Tuesday 31st May 2005 at 2pm
Monet Room, St Clements Hospital, Ipswich

      Present:  Mark Hillis, Arthur White, Ray Hill, Wendy Arbon, Paul Taylor, Steve Cook, John Edwards and Annette Petty (Notes)

      Apologies:  David Edginton, Margaret Goddard, Lin Brereton, Cliff Dawson, Julie Hammett, Ian Talbot and Philip Bloyce

1.   Minutes of the last meeting

     The minutes of the previous meeting held on 19th April were agreed as a true and accurate record.

2.   Matters Arising

a)   Page 1                                                                                                                                                                                          Bridge House - Ian to meet with Chief Executive on 29th June to discuss Bridge House et al.

b)   Page 2.f                                                                                                                                                                                             Ian has received confirmation from Payroll at Thingoe House in respect of the 100 members transferring into the Branch. Geoff Reason at Regional Office is aware of transfer membership difficulties between West Suffolk and our branch. Ian will give an update at the next meeting.
Action - Ian Talbot

c)   Page 2. 3                                                                                                                                                                                    Annette awaiting Reps Contact List from Ian before sending out letters to reps informing them that their post has now lapsed. This should be completed by the next meeting.

d)   Page 2. 4a                                                                                                                                                                                    Bartlet Hospital Felixstowe - Languard Ward is still closed. Ken to update the committee at next meeting.
Action - Ken Abbott                                                                                                                                                                     Meeting date/time to be arranged by Philip at Felixstowe hospitals to speak with staff/Ken/Julie deferred to the next meeting.
Action - Philip Bloyce

e)   Page 3. 4b                                                                                                                                                                                    Patrick Stead/Beccles - The Joint Staff Forum on 16th May was cancelled by Waveney PCT and the next JSF is now to be held on 21st June (Arthur to attend). Community Hospital Review will be carried out at a later date.

f)    Page 3. 4c                                                                                                                                                                                          SMHP NHS Trust management are concerned following recent disciplinary action against a member as they may claim constructive dismissal. Steve has spoken with the Deputy Director of HR, Jan Togher as the member’s line manager is presently on sick leave. The case is on hold for the present time.
Bridge House members matters are ongoing and on hold at present.

g)   Page 3. 4d                                                                                                                                                                                         The East System Forum for the three PCT’s, Central, Coastal and Ipswich, met on 22nd April. Unfortunately, no one who attended that meeting is present today, so this item and been deferred until the next month.    

h)   Page 3. 4e                                                                                                                                                                                         We are still waiting for a date for Philip to meet with Ian and Gary Theobold from the East Suffolk PCT’s, to discuss the Integrated Management Structure. As a result, this matter has been deferred to the next meeting.
Paul commented that members have informed him they haven’t bothered to complete/return ballot papers for UNISON’s N.E.C. or other ballots as they “were not interested”.

i)    Page 4                                                                                                                                                                                                 10 delegates from across the region attended the Desk Top Publishing course (DTP) at Bury St Edmunds on 26th/27th May. Ray Hill attended the course to help him with the monthly publication and production of the retired member’s newssheet, “Your Magazine”.     

j)    Page 5. 5                                                                                                                                                                                        NHSU - Awareness of the NHSU needs to be raised at Trust Council (last T.C 11th May). Next full trust Council meets on 13th July. Action - Philip Bloyce

k)   Page 5. 5                                                                                                                                                                                        SMHP NHS Trust Policy Working Group - The next negotiating meeting is to be held on 7th June. A priority list for working policies are still being reviewed including the Lone Working Policy which was set up in 2004. At present there are 42 policies in place within the SMHP NHS Trust with 12 in production. Managers are now attending these meetings following Ian’s discussions with the Chief Executive, Mark Halladay, to bring together HR staff and the unions to work constructively on these policies. However, the policy which shows most concern amongst the staff is the proposed Smoking Policy.     

      The meeting welcomed John Edwards, who works for the rehab unit for the mentally ill at 86 Hospital Road. John apparently transferred to the branch in 2004 from Suffolk County. Unfortunately, Suffolk HealthCare did not receive any paperwork or contact regarding this matter, so was unaware of the move. John is nominating himself for Branch Steward which will be ratified at next meeting. (Appointed Representative)
John reported that there is an on-going situation in respect of the TUPE’d staff working in the West which is also being addressed at regional level. Recent talks with Mark Halladay, Chief Executive for SMHP NHS Trust remain unresolved as issues are not being addressed concerning the Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment (TUPE) transferring in members. A confirmed date from Mark is still awaited in respect of the East/West situation (8th, 13th, 14th & 15th June). Social Care pension concerns are still in limbo and these issues need to be raised at the next Trust Council on 13th July.
Action - Ian/Philip                                                                                                                     

3.   Urgent Correspondence

      Conference for Health Care Assistants is being held on Tuesday 19th July in London. The closing date for applications is 24th June 2005. Posters have been circulated Countywide.
UNISON has Re-arranged the Communications Committee for 30th June, in the Bailey Rooms, Shire Hall in Cambridge. Ray Hill is attending to date. The closing date is 10th June 2005.
The National Mental Health Nursing Conference 2005 held on 11th/12th July at the University of Leicester. If anyone is interested, please contact the branch office.
UNISON Eastern Region Lifelong Learning - Phil Kemp, Field Worker from Eastern Region is attending next month’s meeting to give a short presentation.

4.   Steward/Officer Reports

a)   Arthur White – Patrick Stead/Beccles
Arthur queried the leave entitlement for week-end ancillary staff/enhancements if they are not on rotas and he will be contacting Philip for advice.
Action - Arthur White
Ian informed the Community Nurses at Beccles on 27th May regarding concerns is awaiting notes to be emailed from Arthur and the matter is now closed.
Action - Arthur White                         

b)   Wendy Arbon – SMHP NHS Trust - Hartismere, Eye/Central PCT
Wendy reported the two members’ payroll queries backdated from October 2004 are still unresolved, despite Payroll confirming the subscription amounts were correct @£14 (should be £9.70). Wendy to speak to members/offer DD payment as alternative to salary/Annette can request refund from Region on production of copies of backdated payslips -
Action - Wendy Arbon
Wendy handed out some notes from David Edginton in respect of the changes at Hartismere Community Hospitals. Copies will be made and sent to relevant reps.
Action - Annette Petty

c)   Steve Cook – SMHP NHS Trust - SCH
All cases are either ongoing or pending at present.
Aprroximately 30 Staff on Levington Ward have received letters informing them their posts are now “at risk”. Gordon/Philip recently spoke to the staff (2 weeks ago) and Gordon has pledged member support throughout this unsettling time.
 

d)   Paul Taylor - SMHP NHS Trust - Walker Close
Approx 4 or 5 staff have recently resigned their jobs and as a result, overtime is horrendous as much has to be covered by agency staff with authorisation for agency staff has to come from an executive level. Approximately 200 shifts are not covered at present and it is becoming a “crisis management” situation. Individual Incident forms are being completed and submitted as a result of the general situation. The only full staff quota is on the assessment treatment centre, of which there are two in the area.
The Health Care Support Worker Forum is trying to save the Trust £500k.

e)   Ray Hill - Retired Members
Ray has sent out/receiving forms back from members who are about to reach the retiring age of 60 in order to retain them as retired members under the branch. He will be sending a supply of forms to all Stewards to hand out to their respective members in due course.
Action - Ray Hill

f)    Mark Hillis - SMHP NHS Trust - Learning Disabilities
Mark moves to Suffolk House on Monday 6th June. He has also been speaking to the member whose membership lapsed but wanted to re-join some weeks ago. To date, 2 application forms have been sent to the member with no reply.
NB: should any member wish to re-join following a lapsed status, the national 13 week rule will apply despite the membership number remaining the same.

g)   Liz Potter - SMHP NHS Trust - Heathfields Respite Unit
Liz reported that at present, just one community nurse is covering all duties as the dual manager for Health & Social Services. The post which was first advertised in Oct 04 has yet to be filled due to budgetary concerns.
Most staff at the unit are lone workers, and they only see their covering manager a maximum of just twice a week.
Job Descriptions still need to be written for AfC which are still outstanding.
Liz attended the Women’s Regional Away Day on 12th May on Pregnancy/Maternity/Paternity Rights/Benefits. New legislation has been produced by UNISON i.e. posters/booklet and Annette will order these supplies.
Action - Annette Petty (14184 and 2148)
The next away-day takes place on 1st July. The topic is pensions. Up to 50 women stewards/members normally attend these bi-monthly away-days.

h)   Membership                                                                                                                                                                                   There were 25 + new joiners in April and 19 in May. Again, membership in general is increasing on a monthly basis.
Ian and Philip are undertaking the 6 day intensive RMS training in July at Bury St Edmunds to help manage the on-line Regional Membership System (RMS)

i)    Agenda for Change - SMHP NHS Trust
Steve reported that the Health Care Assistants A&B grades are being looked at this month and next and non-nursing staffs will be next with back pay to 1st December 2004. Philip to update at the next meeting.
Action - Philip Bloyce
There is not enough staff to “backfill” those working on AfC.

5.   Branch Surgeries                                                                                                                                                                            There are none booked for June.
Roadshows were discussed as at present two are held annually, one in the Spring and one in Autumn. This item will be deferred to next meeting as the general feeling is that these are held annually.

6.   Training/Education
The next branch PC technology class takes place on Wednesday 8th June, 10am, Regional Training Suite, Bury. To date, only Arthur and Wendy have confirmed their attendance. Annette will email a reminder to all branch reps.
Action - Annette Petty

7.   AOB

      There being no further business the meeting closed at 3.45pm

8.   Date/time next meeting

      The next meeting takes place on Monday 4th July, 2pm, Monet Room, St Clements Hospital, Main Building (Lunch/refreshments provided from 1.15pm)
Please forward any agenda items by email/post to Ian Talbot at least one week beforehand. mailto: unison-shc@ntlworld.com

There being no further business the meeting closed at 5.15pm.