Newcross News Issue 4

newcrossnews Issue 4 | 2015

keeping you informed

FEATURES

100 Club celebrates success!

• The importance of hand hygiene • Quality Counts • Nurchat: What’s coming next!

INCLUDING

Green News

www.newcrosshealthcare.com

£

recommend a

just got better!

Our Recommend a Friend scheme, just got better, literally! As well as offering £500 to healthcare staff for recommending a nurse and £250 for a healthcare worker, we are now offering free uniform and DBS/PVG for nurses subject to them successfully completing 170 hours.

The new marketing materials are really eye-catching and are in branches now.

Each branch has: • • • •

POS stand with card holder Mini pop up for desk Framed poster Extra cards for topping up/handing out

Please can branches make sure marketing materials are displayed prominently in public areas.

As the campaign says ‘Good friends deserve great rewards’ so get recommending today!

Visit www.newcrosshealthcare.com/raf to find out more

good friends

deserve

great rewards

newcrossnews

Issue 4 | 2015

Welcome to the next issue of newcrossnews This new issue of Newcross News begins our journey down the road to the launch of our 40th UK branch.

With everything to look forward to, this truly is an exciting and momentous time to be a member of ‘Team Newcross.’

This month has seen the celebration of our exceptional performers at the annual 100 club event. Having personally attended the event held at Bovey castle in Devon, I can say that as a company, Newcross look after their own rewarding the deserving individuals who put in the extra effort and deliver exceptional standards day in, day out. You can read more about the 100 club on pages 10 and 11.

Also this month we have seen the launch of our brand new quarterly client magazine, Newcross Journal. The launch marks yet another milestone in the business as it now allows us to report to our clients in a way that is both personal and professional.

Now we start the countdown to our 40th branch launch and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Enjoy!

Tracy Willday HR Director

Contents 4

10

15

7 8 9

17

19

10 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20

Spotlight New Branches | Newsflash | Newcross News | Newcross wins major Scottish contract | New starters | Red Nose Day Nurchat - upcoming discussions Anonymity online provides a safety net but is also a barrier to authentic discussion Welcoming our new customer magazine, ‘Newcross Journal’ 100 club have a blast at Bovey Castle Quality Counts What’s changed in the NMC code Be safe on social media Green News The importance of hand hygiene in health settings The numbers speak for themselves Notice board Book Club | Staff Focus | Recipe Job of the Month - Clinical Trainers

Head of Marketing and Communications Claire Barrow claire.barrow@newcrosshealthcare.com

External Marketing Executive Sophia Sheridan sophia.sheridan@newcrosshealthcare.com

Graphic Designer Alex Hall alex.hall@newcrosshealthcare.com

Digital Marketing and Advertising Manager Sarah Gill sarah.gill@newcrosshealthcare.com

Internal Communications Officer Chris Atkinson christopher.atkinson@newcrosshealthcare.com

T: 01803 867800 E: communications@newcrosshealthcare.com

This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper

www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 3

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Issue 4 | 2015

spotlight What’s making the news in Newcross

New Branch in Eastbourne Open We opened our 39th branch this February in the South Coast town of Eastbourne. The new office was opened due to the considerable success of both the nearby branches in Brighton and Tunbridge Wells.

Leading the office will be Business Centre Manager, Carli-Anne Yates, who says of her new role,

“

The demand we have experienced for our services in the local area has been fantastic.

I am thrilled to be able to meet these demands with the launch of the Eastbourne office and look forward to working with our many clients and new employees throughout the region.

Alison Colville, South Coast Territory Manager said “We are proud to bring the high standards of service and excellence in care upon which Newcross has built its reputation to Eastbourne.

The opening of our new office will provide jobs and join up the already extensive coverage of the South Coast that we offer from our established Brighton and Tunbridge Wells offices.”

As the launch of the Eastbourne office is going to create lots of job opportunities for healthcare assistants and nurses, don’t forget you can ‘Recommend a Friend’ earning yourself some extra cash!

Join us next month when we celebrate our 40th branch opening!

“

Geoff White, Operations Director, Alison Colville, South Coast Territory Manager, Stephen Lloyd MP, Katerina Malkova, SAO Brighton and Carli-Anne Yates, Business Centre Manager

Newsflash ‘Revolutionary’ paperclip size device found to significantly lower high blood pressure.

Click Here for more Why hibernating bears could be good news in the fight against dementia.

Click Here for more Sleep well in middle age to stay sharp in later life.

Click Here for more Green tea helps kill cancer cells while promoting health of normal ones, say researchers.

Click Here for more New device allows deaf people to ‘hear with their tongue’.

Click Here for more Dementia ‘linked’ to common over-the-counter drugs.

Click Here for more Drones could be used to seek out arteries to prevent heart attacks Click Here for more Children fed peanuts are less likely to develop an allergy, study claims Click Here for more Do you know of any interesting health stories or want to comment on ours?

Let us know on Facebook & Twitter or email us!

communications@newcrosshealthcare. com 4 newcrossnews | www.newcrosshealthcare.com

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Issue 4 | 2015

spotlight What’s making the news in Newcross

Newcross Healthcare win major Scottish contract We were delighted to win a major contract with Capability Scotland, to cover the southern, mid and eastern regions of the country as of April 1st 2015.

activities, residential living and respite, and employment services.

The successful tender win is set to further accelerate our rapid growth in the Scottish care market and is expected to create a considerable number of healthcare job opportunities in the region.

We were awarded the tender through direct recognition by Capability Scotland of Newcross’ quality services and employees, in particular its exceptional nursing staff.

“

CarlI-Anne Yates Business Centre Manager Eastbourne Chloe Pearce Staff Allocation Officer Worcester

Geoff White, Operations Director said

Deborah Simpson Lead Nurse Bristol

We have had an exceptional working relationship with Capability Scotland for over 9 years, the tender win is testament to our joint aims to deliver the highest quality care and we look forward to building our relationship with this key organisation further and the benefits it will bring to local employment.

“

Capability Scotland are a major provider of education, employment and care services for disabled children and adults across Scotland, directly supporting over 1,000 people from 29 of the 32 Scottish local authorities. The services they provide include but are not limited to, pre-school childcare, community based support, day

A warm welcome to our newest team Newcross members

Gemma Jackson Staff Allocation Officer Truro Hannah Partridge Staff Allocation Officer Truro Zoe Archibald Staff Allocation Officer Woking Zoe McIntosh Trainee Business Centre Manager Perth

Newcross in the News Our new branches in Colchester and Coventry caused quite a stir when they opened, receiving lots of coverage in the local papers.

WATCH THIS SPACE www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 5

Student Nurse?

Earn extra money while you study!

Work as a Newcross HCA and grow your care skills.

Newcross Healthcare is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Healthcare staff.

Part-time work that fits in with your studies • Excellent rates of pay • Career based learning, grow your professional network and caring skills • Nationwide branches, work where you study or near your home in the holidays • Free training and learn as you earn.

•

Call us on

0800 252 881 or apply online today and get the chance to win an ipad www.newcrosshealthcare.com/student

Issue 4 | 2015

newcrossnews

NUR Your go-to place for healthcare conversation!

We’ve all got very busy lives and it can be hard to take part in the twitter chats that interest you unless you plan for them. With this in mind, we wanted to give everyone as much notice as possible of the NurChat discussions that are coming up.

3rd March NHS Change Day – Continuing change?

In the days leading up to this national day of change, we’re asking how have changes you’ve made been implemented. We’ll be asking those who took part last year to share their experiences and whether their change has lasted, and what can be done this year in all healthcare environments to make the NHS a better place. We are thrilled to be joined by Jackie Lynton, Head of Transformation, Horizons Group at NHS Improving Quality (@jackielynton) and the NHS Change Day team (@NHSChangeDay).

17th March Creating a peaceful sleeping environment for patients In honour of National Bed Month, we are looking at the ways we can help create a peaceful sleeping environment for patients on a ward, or residents in a care, or service users in any type of environment.

A good night’s sleep is so important to overall health and wellbeing, what can be done to support it?

31st March Your questions answered about surgical nursing We’re holding a very special Q&A session to answer your questions about surgical nursing.

Whether you’re a student nurse thinking of specialising in this field, or want to share your experience of working on a surgical ward, this is the chat for you!

14th April Think Kidneys In partnership with the NHS ‘Think Kidneys’ campaign to improve the care of people with, or at risk of, acute kidney injury. Up to 30% of deaths of people associated with acute kidney injury could be prevented, so we’re raising awareness of best practice and treatment options.

As always, we love to hear your suggestions if you have a topic you would like to discuss. Simply complete the discussion ideas form http://nurchat.co.uk/discussion-ideas/ and we’ll get in touch.

@nurchat www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 7

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Issue 4 | 2015

Anonymity online provides a safety net but is also a barrier to authentic discussion

By Donna Mullikin, Lead Nurse for #NurChat and Newcross Healthcare It has been clear for some time just how much potential social media sites, blogs and online forums have for supporting conversation and the sharing of opinions, but the dilemma of whether or not to remain anonymous when participating is still one that faces many people who would otherwise get involved without hesitation.

The fear of raising concerns has been well justified in recent times, reinforced by many stories of nurses who spoke up and faced repercussions rather than protection. The Freedom to Speak Up Review attempts to normalise the process of raising concerns, and recommends specifically that “staff should be encouraged to raise concerns informally”.

However, the online world remains a controversial place for raising concerns, especially as specific identifying information cannot be communicated through public online channels.

Remaining anonymous or using a pseudonym when participating online offers a perceived safety net for some who are fearful of potential repercussions.

In a recent #NurChat discussion, the two most feared consequences of using a real name in online discussions were stated as bullying and so-called ‘trolling’.

Being misunderstood and not having the opportunity to elaborate on a comment were also highlighted as potential pitfalls, but those can often be avoided by

thoughtful consideration before posting.

In real life, when discussing an issue with a colleague or peer, the aim is to be as objective as possible and come to a well-reasoned conclusion, even if it’s respectful disagreement.

By removing the name of the individual, the validity of the comments are diminished.

The removal of abusive or threatening comments from the online world does not yet have the profile it should in the media, but we are increasingly seeing action against people who would perpetrate this type of behaviour.

A quick online search shows many examples of convictions and even jail terms for the worst offenders.

While using a real name online can, in extreme circumstances, attract this type of response, the impact of not using a real name is felt in the authenticity of the discussion. Knowing how to handle any type of negativity that’s directed unconstructively can empower individuals to be less fearful of using their real name online, but the tools and tactics available are not widely publicised enough.

There should be no difference in the nature and potential validity of professional discussion between the online and offline forums. The discussion of best practice, the debate of current issues and the sharing of individual experiences

8 newcrossnews | www.newcrosshealthcare.com

should be as valid online as they are offline, and this cannot be fully realised until there is truly no difference between an individual’s behaviour online as it is offline.

Taking the professional approach to participating in the discussion online can bring benefits both for the individual and the wider healthcare community.

Sharing knowledge and experience through these open channels have seen debates on the findings of Robert Francis QC, revalidation of the NMC code and end of life care attract participants from across the healthcare sector, both student and qualified to share their expertise, express their opinions and learn from each other.

Social media as the platform for discussion has a significant role to play in the future of the healthcare debate. From an individual’s perspective, the absence of any organisational hierarchy offers the chance to connect and communicate with leaders that may otherwise not be accessible, and vice versa. For example, social media channels have been instrumental to NHS Change Day and achieving the staggering 500,000+ pledges of change received in 2014.

NUR

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Issue 4 | 2015

Our new customer magazine launches!

THE

SprinE g ISSU

S S O R C W E N

S RO SS CU STOM ER EW S FO R NE WC VI D AN WS NE AL L TH E LATE ST

5 Issue 1 Spring 201

pire Inform Advise Ins

Safer Hands Our commitment to quality through person centred training

Newsbrief A full roundup of Healthcare Industry News

JOURNAL

This month we were delighted to welcome the launch of our new glossy customer magazine, Newcross Journal. The quarterly magazine is produced in-house by the Marketing Team with an electronic version being emailed to nearly two thousand of our key clients. Printed versions are being published and sent to every branch for distribution to our customers. If you haven’t had a chance already, the magazine can also be read online: www.newcrosshealthcare.com/ newcrossjournal Newcross Journal contains all the latest news and views for Newcross customers, informing them about the latest healthcare news, advising on updates on company products and services, letting them get to know ‘Team Newcross’ better and providing them with some inspiration during a well-earned coffee break.

As we all know it’s the quality of our services, staff and care that we provide that sets Newcross apart from other healthcare providers. We all want to ensure all our clients receive the best customer experience when they work with us.

Digital Trends

How eHealth is transfor ming lives

Quality Counts

What is quality and why is it important?

Ask Lena!

care.com

www.newcrosshealth

Newcross Journal is all about improving that experience. Our new magazine is based around the central theme of ‘Informing, advising and inspiring. We want to publish a title that our customers feel is interesting, relevant, and a reward for their custom. The aim is to make them to feel even better about being a Newcross customer; and to show them that we truly value their interests and concerns.

The next issue will be out in the summer, if you have any ideas for features or feedback from clients we would be delighted to hear them!

You can email communications@ newcrosshealthcare.com www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 9

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Issue 4 | 2015

Newcross 100 Club have a blast at Bovey Castle At Newcross Healthcare our ethos is excellence, from delivering excellence to our clients, to rewarding excellence from our employees, it is the standard that drives us.

E

very year we celebrate our top performing office employees by inviting them to join our prestigious 100 club.

The club recognises the talent of its members, giving them the opportunity to shape the future of the company and also thanks them for their incredible work and commitment by treating them to an exclusive activities break.

This year we pulled out all of the stops, creating a fantastic experience that was bigger and better than ever before. We sent The 100 Club on a luxurious trip to Bovey Castle in Devon, for fine dining, falconry, clay pigeon shooting and a glamorous murder mystery evening.

The 100 Club with special guest, Olympian Roger Black, gathered on the stairs at Bovey Castle

Stephen Pattrick, CEO with Roger Black

Day 1 of the event involved collaborative team activities, before enjoying a sumptuous dinner, with special guest, Olympian, Roger Black.

10 newcrossnews | www.newcrosshealthcare.com

Olympian, Roger Black with Tracy Willday, HR Director

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Issue 4 | 2015

Falconry display

An exhilarating morning’s clay pigeon shooting

On the second day the group spent an exhilarating morning clay pigeon shooting, before learning how to make cider and sloe gin and then unwinding with a well deserved cream tea.

James McAlpine, Stephen Pattrick and Mark Nightingale

A black tie reception before gathering to take part in a thrilling murder mystery game

The evening was perfectly rounded off with a black tie drinks reception before the 100 Club gathered to hunt down a killer amongst their ranks in the night’s thrilling murder mystery game.

Newcross Healthcare CEO, Stephen Pattrick said “The 100 Club is a great two way opportunity, firstly for us to recognise the top performers amongst our many exceptional staff and secondly to hear their ideas, using their considerable expertise and talent to drive and shape the company as it moves forward." www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 11

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Issue 4 | 2015

uality Counts with Lena Walliman, Head of Clinical Excellence

February has also been a busy but exciting month in the Clinical Excellence Team.

We are continuing with many of our on-going projects and would like to share a snapshot of the latest activity with you.

Complaints, Concerns and Alerts

Find out about the revised Code

Alerting As an organisation that takes quality very seriously, we pay great attention to the number of complaints and issues that come through our pipeline, some of these are from our clients when staff performance does not meet their expectations, but equally some are from you about the places where we send you.

We receive concerns from our staff about the quality of care in various sectors where they work, and will action any feedback. Welcoming the publication of Freedom to Speak Up, Sir Robert Francis’s review of whistleblowing in the NHS, Jackie Smith the NMC’S Chief Executive and Registrar, said: "We want a health and care sector where all staff can safely raise concerns in the best interests of their patients. The freedom to Speak Up is vital for patient safety and public protection."

The revised code for nurses and midwives becomes effective on 31 March 2015. The NMC should be sending all nurses a copy in the post before then.

A culture of openness and transparency that encourages whistleblowing is vital, and anyone raising a concern about poor practice or abuse of a vulnerable person will be supported and their concerns escalated to appropriate Safeguarding Boards by their local branch or by Central Support.

Complaint resolution There has been a very positive increase in the number of our complaint resolutions, which often involves reflective practice or further training. We recognise that some of you may need help with your continuing or personal development, and as a result we are developing competency assessments and more training courses, some of which may be helping you towards NVQ/SVQ or appropriate PREP (post registration education and practice). Our new reflective practice tool is now being used across the board to provide PREP evidence for our nurses and healthcare staff, especially after a drug error or practice Issue.

We have just completed a large project to improve the complaint management system, and your local branches will shortly be able to log all complaints and incident online. The new system should enable a more timely investigation, with the aim of resolving any on-going concerns as quickly as possible. We will be running a short pilot during March with the aim to fully launch the new tool in April.

12 newcrossnews | www.newcrosshealthcare.com

The Code contains the professional standards that registered nurses and midwives must uphold. UK nurses and midwives must act in line with The Code, whether they are providing direct care to individuals, groups or communities or bringing their professional knowledge to bear on nursing and midwifery practice in other roles, such as leadership, education, or research. While you can interpret the values and principles set out in The Code in a range of different practice settings, they are not negotiable or discretionary.

Nurses are now required within their registration to hold an appropriate insurance cover. As an employee of Newcross Healthcare, you are covered under the Newcross Healthcare insurance scheme whilst you are on duty. This is one of the many benefits of working for Newcross and covers all healthcare, homecare and clinical staff working both in the office and field.

Guest written by Sue Hill The Clinical Excellence Team are here to answer any questions you may have, especially regarding policy, complaints and staff assessments. So please feel free to contact us with any queries on any of the following addresses and we will try to assist you as best we can.

Lena Walliman, Registered General Nurse MSc Specialist Practice. lena.walliman@newcrosshealthcare.com Sue Hill, Registered General Nurse, Associate of the Chartered Quality Institute (ACQI) sue.hill@newcrosshealthcare.com Linda McVeigh, Registered General Nurse linda.mcveigh@newcrosshealthcare.com Alex Alen, Registered General Nurse alex.alen@newcrosshealthcare.com

Theatre Nurse “I have the perfect stage for a happy work-life balance.�

Newcross Nursing. Experience the Difference www.newcrosshealthcare.com/work-life-balance

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Issue 4 | 2015

What's changed in The Code?

The Code describes the professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives.

Four themes describe what nurses and midwives are expected to do: • • • •

prioritise people practise effectively preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust.

There have been changes in healthcare and society since the previous Code was published in 2008. The revised Code reflects these changes with new requirements on:

Fundamentals of care This covers the essential aspects of caring for a patient, including making sure that a patient has adequate access to nutrition and hydration.

The professional duty to take action in an emergency Nurses and midwives should take action in an emergency when off-duty, within the limits of their competence.

Social media use Nurses and midwives should use social media responsibly, in line with our guidance.

The Code also makes clear that responsibility for those receiving care lies not only with the nurse or midwife providing hands-on care, but also with those nurses and midwives working in policy, education and management roles. http://nmc-news.org/129A-35FHO-676671JCB0/ cr.aspx

The duty of candour Nurses and midwives should be open and honest with colleagues, patients and healthcare regulators when things go wrong.

Raising concerns Nurses and midwives should raise concerns without delay if they are aware of a threat to patient safety or public protection.

Delegation and accountability Nurses and midwives should make sure that they delegate tasks and duties appropriately and those they delegate to complete tasks to the required standard.

14 newcrossnews | www.newcrosshealthcare.com

The Code Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives

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Issue 4 | 2015

Techy tip of the month

be safe and represent yourself well on social media It’s no secret that the world is becoming more connected than ever before, and through the marvel of social media we can interact with people we have never met as well as stay more in touch with close friends and family at the click of a button. Whether you use social media in a personal capacity or have a professional presence, or both, it’s important to represent yourself well.

Assume everything you write will end up in a public space. If you’re not comfortable sharing your status update with absolutely everyone, then don’t post it.

1 Think about how your comments could be used. For instance, if you post lots of pictures while you’re on holiday, you’re also advertising that you’re not at home at the moment.

4

Here are our top 6 tips for representing yourself in a way that is safe and that you feel comfortable with, but also shows yourself in the best light.

We’ll be talking further about safer

Show your integrity by not posting, sharing or engaging with anything that may be considered racist or bullying.

2 Think twice before clicking on a link in a message from anyone. Hackers can break into profiles and send out links that, when clicked, can give your computer a virus or are phishing for financial / personal information. You can often spot these messages because they have poor spelling and don’t sound like the sender.

5

Be protective of your personal data. You don’t have to share information about where you live, your contact details or your family if you don’t want to, even if there the site is encouraging you to do so.

3 Make use of privacy settings.

You can control who can view your information, pictures and history as well as connect with you and message you, so make use of the privacy settings on your social network accounts to limit access to your data where necessary.

6

www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 15

Issue 34 | 2015

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Green News

We can all make small green steps to reduce the negative impact we have on the planet. This month we want to show you how to re-use items.

Plastic Bags

While plastic carrier bags use 70% less plastic than they did 20 years ago, they are still made from polyethylene (PE) which is derived from nonrenewable oil and requires energy to manufacture.

Plastic bags are recyclable and are increasingly being recycled, but the majority still end up in landfill where they may take hundreds of years to break down. www.recyclenow.com has come up with some very hand tips on how we can reduce the amount of plastic bags being sent to a land fill.

Think bag!

• Look for suitable re-usable bags and make sure that they are ‘fit for purpose’ – strong, durable and ideally made from recycled material • Keep a small foldaway bag with you for those unexpected or impulse purchases • Reduce the amount of carrier bags you use by re-using them as many times as possible

• Re-use bags and place the worn-out plastic bags in supermarket recycling points, as they are collected for specialist plastic film recycling away from other waste streams • If you shop online and receive a supermarket delivery, give the bags back to the driver afterwards or when you make your next online purchase.

Bags for life Most supermarkets have ‘bag for life’ schemes. You buy one large, durable carrier bag for 10p which should last at least 10 trips. When it wears out the cashier will replace it for free and the old one will be recycled by the supermarket.

Avoid them!

Better still, take a canvas or string bag with you when you go shopping – they’re much stronger than carrier bags and won’t dig into your hands!

Issue 4 | 2015

newcrossnews

The importance of hand hygiene in Health settings The effective use of infection control practice is essential for every healthcare professional in order to help minimise the spread of preventable infections.

By Megan Betts, Healthcare Assistant, Truro With flu season fully established and the risk of norovirus infections increased over the winter months, remembering to use good infection control routines at every step is essential.

Hand hygiene is a simple, low cost action and the single most important infection prevention and control intervention. In 2005, The World Health Organisation (WHO) introduced “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene”, which is an evidence based approach that defines the key moments when we, as healthcare professionals, should perform hand hygiene.

The 5 Moments are: 1. Before touching a patient 2. Before carrying out a clean or aseptic procedure 3. After body fluid exposure risk 4. After touching a patient 5. After touching a patients surroundings.

The 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene aims to reinforce the importance of hand hygiene among professionals as well as educate patients and members of the public. When washing hands, the Ayliffe technique should be used, which is a 6 stage process of hand washing to ensure proper

decontamination of the hands.

Soap and water is the most effective method of hand decontamination, although alcohol gel can be used up to 5 times if hands are not visibly soiled. However, alcohol gel does not kill many micro-organisms such as norovirus and c-diff.

Each person has between 2 and 10 million bacteria on one single arm from fingertip to elbow, so effective hand hygiene plays a vital part in preventing the transmission of pathogens in healthcare associated infections (HCAI’s). Patients that are generally unwell and have a compromised immune system are at greater risk of contracting infections commonly spread through poor hand hygiene such salmonella, campylobacter, flu, impetigo, norovirus, vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as MRSA and C-diff, both of which can be potentially fatal. While hand hygiene is not the only measure to prevent infection, this simple action can dramatically enhance patient safety.

Did you enjoy reading this blog?

Would you like to write your own about current health topics that interest you.

Please contact Sarah Gill, Digital Marketing and Advertising Manager on 01803 867800. www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 17

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Issue 4 | 2015

3132

members of staff joined Newcross in 2014. 1566 of those were either recommended by a friend or joined by word of mouth meaning on average 53% of all new starters were either recommended or joined by word of mouth.

The numbers

‘speak’ for themselves We pride ourselves on offering the best experience possible to all of our employees throughout the country. Staff engagement is at the heart of any business, no matter the sector, and Newcross is no different. We actively seek out new ways to keep you engaged and excited about what you do. With that in mind you’re invited to let us know how we are doing. Check your email for your invitation to complete this years Staff Engagement Survey.

Don’t miss out, make your voice heard!

91%

of you feel your role is important to the future of Newcross.

83%

would have Newcross care for a family member or friend.

82%

feel your work is rewarding.

86%

feel enthusiastic towards coming to work.

It’s all about you!

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Issue 4 | 2015

NOTICEBOARD Book Club

food&drink N E W C RO S S

Staff Focus

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova RRP - £7.99 Sarah Nickerson, a careerdriven supermom leads a hectic but charmed life with her husband Bob, faithful nanny, and three children. As a vice president of human resources; shuttling the kids to soccer, arranging day care and piano lessons, Sarah plans every minute of every day with precision.

Until one fateful day, while driving to work she looks away from the road for one second… all her plans, lost, in the blink of an eye. A traumatic brain injury completely erases the left side of her world as she is diagnosed with Hemispatial Neglect, and for once, Sarah has to rely on those around her. Without the ability to even floss her own teeth, she struggles to find answers about her now unpredictable future.

It’s all about you!

Spanish chicken casserole

We now have over 4000 staff!

Each month we will feature one of them in our feature, Staff Focus:

25 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook. 444 calories / serving Ingredients • 1tbsp olive oil • 8 chicken thighs • 125g (4oz) chorizo • 1 onion, sliced • 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 100ml (3½fl oz) dry white wine (optional) • 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes • 1 x 400g tin cannellini beans, washed and drained • 1 sprig thyme Heat the oil in a large pot with lid. Cook the chicken thighs for 5 minutes on each side. Remove from the pot. Thickly slice the chorizo, then cook it for a couple of minutes until starting to brown, then tip in the onion and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the wine (if using) and simmer until nearly boiled away.

Tip in the tomatoes and beans, 200ml (7fl oz) water and season.

Return the meat to the pot and add the thyme.

Simmer for 30-35 minutes with lid on (top the stew up with water if it looks like it’s becoming dry) until cooked. Cut into a thick chunk of chicken to check that it is cooked through.

This month we meet Richard Bartram, Business Centre Manager, Cardiff.

Richard joined Newcross in 2014 as Business Centre Manager for our Cardiff branch and brought with him his experience in recruitment.

His relationship with his branch’s clients is testament to his dedication to the Newcross mission.

Richard has a five year old son, Sam, who is a big football supporter, especially when it comes to Swansea City.

Richard however, is an avid follower of rugby and supports the Ospreys. He will take Sam to watch both teams play whenever he can.

We will have another Staff Focus next month..

Find out who it could be. www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews 19

Job of the Month CLINICAL TRAINERS One of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever been in

“

“

To cover northern and southern territories

As a Clinical Trainer you will be responsible for the design, development and delivery of all healthcare related skills training across approximately 20 locations. All aspects of the skills based training cycle within your region, including providing statistical reports and cost effective solutions that support our mission and values. Raising competency levels of homecare & nursing staff by delivering excellence in training and promoting course offerings. Effectively working with Branch Managers and Regional Managers to identify and address learning needs.

To be successful in this role you ideally will be a Registered Nurse or a health & social care expert and possess a strong history of delivering effective training. You will be adept at assessing individual team based health and social care learning needs, ensuring cost effective solutions are implemented in a timely manner. Experience with assessing SVQ/NVQ and/or any digital/on-line competency assessment and/or skills delivery would be an advantage.

You can find out more by visiting our website

www.newcrosshealthcare.com