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In this issue:
The next issue of NECS News will be published on Friday 19 August. Please send any items to necsu.corpcomms@nhs.net
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 NECS is committed to achieving net zero for carbon emissions that can be controlled and is committed to achieving net zero for those carbon emissions we can influence by 2045.
The NECS2025 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy sets out the approach underpinned by the by NECS' vision, mission and social purpose. NECS has a clear social purpose to reduce inequalities, create jobs and generate wealth for our communities. Sustainable business is at the heart of our success now and in the future as is a commitment to creating a sustainable and inclusive society.
Visit NECS2025 CSR Strategy and visit the CSR page on the intranet.
The North East and North Cumbria ICB NENC ICB Green Plan 2022-2025 is available to download. The plan outlines the ICB's vision to be England's greenest region by 2030. This vision is explained here in a short YouTube video.
Delivering a net zero NHS
The NHS Net Zero Strategy sets out top level targets for carbon emissions.
- For the emissions the NHS controls directly (the NHS Carbon Footprint) it aims to reach net zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032.
- For the emissions the NHS can influence (NHS Carbon Footprint Plus) it aims to reach net zero by 2045, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2036 to 2039.
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Pictured L-R: Durham county councillor Carl Marshall, Darlington councillor and former NECS employee, Chris McEwan, Marta Lowell from NECS, Mark Coatsworth, General Manager at the Bignall Group and Durham councillor Kevin Shaw.
Essential and every day items donated by NECS staff and partners in the community will soon be on their way to Lublin in Poland to help people displaced by the conflict in nearby Ukraine. Items donated include instant meals and dried food, basic first aid supplies and unwanted mobile phones and other electronic equipment to allow people to keep in touch with loved ones.
NECS colleagues have once again shown their empathy for Ukrainian families - many of whom have had to flee their homes and communities to seek safety with only a few belongings and supplies.
Marta Lowell, who coordinated the collection, thanked colleagues at NECS, along with those at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Primary Healthcare Darlington and local businesses for their support. "Everyone has helped to collect essentials for people who suddenly find themselves in need," she said. Marta's story featured in the Northern Echo.
If staff want to continue to help, they can donate to the following charities.
Disaster Emergencies Committee https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine
The Red Cross https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal
UNICEF https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/donate-now-to-protect-children-in-ukraine/
UNHCR https://www.unhcr.org
Healthcare organisations supported by NECS have been shortlisted in categories as part of the of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations North East awards. NECS teams played a key role in the success of the Change of Heart campaign, which encouraged 18-29 years olds to take up their vaccinations and they Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, which was shortlisted in the regional campaign of the year category. Well done all.
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The NHS has recently announced that the Covid-19 Autumn booster should be offered to the following groups:
- Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- Frontline health and social care workers
- All adults aged 50 years and over
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book
A full copy of the advice can be found here.
Flu vaccine programme expanded
In addition to flu vaccine cohorts previously set out in the annual flu letter 2022/23 the following cohorts will now be offered the free NHS flu vaccine to help protect more people and reduce admissions to hospital this winter.
- Secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9 who will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first). This group is likely to be offered vaccination later in the year once children age 2 and 3 and primary school age children have been vaccinated.
- 50 to 64 year olds that are not in a clinically 'at-risk' group, who are likely to be offered vaccination later in the year once people that are more vulnerable to Covid-19 and flu, including those in clinically at-risk groups have been offered their vaccine.
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The Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership ICS was renamed Humber and North Yorkshire in April and made plans for the establishment of the Integrated Care Board on 1 July.
The challenge for the NECS Communication and Engagement team was to project manage and deliver a refreshed identity for the new ICS, complete with a set of public channels of communication including a new website, brand, marketing collateral and provide guidance for the new brand's use across the newly-established ICS, all within a six-week timescale.
Richard Sykes, Communications & Engagement Manager, at Humber and North Yorkshire ICS said: "The new brand provides a recognisable, engaging and visually appealing identity which went live on 1 April and has generally received a positive response from colleagues, partners and stakeholders."
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A montage of Finance Team health and wellbeing activities.
The Finance team put their best feet forward and took part in a step challenge to mark the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Some 18 teams across the department took part clocking up a massive 1.6 million steps, or 9,000 miles.
Karen Elliot, Senior Commissioning Finance Manager, said: "The main reason for us starting the Step Challenge was although we have some very active staff members we also know that the team have a tendency to be 'chained' to Teams calls, or laptops, so thought a challenge to get everyone moving would be a good start to kick off the Finance team's new approach to Health and Wellbeing. Although I think we may be underestimated just how many steps would be stepped over the four weeks.
She added: "We are now recruiting HWB champions from across the team, have our first mental health first aider on board and have had our first post Covid-19 full team away day, with health and wellbeing being one area we focussed on."
Serenity Social and Therapeutic Horticulture is a charity offering a free session to health and care staff in the North East who have worked throughout the pandemic and beyond, allowing them to have some time to reflect in a safe and peaceful environment.
The sessions are led by volunteers who have taken time out of their everyday lives/work to support the sessions and share their skills and knowledge. More information can be found at: www.serenitysth.org
The offer is open to individuals and whole teams. Some 30 places are available each session - on a 'first come first served' basis. Sessions will include an opportunity to explore Prescribing Lifestyle Medicine, Tai Chi and elements of nature combined with mindfulness.
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Recruitment and selection and flexible working
The Recruitment and Selection Policy and the Flexible Working Policy have both been updated to reflect national guidance. All HR Policies can be found on the intranet.
Guidance has been updated for managers and colleagues, alongside the refreshed Flexible Working Principles. They can be found on the Workforce section of the Intranet.
Pay Award 2022
Please note that the Pay Award for NHS colleagues has been announced. Full details can be found here.
NHS Pension Scheme Member Contributions Changes
Members of the NHS Pension Scheme pay a percentage of their pensionable pay to the scheme each month, known as a contribution rate. Changes to members' contribution rates will be made from 1 October 2022. Full details can be found here.
NECS is keen to hear staff views on the Ways of Working as it continues to develop. Feedback about the impact of the approach on experiences at work is important to learn about what needs to improve in addition to what we're doing well. The survey closes on Monday 15 August and feedback will be shared in September.
There is still time to have your say in the monthly NECS staff survey, which closes at 12 midday today (5 August). Make sure you have your say.
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As part of improving health and wellbeing at NECS a Health and Wellbeing Diagnostic Tool is now being used with an event taking place on 15 August (2-3pm). Seven different key areas of the business will come under the spotlight: environment, managers and leaders, professional wellbeing and support, fulfilment at work, data insights, improving personal health and wellbeing and relationships.
Each session will walk through a series of questions via a collaborative online system called Jamboard to give everyone at NECS the opportunity to have their say on health and wellbeing performance and put forward ideas.
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CT scans are taking place as part of the lung health check programme. Image credit: ITV Tyne Tees.
The Communications and Engagement team recently landed some high-profile TV news coverage to promote lung cancer checks on behalf of North East and North Cumbria Health and Care Partnership.
NECS Communications Officer, Lee Hansom, liaised with the Tyne Tees news team over several weeks to define the news package, arranged access for the media to the mobile lung check facility, set up interviews with Respiratory Consultant Dr Ann Ward and arranged for a patient to tell how early diagnosis led to treatment. Lung cancers are generally hard to detect in their early stages because patients tend not to display symptoms, so it was vital that the team made people aware that early diagnosis was available close to home.
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Steve Owens (ICT Field Support Engineer) and Alex Bruce (End User Support Manager) were recently thanked by Hilary Bellwood, Head of Planning and Development at the former Newcastle and Gateshead CCG.
"I am so grateful to Steve and Alex for their help and support, both planned and ad hoc, in getting the new ICB directors up and running with their kit. It's been a bit of a journey and lots of last minute changes, despite our best efforts to plan ahead, but I'm very very grateful to the help and support - all professionally and with a smile."
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