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Thursday 1st November 2007 at 13:00 in the Assessment Centre Meeting Room, Lothingland
Present:
Ian Talbot, Glyn Reynolds, Tony Buckle and Annette Petty (Notes)
1. Apologies:
Paul Taylor, Liz Potter, Noel Maher, Ron Baker (apologies not received from
Margaret Goddard, Ken Abbott and Wendy Arbon)
2. Notes of the last meeting
Notes from previous meeting held on 12th July could not be agreed as they were
incomplete. However, they did cover updates from the local risk groups who meet
on a regular basis.
It was reported the Patient Assault Reporting Service as used by SMHP are not
following procedures correctly and in many cases not implementing zero
tolerance.
Carbon foot printing update/Report from Tony Buckle.
3.
Matters arising
Hazards at Work – Organising for safe and healthy workplaces
Copies of latest manual forwarded to Liz, Noel, Paul, Ron, and Glyn – copy on
order for Tony Buckle. Discussion took place how the Branch Health & Safety Reps
can assist Risk Management and members to create a healthy workplace – A
campaign to include better instant reporting and getting rid of hazards e.g
slips and trips, Fire Hazards, Pot Holes and Gritting in adverse weather
conditions.
4. SMHP – Trust Health &
Safety/Risk Management Update – Ron Baker
Ron has produced a 6 page report which has been circulated via email – any
comments for January meeting.
5. SPCT – Trust Health &
Safety/Risk Management Update – Tony Buckle
The Adverse Weather Policy is
currently being revised. There is a problem with Suffolk PCT shared premises.
Currently there are seventy five (75) premises within the County including
Health Centres and Community Hospitals all of which are inspected annually by
Tony. Paul Gowen, Risk Manager retired on 31st October (returning 2 days per
week on a 6 month transition contract starting next week). Jo Welton has been
newly appointed as from 1st November as Risk Manager. Tony is currently
undertaking Local Security Management Specialist Training and will become
provider side/commissioning, a job to be revalued under Agenda for Change. Eddie
Cheung, Risk Administrator is leaving on 8th November, there is currently
business support in place 9 hours per week.
Tony has forwarded information via email to Ian
regarding the Needle stick Injury at Newmarket Hospital recently – all OK.
Discussion took place on sharps bins with the main problem being not enough
emphasis on information on what to do if a member of staff has a sharps injury.
Tony will be emailing Sarah Parker, Senior Infection Control Nurse for further
information.
ACTION – Tony
Ian offered to create a workplace poster with needle stick injury guidelines
suggested by Tony.
ACTION - Tony and Ian
Tony to check in SERCO catalogue if clear plastic sharps bins can be purchased
instead of the regular yellow type contents of which can’t be viewed.
Provider of Services HQ at Stow Lodge Centre is overflowing – an investigation
is underway to secure another premises – all provider services will move into
one building (currently one service is based at Rushbrook House).
Rushbrook House car park is being extended and a shuttle bus has been provided
taking staff from the overflow car park just a few hundred metres away to
Rushbrook House as the road is a danger zone for pedestrians.
6. Organising inspections with
SMHP – Problems arising & problems to solve & policy itself
Currently there are problems within SMHP as
union safety inspections in learning disabilities are not being signed off by
local managers. In addition there is an acute communication breakdown with SMHP
which the branch is trying to address together with the Trust. The main problem
is the SMHP H&S Policy which bypassed union input when written is lacking
manager guidance on how to effectively work alongside union safety reps.
There are currently 63 Trust appointed safety reps within SMHP throughout the
county, but the folders provided are deemed as too complicated with two thirds
of the information contained being irrelevant and this initial failure to
understand individual capabilities and given the low level training is doomed
unless corrected. There are also Union H&S reps in addition to the Trust
appointed reps and other amendments are required to accommodate this, but at
present we are unable to negotiate. The Trust quarterly meeting for reps needs
to emphasise the requirement to tackle more common and serious problems e.g.
electrical, slips and trips etc. Further discussion took place and it was agreed
there has been partial breakdown in certain areas between SMHP and unions for
some time over many safety issues.
Within Suffolk PCT Tony reported their Hazard Inspection Forms (3 of) are dealt
with electronically and he is therefore able to monitor whether the managers
have read or actioned them accordingly as Suffolk PCT don’t use the 5 steps
approach on risk assessments. Tony is happy to work with Ian on H&S inspections
etc once his recognition letter has been agreed and put in place. Tony will
email copies of these reports to Ian for information.
ACTION – Tony
7. Organising local safety
rep refresher training
As there were too few reps in attendance at today’s meeting, those present were
unable to identify problems working with management structures.
ACTION – Ian to organise
8. General
Discussions on progress/any problems
Once the local Health & Safety Policy at Lothingland has been sorted out, it
would be good practice for this to be incorporated into the main policy, but at
present this has ground to a halt. In general, there are fair policies and some
good practice out there waiting to be implemented especially from the Union
side. Risk Management/Reps/Safety Assistants within SMHP need to work closer
together. However there are still nagging problems between union Safety Reps
within the Learning Disabilities area with SMHP who have effectively cut out
their important role and service.
9. A.O.B.
19th National Hazards Conference/Hazards Campaign information leaflet received
and being sent to all H&S Reps.
ACTION – Annette
National Ban the Bullying at Work Day – 7th November. Posters have been
distributed Countywide for notice boards.
November is also Security Awareness Month.
Within the smoke free policy there is no reference in lieu of the current
legislation on 1st July this year – the legislation changes in July 2008 and the
law states that in-patients will no longer be able to smoke on NHS property.
National Health & Safety Week – April 2008. Ian will put an article into SMHP
“Trust Matters” and SPCT’s “Punchlines” to highlight this to all staff.
ACTION - Ian
10. Next Meeting
Thursday 10th January 2008, Training Room, Airey Close, Lothingland – apologies
from Tony Buckle (attending local security management specialist training)
There being no further business the meeting closed at 3.30pm
Download the notes:
 Acrobat
PDF version
IT/ADP |
