Employment Relations Update (work in progress, successes, challenges and opportunities) Learning Reps Conference January 2009 Josie Irwin Head of Employment Relations

Theory ….. u People who feel positive about their working environment are more likely to work efficiently and effectively u Unhealthy working environments cause alienation and often drive staff away u There is a relationship between staff and patient experience

In practice ….. Employment Survey 2007 u An ageing workforce - average age of a nurse in 1987 was 33, now 42 u 87% think they are poorly paid compared with other professions u 4 out of 5 said workload too heavy u 26% have a second job u 58% work more than contracted hours u 55% feel they are too busy to give the kind of care they’d like

More reality 2007 NHS staff survey (England) u Job satisfaction high 75% but only 39% happy with the recognition they get and 22% saying effective comms between mgt & staff u Promotion of hand-washing facilities up 82% - 70 % 2005 u Fewer staff working more than contracted hours 66% - 71% 2005 u 33% had work related stress - 36% 2005 u 13% had experienced violence from patients or relatives, 12% 2005

& more reality ….. u Relationship between patient & staff experience 1. Respect & dignity? + managerial support, avail hand-washing materials – extra hours – work related stress 2. Cleanliness? + managerial support, reporting errors, avail hand-washing, h/s training – extra hours, stress, harassment 3. Overall? + managerial support, hand-wash - h/s training – extra hours

Work in progress u Non-pay elements of the 3 year deal u Evidence to the Review Body for 2010 u Staff Council –USH & annual leave –On-call –Mileage –Pensions u Needlestick & sharps injuries u Workplace stress u Support for reps

Successes u Negotiations/lobbying/campaigning UK –3 year pay deal –Violence, lone worker safety u Lobbying in Europe –Needlestick and sharps injuries –Working Time Directive –Workforce planning u Working with employers –Partnership u Profile for prevention –RCN Work Related Violence Risk Assessment Toolkit –Working with Care –Stress standards

Challenges u Pressures on public sector spending u Pensions – Choice exercise u NHS Staff Council – profile and role u Fragmentation - devolved administrations, foundation trusts u Plural provision of NHS Services u Independent Safeguarding Authority

Opportunities u Strengthen NHS Staff Council role –Embed KSF –Strengthen and develop health & wellbeing at work u Review Body submission in Autumn u Campaign for facilities agreement u Europe – needlestick negotiations u Robust pay & protection for staff transferring out of the NHS Quality workplaces = quality patient care