Healthier Horizons NORTH WEST OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RECONFIGURATION CONFERENCE 14 th March 2011

Healthier Horizons Chris Jeffries Acting Director of Workforce and Education NHS NW

Better Care Better Health Better Life The Story So Far NHS NW established dedicated Health and Work Team Identified Boorman Leads at SHA and organisational levels QIPP workforce target of reducing sickness and absence Good research on heath and well being of staff and patient satisfaction – business case for change Commissioned review of Occupational health services for NHS workforce in the NW, which reported in September 2010 NHS Plus Report on the Future Configuration of OH Services published in December

Better Care Better Health Better Life Aims of NW Review To fully understand and describe current OH provision and related services for the NHS workforce in the North West To identify positive OH practice and areas for development with regard to the recruitment, retention and occupational rehabilitation of NHS Staff To identify potential future actions for NHS North West and its partners to support the sustainability and ongoing improvement of of OH and related services for the NHS in the region, including commissioning arrangements

Better Care Better Health Better Life Conclusions Higher overall performing organisations are more effective commissioners of OH Services Staff sickness is significantly lower in organisations with: –Higher CQC performance –Lower reported rates of workplace injury and stress –Direct OH access to counselling/mental health services Larger OH providers are significantly more likely to: –meet SEQOHS standards –employ specialist staff –provide integrated access to physiotherapy and counselling –Make more use of IT Some small providers are not fit for purpose

Better Care Better Health Better Life Review Recommendations OH Services in the North West should be reconfigured into a smaller number of larger providers which are large enough to offer: Access to specialist medical and nursing staff Support for clinical training and CPD Integrated services including physiotherapy and counselling Services to four or more trusts Have appropriate IT to support audit and development

Better Care Better Health Better Life Challenges to Change Whilst many organisations recognise the need to reconfigure services there is a lack of knowledge and experience in the system of the “how” Prioritisation of Occupational Health at a time of major structural change and significant financial restraint Differing levels of enthusiasm for change amongst organisations and professionals Necessity of top level commitment and engagement from Chief Executives, Medical Directors and Nursing Directors

Better Care Better Health Better Life Driving Forward the Review Agreement reached with HRDs to move towards recommendations on sub regional basis in the NW The rationale for this agreement subsequently re-afirmed with the publication of NHS Plus national review Recognition of challenges ahead Short term support and action plans agreed for the improvement of the weakest services identified Regional funding agreed to support reconfiguration programme costs in 10/11 and 11/12 Regional event to drive reconfiguration in March ’11

Better Care Better Health Better Life Aims for the NW Conference To understand the research and drivers for change in the context of the latest national position on this agenda To hear from established reconfigured OH services elsewhere in England To discuss the challenges and barriers which exist that will undermine successful reconfiguration To share experiences of change in the NW To agree key principles and actions which will enable effective re-configuration to take place

Better Care Better Health Better Life Thanks and any questions