1 Partnership WorkingPartnership Working in Scotland has continued to develop during the past 12 months through the Scottish Partnership Forum, the Area Partnership Forums (which cover NHS Boards) and the Local or Trust Partnership Forums. Amicus MSF has representatives on all these Forums and holds the leading positions in a number of them. Below this formal structure there is continuing progress in developing partnership working at every level in order to ensure that decisions about the future of services in Scotland are taken on a joint basis. The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) has issued 8 Partnership Information Guidelines namely: Management of Employee Capability Family Friendly Policies e.g. Parental Leave Policy Dealing with Employee Concerns Dignity at Work Personal Planning Development and Review Management of Employee Conduct Facility Arrangements Equal Opportunity Policies And these have been endorsed by the Minister for Health and Community Care as being mandatory minimum standards for NHSScotland. There are also further PIN Guidelines in development which will eventually encompass the entire HR agenda. All the Guidelines are available on: www.show.scot.nhs.uk/spf
Partnership Working in Scotland has continued to develop during the past 12 months through the Scottish Partnership Forum, the Area Partnership Forums (which cover NHS Boards) and the Local or Trust Partnership Forums. Amicus MSF has representatives on all these Forums and holds the leading positions in a number of them. Below this formal structure there is continuing progress in developing partnership working at every level in order to ensure that decisions about the future of services in Scotland are taken on a joint basis. The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) has issued 8 Partnership Information Guidelines namely:
2 Staff Governance StandardThis Standard was published in February 2002 and is the basis for the future development of partnership working in Scotland. It sets out the criteria by which the NHS as a whole moves to becoming an exemplar employer and the 5 key standards are that all 135,000 staff in the Scottish NHS should be
This Standard was published in February 2002 and is the basis for the future development of partnership working in Scotland. It sets out the criteria by which the NHS as a whole moves to becoming an exemplar employer and the 5 key standards are that all 135,000 staff in the Scottish NHS should be
The principles of Staff Governance have now been included with Clinical and Financial Governance and have been incorporated into a Performance Assessment Framework which forms part of the annual and accountability reviews between the Service and the Health Department. For the first time this year NHS Boards and Trusts will therefore be assessed on the implementation of Staff Governance and that assessment will itself be based on a benchmark provided by an annual survey of all staff. It is hoped that the result will be a step change in ensuring that partnership and staff governance is delivered across the Service.
3 Employee DirectorsA major feature in the development of partnership across Scotland in the past year has been the appointment of Employee Directors by the Minister for Health. The Staff-Side Chairs of all 15 Area Partnership Forums in Scotland were automatically appointed as Employee Directors last October and will be responsible for ensuring that employees' interests are taken into account at the heart of decision making within the Service and that Partnership is championed throughout the various stages of service delivery. Amicus MSF Representatives were successful in being appointed to 3 positions as Employee Director and they are Bill Goudie in Greater Glasgow, Hugh Sweeney in Lanarkshire and Robert Stillie in Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. Amicus AEEU also saw their local representative, John Thomson appointed in Tayside.
A major feature in the development of partnership across Scotland in the past year has been the appointment of Employee Directors by the Minister for Health. The Staff-Side Chairs of all 15 Area Partnership Forums in Scotland were automatically appointed as Employee Directors last October and will be responsible for ensuring that employees' interests are taken into account at the heart of decision making within the Service and that Partnership is championed throughout the various stages of service delivery. Amicus MSF Representatives were successful in being appointed to 3 positions as Employee Director and they are Bill Goudie in Greater Glasgow, Hugh Sweeney in Lanarkshire and Robert Stillie in Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. Amicus AEEU also saw their local representative, John Thomson appointed in Tayside.
4 NHS BoardsThe Service in Scotland underwent a radical change last October with the introduction of unified Boards in the 15 areas and the move towards involving the Trusts in Scotland, as well as the local authorities, in the process of improving healthcare. In two areas of Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway and Borders, that process of unification will be facilitated in October of this year by the dissolution of the Acute and Primary Care Trusts. Scotland is clearly moving away from the last vestiges of the internal market and towards a much more team-based approach to the provision of a quality Health Service across all 15 systems.
The Service in Scotland underwent a radical change last October with the introduction of unified Boards in the 15 areas and the move towards involving the Trusts in Scotland, as well as the local authorities, in the process of improving healthcare. In two areas of Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway and Borders, that process of unification will be facilitated in October of this year by the dissolution of the Acute and Primary Care Trusts. Scotland is clearly moving away from the last vestiges of the internal market and towards a much more team-based approach to the provision of a quality Health Service across all 15 systems.
5 NHS ReviewThere is a further major review of management and decision making currently taking place in Scotland and the Health Department have set up a series of project groups to take a radical look at the Service over the next 12 months. Trade Union Representation on those groups is through the Scottish Partnership Forum. Michael Fuller as Joint Chair of the SPF, is a member of the Project Board that will pull the work together before publication. The Government have also announced that there will be a White Paper issued on the NHS later this year which will deal with the investment of public health measures of the large sums of money provided by the recent UK budget.
There is a further major review of management and decision making currently taking place in Scotland and the Health Department have set up a series of project groups to take a radical look at the Service over the next 12 months. Trade Union Representation on those groups is through the Scottish Partnership Forum. Michael Fuller as Joint Chair of the SPF, is a member of the Project Board that will pull the work together before publication. The Government have also announced that there will be a White Paper issued on the NHS later this year which will deal with the investment of public health measures of the large sums of money provided by the recent UK budget.
6 Agenda for ChangeThe Scottish Pay Reference and Information Group (SPRIG) has continued to monitor and evaluated the discussions taken place at UK level and has set up separate sub-groups to look at the Knowledge and Skills Framework, the new conditions of service handbook, and communications. SPRIG has already advised the Minister that there should be no early implementers in Scotland - which the Minister has accepted - and that there is a real concern about the limit on protection under Agenda for Change which contrasts poorly with the life long protection that is given to all NHS employees in Scotland as a result of the SPF policy. A one day training school has already been held for representatives on Agenda for Change and a number of meetings have been arranged in areas such as Glasgow, Grampian and Dumfries to bring our members up-to-date with progress. A calendar of meetings is being arranged for the Autumn once the full package has been published.
The Scottish Pay Reference and Information Group (SPRIG) has continued to monitor and evaluated the discussions taken place at UK level and has set up separate sub-groups to look at the Knowledge and Skills Framework, the new conditions of service handbook, and communications. SPRIG has already advised the Minister that there should be no early implementers in Scotland - which the Minister has accepted - and that there is a real concern about the limit on protection under Agenda for Change which contrasts poorly with the life long protection that is given to all NHS employees in Scotland as a result of the SPF policy. A one day training school has already been held for representatives on Agenda for Change and a number of meetings have been arranged in areas such as Glasgow, Grampian and Dumfries to bring our members up-to-date with progress. A calendar of meetings is being arranged for the Autumn once the full package has been published.
7 Health Care International now the Scottish National Waiting Times CentreThe Scottish Government has recently announced the purchase of the hospital and hotel owned by Health Care International in Clydebank. It has now been brought into NHSScotland and will be used as a facility to assist in the reduction in the waiting list and waiting times across a range of operations. Discussions are currently taking place with respect of the transfer of HCI staff to the NHS and the harmonisation of terms and conditions of employment.
The Scottish Government has recently announced the purchase of the hospital and hotel owned by Health Care International in Clydebank. It has now been brought into NHSScotland and will be used as a facility to assist in the reduction in the waiting list and waiting times across a range of operations. Discussions are currently taking place with respect of the transfer of HCI staff to the NHS and the harmonisation of terms and conditions of employment.
8 Organisation and RecruitmentAmicus MSF in Scotland continues to operate through the Scottish NHS Committee with sub-regional committees meeting in the West, East and North of Scotland as and when required. Sectional meetings are held for Speech & Language Therapists, Clinical Psychologists and the CPHVA, Health Care Chaplains and the CPNA. Recruitment continues to keep a pace with Scotland's total membership second only to London in numerical terms and the fastest growing region so far this year in percentage terms. Currently 397 from January to July. Bill Goudie Chair, Scottish NHS Committee September 2002 back to top
Amicus MSF in Scotland continues to operate through the Scottish NHS Committee with sub-regional committees meeting in the West, East and North of Scotland as and when required. Sectional meetings are held for Speech & Language Therapists, Clinical Psychologists and the CPHVA, Health Care Chaplains and the CPNA. Recruitment continues to keep a pace with Scotland's total membership second only to London in numerical terms and the fastest growing region so far this year in percentage terms. Currently 397 from January to July.
Bill Goudie
Chair, Scottish NHS Committee
September 2002