Covid-19 has seen a change to the way many colleagues have delivered their roles.  The word ‘agile’ means to move quickly and easily and this is something we have all had to do during the pandemic. 


As we look to the future, teams across the Trust are continuing to test new ways of agile working.  We know there have been real positive experiences from working remotely.  For some, there have also been challenges to overcome as well.  


When we think about agile working, it is important to understand what this means.  Given the size and scale of our organisation, one size does not fit all.  For most staff, they need to be physically at work to do their jobs effectively.  For other staff, the nature of the work may mean they can work in an agile way.  


To help us take stock and consider how agile working can help us, we have set up an Agile Working Group.  This will help us understand the different ways staff have adapted the way they work.  It will also help us think differently to keep improving for the future.   
 

What have we done so far?

Since October 2020, we have been testing agile working in two ‘pilot’ areas.  These areas are:

•    Our ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) teams in Gateshead and South Tyneside. 

•    Our ‘Data Assurance’ team at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

There has been lots of positive feedback so far from the two pilot areas:

•    Staff morale has improved.

•    There has been a positive impact on work/life balance.

•    Staff feel they can work more effectively from home. 

•    There has been a measured improvement in productivity.

•    There has been less staff sickness. 

•    Staff felt less stress and anxiety.

•    Less travel and less pressure of onsite car parking.

•    Staff find it more flexible and can plan work around home commitments.

•    Staff have felt well supported.

There was also feedback about things we still need to consider and improve:

•    Staff felt alone when working remotely at home.

•    Staff missed the social aspects of work and the support of their colleagues.

•    There was no separation between work and home life.

•    There was a negative view that staff working remotely don’t work as hard as others.

•    Staff need clarity about expenses and what the Trust will pay for.

•    Staff need clarity about desk / office space at work if they work at home and need to come into the      office.

•    Staff felt worried about returning to their usual work base.

•    There was a need for culture change around agile working.

•    The need for better technology.
 

You may have noticed some sensors outside offices in Trust Headquarters in Sunderland. These are Occupi sensors which are used to monitor if an office is in use and also how often it is occupied. They are not cameras and do not film individuals entering, leaving or whilst in office spaces.

What's next?

We asked staff in our two pilot areas what they thought about the future.  Most people said they would like to continue with their remote working arrangements.  Our Agile Working Group is now working through the next steps on what this means for the Trust.  


To help with this work, we have set a number of guiding principles:
•    The service delivery needs of the Trust must always come first.

•    We will talk to staff to discuss their preferences.  

•    We will think about agile working when recruiting new staff, based on nature of the role.

•    We will support staff with the right technology, training and skills. 

•    We will provide health and wellbeing support for every member of staff.

•    We will be clear with staff about what we expect when they are working remotely.

•    We will clearly define the rules around agile working in a new Trust policy.
 

Over the coming months we will keep you updated as this work progresses.  We will produce clear guidance for both staff and managers in line with the guiding principles above.
 

Frequently asked questions

If you have a question about our Agile Working Group please email stsft.agile-working@nhs.net.  We will post your question and answer in the FAQ section below.


What is agile working?

To work in an agile way means to focus on the tasks that need to be complete.  It is about finding the most efficient and effective ways for work to be done.  It considers the role people carry out and how and where that role is undertaken.  It allows people to work outside of their usual workplace and still do their job well.  It is also known as ‘remote’ working.  It is not always about working from home.  The principles of agile working also apply to work activity within the workplace.  

What is the difference between agile working and flexible working?

Flexible working is about a change in an employee’s working pattern (i.e. the days or hours worked).  Any changes need to be agreed.  Click here to view the Trust’s flexible working policy.

Agile working is about a change in how or where people carry out their roles.  This could be working remotely from home or another location.  It could mean changing working practices within the workplace. A good example of this is using video conferencing for work meetings or patient consultations.  
 

Useful info / guidance

You can view our remote working guidance here.

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