of the project are therefore to:

• Strengthen the development of learning for health care workers at all stages of their careers.
• Raise awareness about CPD amongst Amicus MSF members, learning representatives, activists and full time officials in NHS Trusts across England.
• Raise awareness amongst employers about the lifelong learning agenda, and get their commitment to promoting and supporting CPD for heath care professionals.
• Map existing provision.
• Identify the CPD needs of Amicus MSF members.
• Develop learning partnerships in key NHS Trusts (with employers, other trade unions, learning providers, LSCs and Workforce Development Confederations).
• Link education and development to other human resource policies
• Improve the quality of patient care by improving access to educational and developmental opportunities for health care professionals.
• To disseminate best practise and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the project's activities (via regular Regional Learning Forums, and a National Learning Forum in year 3).

Despite significant funding being allocated for lifelong learning in the NHS, it is our experience that many members and representatives either do not know about the opportunities available, or do not know how to access them.  Whilst CPD has been recognised as crucial to the success of the health service and the delivery of patient care, and is a key part of Agenda for Change, it is not yet deeply embedded in workplaces. 

The project will support the appointment of dedicated project workers who will ensure that learning representatives, workplace representatives, full time officers and employers are fully briefed on the opportunities provided by CPD and are able to make the most of these new initiatives. 

We plan to build working partnerships with Trusts, and identify new targets as the project develops over a three year period.  Initially, the targets will be 1 Primary Care Trust and 1 Acute Trust in each of the 3 Regions.  The project will develop a rolling programme, identifying new targets every 6-9 months, eventually covering around 30 Trusts. These employers will be expected to provide:

Co-operation with and access for the NHS Learning Organisers.

• Facilities and time off for local union representatives to assist in mapping exercises in the initial stages.
• Partner employers will also provide facilities for awareness sessions/seminars to take place as well as time off for learning/local representatives to participate in this.

The project will concentrate on three RDA Regions:

• East of England
• South East of England
• North East

The project will be under the general management of the Director of Education,        Dr Sarah Howard.  The day to day running of the project will be co-ordinated by Alan Roe, Education Officer, who will effectively be the Project Manager.  The role of the Project Manager will be to:

• Arrange briefings of Regional Teams (Regional Secretaries, Officers and Organisers).
• Organise the selection and appointment of the NHS Learning Organisers under the direction of the Director of Education. 
• Plan and deliver induction and training for NHS Learning Organisers.
• Liaise with Regional Secretaries/Officers/Organisers regarding the NHS Learning Organisers work programmes and priorities.
• Provide advice, guidance and support for NHS Learning Organisers.
• Co-ordinate, supervise and monitor the work of NHS Learning Organisers
• Work with the Lifelong Learning Research Officer to identify and provide research support.
• Provide regular internal briefings and reports to the Director of Education and the Learning and Skills Committee of the National Executive.
• Provide internal briefings for Officers, organisers and lay officials (e.g. Regional education Officers, Regional Secretaries and Presidents).
• Provide links to other ULF projects and learning initiatives.
• Assist with local publicity.
• Arrange national publicity.
• Disseminate information
• Liase with project partners
• Chair/Organise Steering Committee Meetings.

One of the hottest issues for members of the CPHVA and the Community Psychiatric Nurses Association (CPNA) is the damage caused to their cars while visiting clinics/health centres or visiting clients and patients at home, whether accidentally or as a result of mindless vandalism.

The questions will focus on how many times have vehicles been vandalised, do employers offer any form of reimbursement, have insurance premiums been raised because cars have been repeatedly damaged while on NHS business and have members lost their 'no claims' bonus.

The CPHVA's Head of Labour Relations Barrie Brown said: 'This is a problem that seems to be getting worse. We want our survey to establish the facts, so we can lobby to ensure that our members receive a fair deal should their cars be damaged while on duty.'

'Unfortunately, we are expecting to hear some real horror stories when our members return their questionnaires. This survey is part of our Deals on Wheels campaign which aims to see that community nurses get better terms and conditions when using their cars.'

 
The seminars will be presented on a partnership basis between management and staff sides and will explore the implications and expectations of the new pay system. The seminars are aimed at chief executives, chairs, non-executive and executive directors as well, of course, at senior HR and staff side representatives. The events are free of charge and the seminars are being run twice on each date at the venues listed below:-

 
8th April       Le Meridien Piccadilly Hotel, 21 Piccadilly, London
11th April      Le Meridien Palace, Oxford Street, Manchester,
14th April      Hyatt Regency Hotel, 2 Bridge Street, Birmingham
16th April      Marriott City Centre Hotel, 2 Lower Street, Bristol
22nd April      Holiday Inn Hotel, Great North Road, Seaton Burn, Newcastle

To book your place please choose between the morning and afternoon session
in the region you would like to attend and return the booking form at the base of this Reps Direct.

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