New chairs announced for BME

Director of HR and OD Jenny Lewis with outgoing chairs Mohammed Bilal and Ester Jamera (far left and far right) and new chairs Modupe Hector-Goma and Monica Didi (left and right).

BME Staff Network - a new Chair and CoChair look to the next phase of the network

As we move through the New Year, we say a big thank you to Ester Jamera and Mohammed Bilal for their service as Co-Chairs of the network. The network was established in 2016 with a vision to make LTHT the best place to work for BME staff and to support the Trust to unlock the inherent human potential contained within our diverse workforce. Ester and Bilal have stepped aside to welcome Modupe Hector-Goma and Monica Didi to lead the network going forward and there is no better time than now to reflect on what has been achieved, to re-confirm why the BME Network exists and to look at plans and the vision ahead.

A quick introduction:

Hello my name is Modupe Hector-Goma, Specialist Reporting Sonographer and I’ve been in the Trust for twenty three years. Most of my twenty years I felt alone, lost and stuck until I decided to engage with the BME Staff Network. Through the support I received I can boldly say I am changed. I feel empowered, enthusiastic and ready to engage and support colleagues and managers in having uncomfortable conversations. My drive is to support any colleague who is in the same position I was, and to encourage colleagues to learn and unlearn through listening to each other’s stories, because the more we learn, the closer we become. Hello my name is Monica, I have been working for the Trust since 2004. My first role began in Maternity supporting BME (Black Minority Ethnic) Pregnant women (Asylum Seekers & Refugees) to help them access maternity care. I am currently working as Deputy Patient Carer & Public Involvement Manager in the Patient, Carer & Public Involvement (PCPI) Team, working in collaboration with staff, patients and the public to develop and shape services. I have always been passionate working with BME communities, being an advocate, and supporting inclusion within services, starting off with important inclusive conversations.

Highlights of the past 12 months:

• 1 Amplifying Voices Anthology collection of LTHT BME staff stories

• 1 library full of a diverse range BME authored books, medical and nonmedical

• 39 BME Champions for the recently launched role

• 66 Dignity at Work advisors of which 18% are BME

• 2 bespoke well attended sessions with

CSUs; MMPS and Finance

Launch of the BME Allyship training

Launched last year, the BME Allyship training is open to all staff at all levels and can be booked via ESR searching 298%E&D%Allyship The session guides staff through why the allyship was developed, talks through some of the challenges BME staff face and takes staff through the model I-APPLAUD and look at what it means to be an ally.