Pictured: Members of the combined ELHT Team with National Staff Guardian, Dr Henrietta Hughes
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has won a prestigious award from the Health Service Journal in recognition of its hugely successful ‘Engage to Make a Difference’ project.
On winning the category for ‘Creating a Supportive Staff Culture’ Kevin McGee, Chief Executive of the Trust said:
“The HSJ Awards are held in extremely high esteem in the health care sector, so to win this is an absolute honour. I’d like to thank our Director of HR&OD, Kevin Moynes and his team for all their work on this, and congratulate them on this achievement.
Head of Staff Health Well-being and Engagement, Lee Barnes said “Our ‘Engage to Make a Difference’ project, is designed to ensure staff feel valued, appreciated and listened to. It includes the creation of a ‘safe’ environment for staff to communicate their worries.
“We have worked tirelessly over the last few years to ensure our staff feel supported and know they have the ‘freedom to speak up’. It is vitally important to us that we provide an environment in which our staff feel comfortable in raising concerns or issues without fear.
“We were one of the first Trusts in the country to appoint a Staff Guardian, Jane Butcher, and she is closely supported by our Staff Engagement and Health and Wellbeing Teams.
“The results of the latest national staff survey now show above average scores for engagement. The Trust is ranked in the top 20 per cent of organisations on 16 key measures of staff satisfaction. Staff satisfaction is proven to increase effectiveness and enhance the patient experience.
We are delighted that surveys show 81% of staff would happily recommend the organisation for care and treatment, and 74% as a place to work.”
The Trusts Home First service was also shortlisted for the category ‘Improved Partnerships Between Health and Local Government’ at the HSJ Awards ceremony. Working with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council the service supports works with people to find the best way to support their healthcare needs and help them to be as independent as possible. The team ensure a person receives the right support for now and in the future.
Over at the Personnel Today Awards which was also held on Wednesday 21 November, ELHT Director of HR&OD, Kevin Moynes, was nominated for the HR Director of the Year award. Kevin was shortlisted in a strong field of private and public sector HR Directors. Although Kevin did not leave with the prize on this occasion, the Trust and all his colleagues are incredibly proud of the recognition this hotly contested award brings.