Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 05 May 2024 at 20:52
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by our Chief Executive Tom Abell.
Tom was joined by Professor Rosalynd Jowett and Tom Burton, Strategic Planning Director to give an update on education and training.
Training and Education Questions
Q1 - Can I ask what is the official policy for protected mentoring time during a shift? It always seems to be a struggle to get this officially, so time is carved out through other means where possible, i.e., delay clearing on scene.
Q2 - Will the Trust recognise any external qualifications attained by staff on their own initiative. For example, a MSc in advance Paramedic practice or advanced airway courses.
Q3 - Going forward will EEAST continue to expect learners to complete repetitive and unreasonably lengthy portfolios in their own unpaid time?
Q4 - Hi. How do we propose to use this opportunity to adopt modern learner approaches, whilst keeping the practical/mentored methodology that adds richness to the educational experience? Clinical Supervision of the right quality. Donald Schon stuff.
Q5 - Will EEAST allow current staff members the opportunity to complete placement hours whilst doing an upskill course privately? For example, EMT to Para with a company other than MediPro.
Q6 - Rapid Response offer paramedics £57,000pa, Medi 4 are advertising for paramedics at £64,584. What are EEAST offering to attract new staff and retain experienced ones?
Q7 - Hi there, as Ros is aware I have been trying to forge closer links between Research & Training for a couple of years. With extremely limited resources it has proved very difficult to progress. Welcome some fresh ideas/greater Trust focus on this.
Q8 - Is it correct that apprenticeships should NOT involve staff completing work in their own time? Including apprentices in our patient facing hours means apprentices will always need to do extensive homework. Where is the welfare consideration for appropriate 'down time'?
Additional information - The email address for the Learner Voice is Learner.Voice@eastamb.nhs.uk.
Q9 - As part of the new Strategy Roz has mentioned, will there be an inclusion of CPD hours/days for all colleagues or will it solely be for clinical education only?
Q10 - Why are apprentices still being rostered with non-clinical drivers in order to fulfil ITV roles - this is surely unsafe and unethical?
Q11 - With respect, it’s all very well talking about advanced practice and education but this organisation has, through its conscious decisions relating to operational deployment models, prevented advanced practitioners from practicing those very skills they worked long and hard to obtain through education. Not surprisingly many advanced paramedics no longer feel this organisation is a particular progressive place to work. How do you plan to address these issues and maintain currency of practice for advanced clinicians please? I have tried to obtain answers to this question for months and have got nowhere. Thank you.
Tom Abell Questions
Q1 - Given that today is Time to Talk Day and that, again, we have recently been deeply affected by the sudden death of another male member of staff, and that we have a significant number of male staff off with stress, male related cancers and other difficulties, isn't it about time that the Trust revisited its decision to exclude a male support group from its focus groups. Please allow equality through the workforce and allow us a voice and a safe place to raise our issues.
Q2 - A number of weeks ago Tom mentioned the COHORT project on one of these weekly Q&A sessions. Where are we with the role out of this?
Q3 - Can I ask that we cease the policy of mandatory wearing masks in the cabs of DSAs immediately, most staff socialise without ppe now..obviously pt contact still requires masks as appropriate.
Q4 - I listened to the podcast it was really good thanks; please can we have lots more.
Q5 - Would the Trust consider to supply Wi-Fi to stations for all staff to use? The network is there on most stations, but staff aren’t able to use it on their own phones etc. Most NHS Trusts allow staff to use the Wi-Fi and even the public can log in, could the Trust consider this please?
Q6 - When the new rotas are finalized, can we have a better handover period in AOC so we can have a proper handover of any news changes to policies before the previous shift ends. As it's become custom that Call Handlers are left to read policy emails and make sense of it on your own when sometimes they need explaining. We have been lacking 1-1s since last year and they aren't often enough with constant changes being made.
Q7 - What plans do EEAST have to issue EPCR iPads to bank staff members?
Q8 - Is there potential to provide staff the opportunity to complete CPD in work time or via abstractions, rather than having to complete it in our own time and reducing our time away from work.
Published 7th February 2021