Improving Working Lives

IN THIS SECTION

• Current Vacancies
• Benefits of Working for Us
• Training and Development
• Library and IT Facilities
• Volunteers
• Work Experience
• Improving Working Lives
• Investors in People

This standard is a blueprint by which NHS employers and staff can measure the management of human resources. Organisations are kite-marked against their ability to demonstrate a commitment to improving the working lives of their employees.

What we have achieved?

To date the Trust has achieved a number of key initiatives, such as:

• The introduction of ‘Feedback Zone’ on the intranet system

• Staff suggestion scheme

• Out of hours catering

• Disability awareness and harassment training

• Cash machine on site

• Childcare subsidies

• Slimming World classes

• Healthy Hospital campaigns

• Staff counsellors

What does it mean for staff?

The Trust already has a range of policies, such as:

• Special needs leave

• Maternity and parental leave.

Work still continues on flexible working, carer leave and other family friendly policies. All of these should work for you and improve the quality of your working life.

The Trust is committed to the further development of policies and staff benefits that can contribute to improving the quality of working life at the Trust.

What is happening here?

Improving the quality of working life for all NHS staff is one of the Government’s key strategic aims and it is vital in delivering the HR in the NHS Plan. There is a national improving working lives audit instrument, which sets out the standards that Trusts must achieve by certain key dates.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust achieved Practice status in September 2002. In October 2003, the Trust was selected as one of ten national pilot sites to test out the national audit instrument designed to assess NHS organisations against the standards of Practice Plus. In February 2004 Practice Plus status was achieved. The validation team was made up of colleagues from other Trusts and included trade union representatives as well as managers and HR professionals. The team carried out the validation process in January 2004.

Contact us

The Trust has a working group which meets on a regular basis. If you want to make any suggestions, comments or simply want more information you can contact Marie McCombe, Improving Working Lives Lead on 0161 419 5456.