People Committee Assurance Report - September 2025
Meeting: Trust Board – Public Meeting
Date: 10 September 2025
Report Title: People Committee Assurance Report
Agenda Item: PUB25/09/6.5
Committee Date: 30 July 2025
Meeting Chair: Catherine Glickman, Non-Executive Director (Standing in)
Meeting quorate: YES
Purpose: Assurance
Link to EEAST Strategic Mission:
- Patient Mission
- Partnership Mission
- People Mission
- Productivity Mission
Summary of items considered at the meeting:
| Issue | Consideration | Resolution | Assurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Faith Network Update | Scott Owen, Chair, shared the programme the network had been involved in over the last 6 months, including National Remembrance, collaboration with London Ambulance Service during Eid, Pride and pastoral support to colleagues. | The Committee was impressed by the scale and scope of the achievements in the last 6 months and congratulated the Chair and the network. The Executive sponsor would be confirmed shortly. | Reasonable |
| BME Update | The Committee received an update from Tonah Asamoah-Danso, Chair. He explained that the announcement of Bedford EOC closure, together with CEP25, was causing concern, as both could affect the percentage of ethnic minorities. Network members were ready to support and attend recruitment events but had only been asked to attend on 1 occasion. | The Committee discussed the concerns, identifying that the regions were being asked to recruit to mirror the communities they worked in. The CPO would discuss the update and agree actions to be reported back to the Committee. | Reasonable |
| Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) / Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) | The WDES for 24/25 was submitted for approval, and the WRES and WDES 25/26 action plans were presented with targets. The CPO noted that, given the employee survey results showing limited progress, the plans should be reviewed to ensure they focus on the right areas to drive improvement. | The Committee approved 24/25 WDES for publication. They approved the 25/26 WRES and WDES subject to the CPO review and update to the Committee. | Reasonable |
| Integrated People Report | People statistics continued to meet or exceed targets in key areas: Sickness: achieved top quartile at 7.26% (A&E 6%), including duty sick. Staff turnover: overall turnover at 8.48%, clinical staff turnover at 6.3%, and staff vacancies at 6.27%, demonstrating the workforce plan is on track. ER Cases: concern remained over the high number of cases, although 41 were closed in June. Statutory and Mandatory training: strong at 93%. Appraisals: tracked at 80%, with some concern that the new Staff Circle system—proving challenging to navigate—may be affecting completion rates. | The actions to secure staff for the Herts & West Essex area by recruiting graduates from London universities were praised, as this would bring the region up to full establishment. It was agreed that the targets for the flu vaccine campaign would be reviewed. The Committee noted the report and commended the CPO, the team, and wider management for the people KPIs. | Reasonable |
| People Strategy | Sudha Pavan, Deputy Chief People Officer, reviewed achievements during 24/25 and presented the plan for 25/26, noting that, as much of the work was now embedded, the strategy this year would have fewer programmes. | The Committee congratulated the team on the impressive execution over 24/25. The CPO discussed strengthening the pillar on developing people given the investment in training and development across the Trust. | Reasonable |
| Health & Safety | There had been a significant reduction in moving and handling injuries to staff due to effective risk assessment and training. Work with the HSE continued with good collaboration, recognising that this was the first ambulance service the HSE had inspected and that the environment that ambulance crews worked in contained inherent risk. In addition, a work-related stress dashboard was being developed to understand the sources of stress. | The Committee discussed the report, welcoming the reduction in workplace incidents. The structure on Health and Wellbeing was discussed to ensure it was effective. Work with the HSE should be tightly recorded and agreed. | Reasonable |
| Communications | Tom Bennett, Head of Comms, explained how the team had been restructured, the focus of their work on campaigns (flu, staff survey, Big Conversation, sexual safety), long service celebrations, and cyclical staff comms sessions, improving visibility of leadership at a local level. He shared the 25/26 plan. | The Committee were impressed by the productivity of the team and the focus on 2-way communication. They supported the forward plan. | Reasonable |
| Strategy & Culture Report | Tanya Van Der Merwe, Head of Talent and Succession Planning, presented the report. She highlighted the Sexual Safety campaign; noted that 80% of leaders had now attended the Leadership Framework, with 59% completing all modules; confirmed that the Coaching Academy was about to launch; and reported that the team had facilitated the Big Conversation and agreed the resulting action plan. | The Committee noted that navigational challenges of the new Staff Circle software may be affecting appraisal completion rates. The report was noted. | Substantial |
| People Transformation Programmes | Three programmes were discussed: Team-Based Working; Organisational Development; Planning and Resourcing. The CPO briefed the Committee in detail on the Team-Based Working Programme. Staff had raised concerns about possible future changes to working patterns. No new rosters had yet been designed, and an expert in rota design was being identified to carry out this work. Communication had been devolved to local briefings rather than regional ones in response to the concerns raised. | The Committee noted the issues around the Team-Based Working programme, and the move to local communication, but also recognised that the degree of individual change was not known. The CEO and Trust Chair were fully briefed, and this programme would remain under tight scrutiny, with reports coming back to the ELT, Board and People Committee. | Reasonable |
| Board Assurance Framework (BAF) | Stanley Mukwenya confirmed that the Committee was responsible for three risks: SR7 Workforce Sustainability, SR8 Staff Retention, and SR9 Organisation Development. Completion of the BAF, including management, oversight, and external review, was in progress and would be reviewed by the CPO. | The Committee agreed the risk rating was appropriate, and they would review the completed BAF after the CPO’s review. | Reasonable |
Matters for escalation or referral:
None
