Policy News - 25 June 2019

The following policies have recently been ratified by the Trust’s Policy Committee.   Please take the time to review those which may be relevant to your role.   Policies highlighted by a red title are applicable to all staff.

Development, Approval and Management of Policies Policy (commonly referred to as Policy on Policies)

The updated “Policy on Policies” has been ratified by Policy Committee and added added to the intranet along with supporting templates.  The process is largely unchanged apart from the following

• The policy is now more explicit in that if the review date cannot be achieved, a request for an extension must be submitted to Policy Committee.  A template has been developed to ensure such requests provide enough information to enable Policy Committee to sanction (or otherwise) the request.  The request must outline reasons for the delay and reasonable new timescales for consideration. 

• Policies have previously been reviewed every three years and it has been agreed that the review period can be varied depending on the nature of the policy.  The Sponsor/Author should indicate a proposed review period (maximum of five years) in the covering paper when the policy is submitted to Executive Committee for approval. 
   
• Equality and Diversity – All policies should now include a standard paragraph relating to the Trust’s commitment to equality and diversity (in addition to the requirement to undertake an equality impact assessment).  This paragraph has been inserted into the template.

View full policy and supporting templates

Criminal Background and DBS Checks Policy

Employment is a determinant of health and social wellbeing and being a good corporate citizen includes responsibility as an employer to protect patients, staff and the community as a whole. Having an effective DBS policy in place contributes to this being achieved.  

The policy outlines the measures the Trust will take to ensure that the process of checking whether an individual has a criminal background as part of overall employment checks, is thorough, fair and consistent with relevant legislation, best practice guidelines and rules set out by the Department of Health and Social Care and the DBS service. It also provides guidance on how the Trust will respond to the information contained within DBS disclosure certificates, including positive disclosures and stipulates the requirements for storage, handling and disposal of this information.

View full policy

Travel and Subsistence Expenses Policy

The Travel and Subsistence Expenses Policy has been revised and updated and sets out the policy in relation to travel (including electric only vehicles), subsistence and related expenses, the basis on which these will be reimbursed and recommended best practice to ensure value for money.
The policy applies to all employees.
Rates of reimbursement and the conditions related to these are set out in sections 17 and 18 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, or as otherwise agreed by the Trust as set out in this policy.

Payment of travel and subsistence will be subject to HMRC rules and the Trust rules relating to time limits for submitting claims.

This policy does not include any provision to compensate staff for loss and theft of or damage to personal possession and/ or personal property. 

View full policy

Professional Clinical Registration Policy

This policy provides clear guidance about the Trust’s standards, policy and procedures relating to Professional Clinical Registration and your employment..

It is an individual employees responsibility to ensure that they are registered with the relevant regulatory body at all times, the Trust has systems in place to check the registration status of staff before and during employment to identify any lapsed registrations and take appropriate action.

To ensure that staff are aware that failure to maintain registration or lose registration will be treated as a potential breach of contract and professional code of conduct and as such, may result in disciplinary action being taken in accordance with the Trust’s Disciplinary Procedure, up to and including the possibility of dismissal.

To protect the public through the employment of registered healthcare workers who have been accepted onto the register of the appropriate professional regulatory body and have a license to practice where this is required.

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Grievance Policy & Procedure

The Grievance Policy and Procedure provides a clear and simple means of resolving any grievance that does arise, as close to its origin as possible and as quickly as possible. 

Its purpose is to ensure that:

• All employees are treated fairly, consistently and reasonably;
• All cases are taken seriously by management;
• All individuals and circumstances are dealt with sensitively;
• Objectivity is maintained at all times;
• Confidentiality is maintained at all times;
• Grievances are dealt with as they occur, are settled as near   to the point of origin as possible and as quickly as is reasonably practicable.

View full policy