Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 06 May 2024 at 18:05
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by Kate Vaughton, Deputy CEO and Director of Integration, and Hein Scheffer, Director of Strategy, Culture and Education.
Introduction from Kate
Starts @ 00:10
Ends @ 12:10
Introduction from Hein
Starts @ 12:41
Ends @ 16:42
Questions
Q1 - Could you explain the reasoning behind 'Floor targets' for sector manning levels please?
Starts @ 17:15
Ends @ 18:01
Q2 – Hi, thank you for your time. I just wondered if there is any update on the Senior EMT agreement please?
Starts @ 18:03
Ends @ 18:32
Additional information - The OCE team are meeting with People Services next week to confirm the update regarding the Senior EMT agreement, which we will look to subsequently share via NTK and with the recording of this week’s Q&A.
Q3 - I love working at the Trust but am very demotivated with Time to Lead. I am currently in a secondment in operational management, but it’s so disheartening to keep getting extended, yet not able to be part of any process to secure a perm role. What is the point in continuing to drive change, deliver performance only to be dumped at the end of TTL? I am not alone in this position.
Starts @ 18:35
Ends @ 20:41
Q4 - It has been asked many times before, but why are the Trust treating Support Services like the poorest relation? It is so great to see investment in Ops and then EOC following, but I cannot continue to lead my team, so that the Trust meet its regulatory responsibilities without larger investment in staffing. Every year I submit to budget setting, and it's always rejected. Perhaps the CQC would be interested to know that we are not investing in the services that have regulatory responsibility? It is so inconsistent when Hein's directorate has seen such vast growth and I can’t even get a couple more band 7s and admin support... I give up.
Starts @ 20:51
Ends @ 22:43
Q5 - I have recently seen that you are now offering duel rolling between the road and ECAT, splitting time between the two. Would this option be available, if trained, between the road and dispatch?
Starts @ 22:44
Ends @ 23:51
Q6 - Is there any opportunities to join the cycle response team? We know the team exists, but no one seems to know how to find out more about it.
Starts @ 23:54
Ends @ 25:08
Q7 – Good afternoon, asking on behalf of some A-EMTs, please could there be some clarification on why some are not part of the NHS pay rise? Surely those on a % of a band that has seen an increase should see a proportional increase? Thanks.
Starts @ 25:11
Ends @ 26:02
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - Whilst this is a contentious issue across the NHS, the national guidance is that the increment is only for non-apprentices. I will however check this with People Services for clarification.
Q8 - There's a Planning and Resourcing group looking at centralised rostering. How on earth does this working group not include any Sector Resource Planning Managers or Locality Administrators who are subject matter experts? Sadly, those involved in changing the way in which we work lack fundamental understanding.
Starts @ 26:03
Ends @ 27:11
Q9 - Do we have any further information with regards to staff who are unable to use FIATs, do we have a date of when the new Ambulances are due? The lack of communication with regards to this long ongoing issue.
Starts @ 27:14
Ends @ 28:38
Q10 - I appreciate Time to Lead is very unsettling for operational colleagues, but as recruitment has been frozen for B8> across the trust, managers within support services are now potentially losing progression opportunities, or vacancies are being halted due to this. It’s frustrating as its continually mentioned that we aren't affected as a support service, yet we are.
Starts @ 28:41
Ends @ 29:59
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - This freeze is temporary just to make sure that we do not recruit to posts that may be impacted by TtL.
Q11 - Why are we seeing problems with Fleet availability recently, crews being sent home as no vehicles to go on, spare vehicles being sent from end of the patch to the other, double crews on RRVs etc. Linked to the support staff question earlier, are we in danger of focusing too much in the wrong area?
Starts @ 30:01
Ends @ 32:12
Q12 - What is the trust actually doing about the Norfolk and Norwich hospital?
Starts @ 32:17
Ends @ 34:36
Q13 - There is a continuing trend of crews been sent out of area after their meal break and this normally leads to late finishes with extended return journey time. Other Trusts seem to manage this by not sending crews out of area after their break. This change would massively improve morale by not finishing out of area late.
Starts @ 34:38
Ends @ 35:48
Q14 – Regarding cycle response, we have several towns and cities this would be hugely beneficial. We really do need to grow this like other services and grow it further. We discussed using this in a tender for a contract, but it is so unheard of in the Trust.
Starts @ 35:51
Ends @ 36:43
Q15 - Thank you so much to the team for adding shorts and baseball hats to the uniform portal! Can't wait to get my knees out and keep cool/shaded.
Starts @ 36:47
Ends @ 37:16
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - This has been a great change and looks cool indeed.
Q16 - What are the Trust doing about the Norfolk and Norwich hospital? They are currently using our ambulances as a waiting room with patient with next to no acuity such as a simple fracture. They make ambulance crews take them through pit stop then to X-rays/CT and then to the waiting room which can take over 1 1/2 hours. This is a hospital porters’ job. while we are waiting there are multiple high priority calls being called out the Norfolk and Norwich really need to be target by the management of the Trust as currently they are taking the mick out of the Trust and crews.
Starts @ 37:18
Ends @ 39:21
Q17 - If 8b roles are frozen due to TtL, why are the band 7 resus officer jobs open? Surely there should be a freeze on all roles band 7 and above.
Starts @ 39:23
Ends @ 40:04
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - The resus officer training posts falls outside of scope of TtL.
Q18 - I've seen the recent advert for HEMS paramedic with EHAAT and wondered why it wasn't open to nurses as well when we've been employing them in the Trust for more than three years? It seems a shame at a time when the Trust is welcoming other health care professionals and recognising their value.
Starts @ 40:13
Ends @ 41:54
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - I think a good question but understand that HEMS run their own recruitment processes. I would agree a shame, as MDTs enrich the overall workforce.
Q19 – On behalf of A-EMTs and message at the bottom of the payslip, please can you clarify why some apprentices who are on a % of a band that has seen a pay rise have not seen a pay rise themselves. Thanks.
Starts @ 41:59
Ends @ 42:28
Additional information - Hi Emma, the team are currently looking into the pay deal and those affected by certain nuances within contracts, we are working through these types of queries and will send your query onto the People Services team to review as part of that.
Q20 - Really looking forward to the Trust awards. Are all of the Exec team going to be there to acknowledge the staff?
Starts @ 42:30
Ends @ 42:59
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - We will be in attendance and am looking forward to celebrating our people’s achievements.
Q21 - When will a decision be made about EMTs and moving to band 5? The last NTK post was in February, we now do not know whether we can expect to progress to band 5 12 months post qualification and whether our band 5 will also be back dated due to delays caused by the apprenticeships being cancelled. We don't seem to be getting answers from anyone!
Starts @ 43:00
Ends @ 43:40
Additional information - Hi, the OCE team will be meeting with the people services team next week to confirm the next steps with the SEMT agreement, and further communication will be sent out via NTK and shared with the recording of this Q&A. We do apologise about the delay in response to these queries.
Q22 - Are the coronation medals coming soon - I saw them being worn in London by the forces. Would like to receive it... any update please?
Starts @ 43:44
Ends @ 44:23
Additional information - Hi - The coronation medals were initially only given to staff that attended the Coronation event in London. This has now been changed and they will be offered to more NHS staff. We are waiting for the Department of Health to provide the details for ordering. We are now part of the National Task and Finish Group - will update as soon as we hear more. Thanks.
Q23 - Good afternoon, are all staff invited to attend the Time to Lead briefings please? Yesterday's update said that only 'frontline operations' could sign up, but I think it would be helpful for the wider team to understand the proposed changes and how they could affect/enhance our work? Thank you.
Starts @ 44:31
Ends @ 45:22
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - The pre-consultation engagement phase is currently with affected staff only, to make sure that we get early feedback on the draft thinking with those that are most likely to be affected in the first instance.
Q24 - Why are we not using the 45-minute drop at the Norfolk and Norwich? This would solve a lot of problem with almost immediate effect.
Starts @ 45:24
Ends @ 46:12
Q25 - We have well established Cycle Response Units across Norfolk and Waveney - they're effective, AND carbon neutral (..well mostly)!
Starts @ 46:13
Ends @ 46:24
Q26 - Re the shorts that are being offered. We have been told locally that as these are ordered from special wear and not the new portal my locality will not be ordering these. Can we have some consistency around this please or maybe comms to locality AGMs to advise them what to do!
Starts @ 46:26
Ends @ 47:15
Additional information - The procurement team are linking with the communications teams to publish the process for ordering, and we can expect this to be shared in the next week. We can confirm that these can be ordered and have been added to the current catalogue to pre-order.
Q27 - Hi Hein, may I ask which directorate the resus officers will be under? Will they work in Ops and be aligned to a sector, what accountability will they have in the sector? ECS for example? Vital role to bring us in line with other NHS partner organisations but would be interested to hear how they are going to be integrated and what the scope of their role is. We have had a lot of consultancy roles recently introduced but really need some actual doers. Thank you.
Starts @ 47:24
Ends @ 48:12
Additional information - It is intended that they will form part of the Training and Education team, whilst working across the sectors. The scope of role is set out in the JD's but happy to have a discussion if you are happy to contact me or Ant and/or Alisdair.
Q28 - Can we have some clarity in regard to the scope of practice policy. In WHERTS & SHERTS EMTs and Student paramedics are told there is a ban on staffing those grades on a RRV and is a refusal for familiarisation. Only band 6+ are allowed to staff RRVs. Where other areas are allowing lower grades of staff RRVs. We are one Trust we should follow one rule and operationally why is this happening? The general feel is that if band 4 and band cannot staff a RRVs because of the types of jobs they go to, why are we allowed to be with a non-clinical driver on a DSA attending the same type of job? Can this be remedied ASAP?
Starts @ 48:13
Ends @ 49:24
Q29 - When these conversations are had locally there is a point blank no response. Can this be reaffirmed to the local areas that techs can work on RRVS?
Starts @ 49:28
Ends @ 49:47
Additional information - Re the RRV question this has been discussed previously at these Q&As. It is within the current policy frameworks for EMTs and Paras (NQP +6months) to work on RRVs. Everyone who is interested should be receiving familiarisation training.
Q30 - We are seeing an increase in our unqualified staff, which is great, however some of us on pathways are not gaining sufficient paramedic hours because of the new unqualified rule, can we please have some more support for students? It is so frustrating not being able to work with a paramedic and upskill, yet I’m expected to qualify and be a confident and competent clinician.
Starts @ 49:48
Ends @ 50:27
Additional information - Thanks for your point, I would really value some additional information, if you are willing to write to me directly, as I am very keen to improve our learner experience and am happy to explore this with operations.
Close from Kate
Starts @ 50:28
Ends @ 51:23
You can catch up on previous We Are EEAST Briefings on our Archive page. You can also catch up on Local Manager's Briefings here.
Published 3rd July 2023