Dear Colleagues

It was great to see so many of you at the Annual Conference a few weeks ago. I was particularly excited to hear the ‘buzz’ in the room as we connected once again with each other. I certainly felt it was a really valuable 24 hours as we were inspired by our brilliant speakers and had opportunity to reflect how their various subject areas would impact and enhance our practice locally. For those of you who promised to send various documents or case studies for wider sharing across the Network, please do send to hilary.winch@nnuh.nhs.uk or admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk

The Network leadership team will review the evaluations to help in the planning for further events, so thank you to those who took the time to complete this at the end of the day. For those who were unable to join us, the presentations are on the website (see item 1) and well worth reviewing as there is some great shared knowledge and practice. I touched briefly at the conference that the NHS England Year 1: ‘Look back, look forward’ Growing OHWB together report will be published soon and we hope to arrange a webinar to share the great progress being made. 

I am sure many of you are already involved in the annul flu and COVID boosters again this year, and that this will be adding significantly to your work demand. Remember the importance of your own self-care as you endeavour to protect others within the workforce. 

Best wishes

Hilary Winch

Chair, NHS Health at Work Network

In this edition:

1. Network Annual Conference in Action

2. On-line Resources for Network Members

3. OH in Action: Case Study

4. OH Qualifications and Titles

5. Tackling Scotland’s Workplace Ill-Health Crisis

Advertorial – Greys Specialist Recruitment

6. In-House International Recruitment and OH

7. BSI’s ‘Lifting the Second Glass Ceiling’ Report

8. ACPOHE Research Café Webinar

9. MoHaWK

10. Courses and Resources

1.    Network Annual Conference in Action

It was great to see so many of you at our Annual Conference a few weeks ago. We had some brilliant speakers – you can access their presentation slide decks here

2.    On-line Resources for Network Members

The Network is creating a suite of resources for members only, to aid good practice, both clinically and administratively. The new OH Guidance section on our website is available to Network members here. Check out our recently launched immunisation section, including the good practice template – ‘Immunisations – Healthcare Workers’. 

Shared Practice documents. This month we would love to have examples of pre-placement health questionnaires as well as any SLAs that you have with your host Trust (you can take out Trust references if more comfortable). Please send any documents you are happy to share more widely with Network members, to admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk

3.    OH in Action: Case Study

OHWB and workforce data in the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust identified a steady rise in the number of female staff being referred to OHWB services with menopausal symptoms. In extreme cases, female staff were also leaving the workforce in their 40s and 50s, citing that they were unable to manage and continue to work while in menopause. With 40% of the trust’s female workforce over 50 years of age, the impact on staff retention and ability to work was a significant issue. Read the full case study here.

4.    OH Qualifications and Titles

The Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing and the National School of Occupational Health have produced a joint statement to clarify knowledge and experience of occupational health nurse education, and to explore which qualifications, supported by experience and understanding, bestow speciality and non-speciality status. 

5.    Tackling Scotland’s Workplace Ill-Health Crisis

This report by the British Occupational Hygiene Society, the Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection, highlights the challenges Scotland faces and the affordable, achievable and immediate steps the Scottish Government can take to make a long-lasting and positive impact on the health of the nation, reduce the burden on the public purse and improve economic performance. 

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6.    In-House International Recruitment and OH

Read the blog by Hilary Winch, our Network Chair, who explains how moving international recruitment in-house has impacted on occupational health.

7.    BSI’s ‘Lifting the Second Glass Ceiling’ Report

Lifting the Second Glass Ceiling explores why women around the world are leaving the workforce early and not necessarily out of personal preference. It looks at the factors driving this and the potential benefits to individuals, organisations and society as a whole that can be realised if women are supported to remain in the workforce for longer.

8.    ACPOHE Research Cafe Webinar

ACPOHE are holding a free webinar on 17 October, 12.00 – 13.00, looking at new publications relevant to OH physios. Registration is now open and all details can be found here.

9.    MoHaWK: Round 23 Is Underway!

It’s good to see that so many of the NHS Network member organisations have signed up to MoHaWK in their annual subscription to help and support your quality improvement journey. Round 23 opened on 1st July 2023 for data input. As per previous rounds, it will be left open until the commencement of the following round so it will remain open until 31^st December 2023. The briefing notes for Round 23 are here. If you have any specific queries then do make contact via hilary.winch@nnuh.nhs.uk

10. Courses and Resources

2023 NHS Check Mental Health Conference featuring Professor Neil Greenberg, is being held on 4 December in central London. More details here.

Case-UK, in collaboration with Health 2 Employment and Red Dot 365 are working on a research project supported by Innovate UK and the Department of Work and Pensions, looking at increasing capacity and access to occupational health via a smart digital provision. OH providers can participate in the survey here.There are also separate surveys for employees and one for employers/organisations/self-employed.

People with disabilities could be given "more support" to work from home, under plans announced by the government. Read the BBC news report here.

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The NHS Health at Work Network brings together all OH teams providing health and wellbeing services to NHS OH staff.  It is dedicated to providing consistent, high quality health at work services to all NHS staff through collaborative working.

Members of OH teams in NHS Health at Work Network member organisations can receive the bulletin and access the restricted areas of the website as a membership benefit – if you are not sure of your login details email admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk  

Please share this bulletin with colleagues and encourage them to register to receive it regularly.  Non-Network members can also register to receive the monthly bulletin here.

You can contact the Network through your regional representative or as shown below.  Please get in touch if you have any queries or comments, if there is anything you would like to see in future issues of the bulletin, or if you have news to share.

Hilary Winch, Chair                                                  hilary.winch@nnuh.nhs.uk

Andrew Gilbey, General Manager                       admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk  

Postal address: NHS Health at Work, PO Box 857, York YO31 6FR