Investing in our Workforce

Southwark Health and Social Care is almost unique in the depth and manner through which we have integrated our services and support functions. This has led to the creation of an HR strategy that values our staff and outlines two key priorities as we continue to transform services through integration:

• becoming an employer of choice in South East London
• promoting a culture of learning and innovation.

Malcolm Hines, Director of Resource Management, said: “We are as passionate about developing our retention strategy as we are about recruitment and selection of new staff and that is why our two transformational goals focus on areas that will have the most impact on this important area.”

Highlights of the year

• the PCT has achieved Improving Working Lives Practice Plus accreditation, demonstrating the value of our workforce and promoting wellbeing initiatives to support staff balance work and life. Similar initiatives, including Investors in People accreditation, have been developed across social care services
• the PCT transferred 1,000 staff across to the new NHS pay structure, Agenda for Change, which means our staff are attracting the same terms and conditions and benefits of employment as staff in the rest of the country
• across Southwark Health and Social Care we invest in staff care and talent management initiatives as part of our retention strategy
• we have introduced innovative recruitment practices and a strategy to reduce dependence on agency staff and are seeking to stabilise vacancy levels at around 10 per cent
• we are promoting employee health and wellbeing initiatives in collaboration with the occupational health team and plan to maximise attendance and reduce sickness absence levels by 10 per cent over the next 12 months
• we are working jointly on succession planning initiatives in order to develop candidates for management positions from under-represented groups in the workforce
• we are introducing joint work with the national Breaking Through programme run by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement to develop Black and Minority Ethnic staff into senior leadership roles
• we are investing in coaching and management development, initially focusing on those managing integrated teams
• we have maintained and reaffirmed our commitment to good practice in employing disabled people and received the Employment Service’s Disability Symbol
• a review of support services’ structures and systems is underway to ensure they are fit for purpose and value for money. Electronic staff records, employee self service and other e-based solutions will bring about further efficiencies and cost savings.

For further information, please contact Susan Shah, 020 7525 3866 susan.shah@southwark.gov.uk or Lynn Demeda, 020 7525 0419 lynn.demeda@nhs.net