UNISON South West Yorkshire Partnership Health Newsletter - September 2018

www.swyp-unison.org.uk

UNISONnews

inside

October 2018

South West Yorkshire Partnership Health Branch

•W hat’s the future for Barnsley Healthcare Services?

• UNISON ‘There for you’ • UNDER 27s - What can UNISON do for you?

•Y our right to be accompanied • Retirement – Do you know what UNISON offers?

South West Yorkshire Partnership Health

•C hristmas shopping trip – yes it’s that time again!

•W e are off to the Pantomime – Oh no we’re not – oh yes we are!

• FREE UNISON 2019 diaries

What’s the Future for Barnsley Healthcare Services?

Metropolitan Districts

As many of you may have heard, big changes are being proposed for the future provision of all health services in Barnsley.

Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have submitted radical plans to the NHS governing bodies NHS England and NHS Improvements.

For those of you who are not already aware, Barnsley CCG are proposing that all Barnsley health services will be commissioned and provided by what they are calling a single place based organisation.

The suggestion is that this would need to be a new organisation, as the belief seems to be that none of the current providers could deliver the new service in its totality.

You might wonder why we would put this in our Newsletter to all our membership, but it is important to understand that the potential for the effects of this goes much beyond staff directly employed in Barnsley. The plans include all the general community health services and all the mental health services, which are located in Barnsley and currently provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust (SWYPFT), all the services

currently provided

by Barnsley Hospital Trust and its subsidiary company Barnsley Facilities Services, some commissioning services provided by the CCG and services provided by Barnsley GP Federation, plus all the support services that go along with them. Whilst most of the country is currently moving towards delivering services through developing partnerships, or Integrated Care Services, across and within organisations, Barnsley CCG’s vision is quite different.

to the NHS pension scheme, having a single tier workforce, and maintaining services. As a branch we also recognised the importance of maintaining financial stability for all the organisations involved, and we were delighted that our suggestion of a Staff Side “red line” being that “in establishing a single place based Trust in Barnsley the future financial viability of remaining NHS organisations must be secured”, was unanimously supported by the rest of our Staff Side colleagues, and will be incorporated in our collective statement.

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2015 Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2015 Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2015 Use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/terms-of-use/)

We have been meeting with representatives from the CCG on a regular basis and at the last meeting along with our Staff Side colleagues from Barnsley Hospital Trust, and full time officers from all the trade unions involved, we were asked to consider what we felt would be so called “red lines”, i.e. what we consider are lines over which we would not be willing to cross.

While the Staff Side “red lines” focused primarily on retaining jobs, maintaining current terms and conditions, guaranteeing access

This was particularly important because the support services position in particular will be a very complex picture, and having members across the whole of SWYPFT, as well as Continues on page 2

UNISONnews Barnsley Healthcare Services continued... members in the Barnsley CCG, and other organisations in Barnsley who may be affected by these proposals, we have to do our best to introduce safeguards for all our members. If any organisation were to become financially unstable due to the implementation of these proposals then there could be a significant risk of job losses, but rest assured we will work long and hard to prevent this.

We need to be very clear that these are Barnsley CCG’s proposals, and SWYPFT’s focus continues to be on delivering its current services in Barnsley via improved partnership developments and integration.

It is too early to say exactly what the final outcome of such major proposals will be, but needless to say we will keep you fully informed of discussions and decisions as things progress, and with the support and backing of UNISON, the largest UK trade union, both regionally and nationally, we will be doing everything in our power to limit or eradicate any detrimental effect on your jobs, your terms and conditions and your well-being at work.

Claim your FREE 2019 UNISON Diary See insert for further details and application form

UNISON is There For You Did you know that your UNISON branch has a Welfare Officer to help give advice and support regarding financial and emotional difficulties?

Our Welfare Officer, Anne Grace, can help you access UNISON’s Welfare Charity, There For You, which provides a confidential advice service for members and their dependants.

This charity allocates individual grants to provide immediate support for those needing financial assistance.

For example, emergency fuel and food, transport costs to attend hospital appointments, money to prevent homelessness, help with disability adaptations, small grants to ensure children return to school wearing the correct uniforms and winter fuel grants. These are only a few examples of what is available. Many members experience a variety of financial and emotional difficulties in their lives and UNISON is ‘There For You’.

The welfare team deals with enquiries from members who may be struggling to meet day to day living costs, or who are suffering health issues that have kept them off work, relationship breakdown or maybe bereavement.

UNISON can give you advice on how credit unions can assist you with loans and

2 Email: unison@swyt.nhs.uk

savings, and provide wellbeing breaks for members who are suffering illness, have caring responsibilities, or who have not been able to take a holiday away at all for many years due to financial constraints.

During 2017 There For You spent £480,158 delivering a wide range of financial assistance to more than 3,000 members, in areas where it was needed the most.

To access support: Contact your local branch welfare officer Anne Grace 01924 316936 For debt advice you can call Freephone 0800 389 3302 Go to the UNISON website unison.org.uk and visit the There For You section.

Call UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857 or There for You national team on 0207 121 5620 or email thereforyou@unison.co.uk All There For You grants and activities are paid for by donations from UNISON members and UNISON itself

Tel: 01924 316161

Under 27? What does UNISON do for you?

Keeping In Touch With Your Branch

When I first joined UNISON I was an apprentice at the age of 21 and I had no idea what a union did or what part I could play in the union. Now at 26 I’m sad to be what UNISON calls ‘aging out’.

When you are under 27 you are classed as a Young Member and there are many things available to you that you may not know about. I have attended regional meetings on behalf of our branch and taken part in all sorts of activities both regionally and nationally, which has taken me all over the country. I have made lifelong friendships, learnt so much and really grown in confidence thanks to my experiences with UNISON Young Members.

UNISON provides courses, events and even coaching to us.

I have learnt how to write motions, give speeches, lead workshops and become a more active member of UNISON. Every year UNISON holds a Young Members Weekend, a free to attend, fully catered weekend away with Young Members from all over the UK. And I can safely say that they are amazing.

Our regional meetings are also a great way to meet more local Young Members, find out what activities and events are happening near you, and how to get

Perhaps you have changed jobs, workplace or moved house recently.

Please let the branch office know to help us keep your details up to date.

involved nationally. Our next regional meeting is on the 20th October at Commerce House in Leeds and if you want to come along please get in touch with me through unison@swyt.nhs.uk, we always welcome new members. We also have a WhatsApp group that we talk in regularly that you could join. As for me, I’m sad that next year I’ll be 27 but that means that someone else gets a chance to experience something that honestly has truly changed my life. So next year, do you want to be our new Branch Young Members Officer?

Passing the torch.

Yours in solidarity, Kirsty-Ann Dickenson Branch Young Members Officer, Regional Young Members Delegate, National Young Members Communications Officer

Twitter: @swyp_unison

That way we can ensure information such as ballot papers, updates and UNISON magazines get to you. If you have a new email, contact number or workplace, a quick call to the Branch Office on 01924 316161 is all that is needed or drop us an email at unison@swyt.nhs.uk Alternatively, you can manage and update your personal details by registering with My UNISON on the UNISON website.

Branch trips – Book your places now!

Chester Christmas Trip

See insert for further details and application forms

Website: www.swyp-unison.co.uk

3

UNISONnews Your right to be accompanied Whilst representing a member in one of our non NHS employers recently, one of our senior rep’s was shocked to find that the HR policy gave no mention of the right of all workers to be accompanied at formal meetings.

right, and so we wanted to make sure that in future all our members are aware of the right to request to be accompanied. There are three groups of people workers can request to accompany them to a formal meeting it can be:

This was disappointing because it is clear in employment law, and associated case law, that all workers have the statutory right to request to be accompanied to any formal meeting where the outcome could be sanctions that result in; termination of contract, issue of a formal warning or any other action that will be held on the employees file. The process could be called a grievance or disciplinary, but even if given another name, if formal sanctions as above could be the outcome, the right will stand.

full-time union official a (whether or not the union is recognised); a certified lay official (someone the union has trained to accompany individuals to hearings); or a co-worker sharing the same employer.

Unfortunately the law does not stipulate that employers have to ensure their workers know of this

As a member of UNISON, providing that you have been a fully paid up member for at least 4 week before the issue that resulted in the process arose, you have the right to request one of our accredited stewards accompany and represent you at the meeting. If you have not

been a member for 4 weeks before the issue arose you can still contact the office for brief telephone advice, and request that a colleague accompany you.

In short the best thing to do if you come across the slightest sign of a formal process involving you is to contact the branch. We can then advise you of your rights and support you throughout any ongoing process, as appropriate.

Additionally should you attend a meeting believing it will be informal, but during the meeting you become aware sanctions are likely to be applied we recommend you ask that the meeting is terminated and rearranged when you can be accompanied, your employer may not like this but remember it is your statutory right.

If in any doubts at all please just telephone us, we will be happy to help in any way that we can.

Information for members approaching retirement Did you know we are the only union in the uk to have a retired members group?

This branch has a very active retired members’ group and we want to make sure that everyone approaching retirement knows about it. They meet quarterly and discuss common issues affecting older people as well as organising regular outings. The existing group currently meets in Wakefield, but if anyone is interested in setting up a similar group in other areas such as Barnsley, Kirklees or Calderdale, please let us know.

If you have been a UNISON member for at least 2 years on the day you retire from employment, you are receiving a pension and are not in any other paid employment; you are entitled to become a

4

UNISON retired member. Being a retired member means you will continue to be entitled to a wide range of benefits including free legal advice, welfare support and discounts on a wide range of products and services.

to full employed member status).

If you would like to chat to our Retired Members’ Secretary, Manny Shaduwa, please call him on 01924 374588. He will be able to tell you about the group and topics for discussion at the group.

If you have retired recently and want to take advantage of being a retired member, please call the branch office on 01924 316161 and ask to be registered as a retired member. If you decide not to do anything when you cease employment, your membership will automatically lapse and you will no longer be a member.

Were you previously a COHSE member and are approaching retirement?

(Please note Retired Membership does not cover you in the workplace if you have retired and returned to work. To receive the full level of support you need to return

Ex-COHSE members are entitled to a small amount of retirement benefit from the union on retirement if they have had continuous membership since UNISON was formed. If you were a member of COHSE please contact the branch at the time you retire and we will send you the form.