People Committee Assurance Report

Meeting:

 Public Board

Date:

 15.03.2023

Report Title:

People Committee Assurance Report

Agenda Item:

PUB22/3/94

Committee Date

11.01.2023

Meeting Chair:

Wendy Thomas, Non-Executive Director

Meeting quorate

YES

Purpose:

Assurance

Recommendation:

The Board is asked to:

• receive assurance from the business discussed at the meeting and to review the matters for escalation and referral
• Note the Gender Pay Gap report that has been published on the Trust web site.

Link to Strategic Objective

Be an exceptional place to work, volunteer and learn

X

Provide outstanding quality of care and performance

X 

Be excellent collaborators and innovators as system partners

Be an environmentally and financially sustainable organisation

X 

Summary of Items Considered at the Meeting

Issue

Consideration

Resolution/Outcome

Assurance

 BAME Support Network

The care we show to our BAME workforce reflects the value we place upon diversity in all its forms.

Can we be sure that if we don’t value diversity we can assure ourselves that we are providing appropriate and acceptable care to the diverse BAME communities we serve?

The Committee accepted the recommendation that the Network would develop priorities & business continuity plans for the future in the challenge given by the Network Chair (linked to the BAME survey and inclusivity plan)

The Committee heard that protected time has now been agreed for Chairs and deputies of the networks. This requirement has been fed back from all Chairs and so was very welcomed.

 Moderate

 Health and Safety

The report indicated that the Board could be assured that the Trust is fully compliant in 2 of the 8 areas of its statutory duties. The Trust is partially complaint in the remaining 6 areas. 

An independent Health and Safety expert report was also considered.

An action plan has been developed to address the areas of weakness but this was not felt to be sufficiently comprehensive to address all of the weaknesses identified.

The Committee recommended that the full assessment and action plan be shared with the Board.

The Committee heard that an intense programme of work to address the areas of weakness had started with fortnightly oversight meetings planned. The People Committee requested an update on the improvement plan at each meeting going forward until assurance on compliance could be achieved.

It is recommended that the Board keep oversight on compliance in all 8 statutory duty areas 

Low

 Gender Pay Gap

The Committee noted the report for 2021/22 (attached) and noted the pay gap of 11.9% between male and female employees, which is in line with other NHS, and non-NHS organisations.

The Committee further noted the actions proposed in the People Strategy and inclusivity plan that when achieved will go some way to narrowing the current gap.

The report was approved for publication on the Trust’s web site.

Moderate 

 Integrated Strategy, Culture and Education Report

Progress against KPIs has been variable:

Good progress against values and behaviours training.

Appraisals continue to show strong upward trajectory.

The deputies have commenced in post with only 1 senior post remaining vacant.

The Committee discussed the risks associated with MediPro being the only apprenticeship provider, the quality of people data (will be subject to an internal audit this year)

The clinical workforce plan to support the Clinical Strategy had been updated to reflect the operational challenges and these were approved and it was agreed to monitor on a 6 monthly basis (unless required sooner)

As requested at the last meeting the Committee received an update on the handover of the Training and Education Delivery Framework and was assured on progress.

Moderate

Excellent progress in ER case management – now less than 100 cases and 2 legacy cases outstanding.

The completion of job evaluations also progressing (reduction from 350 to 124 outstanding)

Turnover remains at 12% - benchmarked against other ambulance trusts shows EEAST is mid point.

Time to Lead pilot in Mid South Essex is progressing well with 4 priority areas identified.

Sickness rate 9% in November 2022 (10.7% in November 21)

The Committee noted the excellent progress against metrics and were assured on the 4 priorities identified for “Time to Lead” Namely:

1. Optimal Responsibilities
2. Optimal Structure
3. Development Programme
4. 4. Culture, Behaviour and Professional Standards

Strike days planned:

RCN – 18^th & 19^th January

UNISON – 23^rd January

The Committee discussed the risk scores and noted that good progress was being made across most metrics. However, Health & Safety is escalated for Board oversight. As the Committee was not assured on the mitigating actions.

The two new revised strategic risks as discussed at the Board workshop in December 2022 were discussed and agreed.

Matters for escalation or referral

Issue

Reason

 Health and Safety

The Trust is partially complaint in 6 of the 8 statutory duty areas following a self-assessment and an independent Health & Safety expert has made recommendations for improvement.  

The Trust Board is required to maintain oversight on compliance in all 8 statutory duty areas

Gender Pay Gap

The Committee approved the report for publication on the Trust’s web site

The Trust is required to publish this information as part of Regulatory requirements

Meeting:

 Public Board

Date:

 15.03.2023

Report Title:

People Committee Assurance Report

Agenda Item:

PUB22/3/94

Committee Date

22.02.2023 

Meeting Chair:

Wendy Thomas, Non-Executive Director

Meeting quorate

YES

Purpose:

Assurance

Recommendation:

The Board is asked to:

• receive assurance from the business discussed at the meeting and to review the matters for escalation and referral

Link to Strategic Objective

Be an exceptional place to work, volunteer and learn

X

Provide outstanding quality of care and performance

X 

Be excellent collaborators and innovators as system partners

Be an environmentally and financially sustainable organisation

X 

Summary of Items Considered at the Meeting

Issue

Consideration

Resolution/Outcome

Assurance

 All Women EEAST (AWE) Support Network

The care we show to women and those who identify as women in our workforce reflects the value we place upon diversity in all its forms.

Can we be sure that if we don’t value diversity we can assure ourselves that we are providing appropriate and acceptable care to the diverse communities we serve?

The Committee heard that there are still behaviours in the organisation that need to be challenged with examples of poor behaviour described. The Committee accepted that there is a need to develop our flexible working opportunities, especially for mums returning to work after maternity leave. The committee agreed this as a priority for the coming year and noted that AWE members have already developed a buddying scheme, and a support pack for women when they return.

The AWE Chair welcomed the protected time for the network, recently agreed by the Trust.

 Moderate

Integrated Strategy, Culture and Education Report

Progress against KPIs has been variable:

Good progress against values and behaviours training (now at 90%+)

Appraisals continue to show strong upward trajectory.

The driver-training unit continues at full capacity with 200 staff progressing through their C1 licence training.

The LGBT and disability surveys have been completed with respective response rates of 63 and 69%, which is commendable.

The Committee noted that the metrics are maturing for this Directorate.

The Committee discussed the following risks in some detail:

The HEE improvement plan is now 89% complete and additional evidence has been submitted to close all remaining areas.

Mandatory training is at 77.9% completion.

The availability of Practice Educators – forward trajectories will be reported in the KPIs for the future.

The workforce plan and the challenges of attracting suitable qualified staff. Net gains/losses to be reported as part of the KPIs in the future

Moderate

 BME Survey Results

The Committee received an update on these results at the January meeting.

The action plan was approved and it was confirmed that the content was to be discussed with the BME network to ensure that it addresses the priorities prior to implementation.

Moderate

Communications and Engagement

The Committee received the Communications and Engagement plan.

The Committee was assured on the clear plan for engagement both internally and external to the organisation. The messages enabling a greater understanding of the whole system pressures were commended.

Finally, the Committee noted that an external review has been undertaken and when this report is received it will inform the subsequent strategy for the future.

Substantial

Integrated People Services Report

The Committee was assured given the excellent progress against the key metrics. The Committee received an update on:

The 4 priorities identified for “Time to Lead” and noted that the span of control will reduce from 1:40 to, on average, 1:12. The plan is to adopt across all 6 sectors with support services performing a wrap round function for the newly formed business units.

The business case will come to the Board on 15/3/23. The aim is for effective leadership leading to a change in culture and improved performance.

The Committee also received an update on the planned dates for industrial action.

Substantial

Health and Safety

A self-assessment against health & safety standards indicated that the Board can be assured that the Trust is fully compliant in 2 of the 8 areas of its statutory duties. The Trust is partially complaint in the remaining 6 areas. 

An independent Health and Safety expert report has also been considered.

An action plan has been developed (January 2023) to address the areas of weakness.

In January 2023 the Committee escalated this matter to the Board for oversight of compliance in the 8 statutory duties, with the People Committee overseeing the detailed action plan at each meeting.

The report to the Committee indicated that the areas requiring attention had been identified on the action plan but there had been insufficient progress to offer full assurance.

Low

Board Assurance Framework

The Committee discussed the risk scores and noted that good progress was being made across most metrics. However, Health & Safety is again escalated for Board oversight as the Committee was not assured on the progress made against the mitigating actions.

Substantial

The Committee was asked by the Audit Committee to consider the key internal controls:

Detective – monitoring e.g. KPIs

Preventative – driving delivery e.g. policies

Corrective – action when things go wrong.

The Committee then held a member only session to discuss the embargoed staff survey results. This matter is to be discussed by the Board at its meeting on 15.03.2023.

Matters for escalation or referral

Issue

Reason

 Health and Safety

The Trust is partially complaint in 6 of the 8 statutory duty areas following a self-assessment and an independent Health & Safety expert has made recommendations for improvement.  

The Trust Board is required to maintain oversight on compliance in all 8 statutory duty areas