TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2004 @ 2:00 PM IN THE PICASSO ROOM St CLEMENTS HOSPITAL

      Present:  Jamie Starling, Judith Wilson, Ray Hill, Margarita England, Arthur White, Ian Talbot, Steve Cook, Gordon Morris, Julie Harrison, Julie Cracknell, Philip Bloyce (Chair) and Annette Petty (Minutes)

Apologies:  Kay Dawson, Glyn Reynolds, Cliff Dawson, Paul Taylor, Wendy Arbon, Sandra Smith, David Edginton and Ted Moore

1.   Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting held on 16 December were agreed as a true and accurate record.

2.   Matters Arising

a)   Page 1 2a - Affiliation to Ipswich Labour Party. Ian has received a confirmation email from the Branch Treasurer that the Branch did not affiliate in 2003 and no payment was made. Previous affiliations for 2002 and 2001 have been made in proportion. Gordon to inform John Cook and convey Ian’s apologies. Ian will ensure that the Branch will be affiliated in 2004 (Ian has received forms to complete). The Branch may affiliate to any number of other constituencies within Suffolk – Ian has received a letter from West Suffolk Branch inviting us to affiliate with all other constituencies within the County which will be done. Monies are usually reimbursed through Region as they pay the affiliation fees.

b)   Page 1 2f - Ian has spoken to Margaret Little regarding the closure of Sutton/Priory Wards. To date no details of the proposed withdrawal of clinical services and dates have been given. He is also awaiting Human Resources to organise a date to speak to the staff on these wards - Unison will also be present to speak to the staff. Gordon attended a meeting on 16 January to discuss the proposed closures and will be contacting Chris Chisham -Project Manager for the new building works proposed for St Clement’s Site.

3.   Urgent Correspondence

The 5 interactive CM Roms entitled “Risk Wise” a Teaching Programme for Safety Reps have been received and sent to Judith Wilson, Andy Willcox, Glyn Reynolds, Wendy Arbon and Ray Hill. Annette to order 4 additional CD Roms (For Paul Taylor, Theresa Stone).

4.      Steward/Officer Reports

a)   West Suffolk                                                                                                                                                                                   Philip reported that there will be a reorganisation of the Human Resources Department - a service currently provided by Suffolk Support Services on 1 February 2004. This means that each PCT will have it’s own Human Resources Department and Coastal/Central/Ipswich PCT will have their own Project Manager for Agenda for Change - Suffolk West will have a similar set up. Staff working for LHP will be directly employed rather than under shared services. Avril Wright has been employed as the new Human Resources Director and will be creating a new structure within Human Resources and LHPT. There will also be a re-organisation of H and I Grades including CMHT Managers which will all be at risk - some of the questions already raised include “How will the at risk posts be advertised”. A consultation paper is due out in the near future with more detailed information.

b)  Suffolk Staff Forum                                                                                                                                                                             The staff side forum is moving more towards the PCT than LHP and will become a system wide staff partnership group. The main key issue being dealt with by the forum is Agenda For Change. The early implementer sites are up and running and there will be national negotiations to change and address AfC issues. There will probably be a second ballot in June when changes will be put into place. Regional Office are planning Reps briefings to take place in February - Geoff Reason will be organising the briefings. Gordon questioned the unsocial hours payments - no work has been done on this at present. The AfC Summary Booklet 2003/04 was handed out at the follow-up recruitment drive meeting in the morning.  Annette has received a supply of these booklets and will distribute to those stewards/reps not at the meeting.

c)   Patrick Stead, Halesworth                                                                                                                                                             Arthur reported that the night staff Acting Service Manager is trying to take away staff Bank Holidays - Arthur to obtain further information. Under A4C should Ancillary staff who don’t get double time working Bank Holidays still get days in lieu if they work the Bank Holidays. Both Ian and Philip agreed they should but check out on the Unison website for further information. Arthur successfully concluded a recent member case at Beccles Hospital - the member had been off work for a few months with work related stress only to return to work to find that the workstation/office had been moved and no communication from the Manager. The member consequently took 4 days A/L on their return to work and the matter was resolved at a meeting on 19 January when they received an apology from Human Resources/Service Manager and the 4 days have been re-instated.

d)   SCH                                                                                                                                                                                                Jamie reported that there have been a few complaints from colleagues in reception regarding a staff member whom is having their taxi fares to/from work paid for by the Trust. The Trust has since stopped paying the fares – Jamie to meet with Carol Clarke in Facilities on 26 January to discuss further.  The policy states that the Trust should not pay staff transport arrangements to/from work. He also mentioned that colleague/member (presently off sick for a month) will be going to see Occupational Health before returning to work but according to Carol Clarke she is not going to allow him to return to his post in reception but alternatively, a post will be vacant for him in the post room. Ian/ GORDON? agreed this was unacceptable behaviour and an invasion of member’s privacy rights at work. This matter will also be discussed on 26 January with Carol.

e)   Sudbury CMHT                                                                                                                                                                               Judith Wilson has carried out her 1^st H&S inspection at Sudbury and sent Ian the report. She has spoken to Ian Statchbury at West Suffolk (Service provider for Estates) who is looking to hand back the contract to LHP. David Green has also been informed at LHP. The H&S inspection form will be re-organised to give more space which is required.

f)    Felixstowe Bartlet                                                                                                                                                                             Ray reported that he has been given two motions to take to the Healthcare Conference in Glasgow in April from Regional Council - The NHS Pension and Diagnostic Treatment Centres the information which he read out to the meeting. The meeting agreed that these motions were acceptable - any concerns/comments please send to Ray so he can take them to the pre-meeting before Conference in April. A4C will be a separate item to be debated at National Conference in June.

5.   AOB

a)   Prize Draw                                                                                                                                                                                         The following winners were picked out of the box:-

1^st Prize - Alison Richardson, Patrick Stead - £100 M&S Vouchers

2^nd Prize - Peter Vale Patrick Stead & Nicola Taylor Stowmarket CMHT - £25 M&S Vouchers

3^rd Prize - Sharon Ross, Mental Health Practitioner – Bottle of Champagne

4^th Prize - A Pearc, Hartismere, Val Whating Patrick Stead, Carole Sedman Thingoe House, Mary Cooke Child Health Centre and Stephen Baxter West Suffolk Hospital - £10 M&S Voucher

Annette to send a standard letter to all the winners enclosing their prizes in due course. Ian carried out a detailed analyses of the survey results shown in a table format for the meeting.

b)   Member Status                                                                                                                                                                                  Ian reiterated that before any member is offered help/support/assistance their membership status must be checked first (includes payslip/database/contacting RMS/Annette) as they are personally liable for possible consequences if they are not a member. The 90 day rule (3 months) should also be applied to any non member wishing to join but knowing an existing problem exists which requires representation, must provide a cheque to cover this period for their back subscriptions before help is offered. Ian also stated that social change is often demanding more flexibility from reps and greater support is often required due to increasing complex problems within the workplace which necessitates the role similar to a “social worker” opposed to a straight forward union rep. This situation can be demanding at times and often requires greater flexibility, sensitivity and awareness.

c)   Induction Dates for 2004                                                                                                                                                                Philip to attend the following trust staff induction days starting at 12.15pm and hand out application packs/speak to new staff members for Waveney PCT and are a good recruitment tool for the Branch.

27 January – Garden Room, Patrick Stead Halesworth – Ian/Annette to attend

27 April – Social Hall, Lowestoft Hospital

27 July – Garden Room, Patrick Stead Halesworth

26 October – Social Hall, Lowestoft Hospital

In addition, herewith dates for the West Suffolk trust induction days to be held at the Gibson Centre, Newmarket:-

15 January, 3 March, 20 April, 7 June, 28 July, 13 September, 27 October and 2 December. Philip/Ian to confirm dates they are attending.

Annette to email stewards/reps for urgent help/assistance required (preferably with a nursing background) at Suffolk College on 27 January for the Student Nurse Induction Day - contact Debbie Smith on 01284 772107 ASAP if you can help for further information.

d)   Women’s Conference                                                                                                                                                                     Judith Wilson to attend on 5, 6, & 7 February at Harrogate.

e)   Monthly Branch Reports                                                                                                                                                                     Ian has emailed to all reps/stewards the monthly report to be completed at the end of each month and forwarded to the branch. Annette has sent out hard copies to those not on email. The reports start this month.

f)    Branch AGM Date                                                                                                                                                                               Ian has designed a prototype poster to be sent around the County informing members of our AGM dates. It was decided to hold the AGM’s Week Beginning 15 - 19 March - with sub AGM’s being held during this time. Posters will be sent out to all reps/stewards 4 weeks before the AGM to display in their constituencies. The key issue of the meetings will be Agenda for Change.  Please can reps/stewards let Ian know if they are intending to hold a sub AGM during this week and the venue. Ray agreed to hold The Felixstowe sub AGM on 15 March.

g)   RMS                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Branch will be going live for inputting membership application forms on Monday 2 February -Gordon and Ian to attend. Annette to send out folders to all reps/stewards with the latest information on Foundation Hospitals.

h)   Matt Robinson and Georgia Murray                                                                                                                                                  Matt is undergoing a back operation today in the Ipswich Hospital. Members signed a card wishing him a speedy recovery and have sent him some M&S vouchers. Georgia has broken her ankle and will be off for 6 weeks – the branch will send her a bouquet of flowers to cheer her up.

Date/Time Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 17 February at 2pm (Lunch from 1.15pm) in the Picasso Room, St Clements Hospital. See here for all 2004 branch meeting dates

Any agenda items to be forwarded to Annette a week prior to the meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 3pm.